Broken or Fractured Bones

Breaking or “fracturing” a bone is one of the most common types of injuries from which victims of car crashes, pedestrian collisions, and slip and falls suffer. The severity of the injury depends on what type of fracture was sustained, where the fracture is located, and potential other fractures and injuries that occurred during the incident. A fracture generally takes at least eight weeks to fully heal, after which the patient will need to begin multiple months of physical therapy and strength conditioning to get the full range of motion and strength back. Unfortunately, for many victims, regaining their previous strength and mobility is impossible due to the nature of the break, their age, or other factors such as an underlying illness or the severity of other injuries that were caused during the incident. Because fractures take so long to heal, victims are burdened with out-of-pocket medical expenses, time must be taken off from work, and the victim is forced to undergo pain and suffering, fracture injuries should always be legally pursued. To hold the negligent party responsible for your injuries, our Barrie fracture lawyers at Preszler Injury Lawyers can help you gather medical records, investigate the incident scene and talk to witnesses, file a personal injury claim, and hold the at-fault party’s insurer accountable for compensation.

Types of Fractures

The most serious locations for fractures are near joints, on major load-bearing bones like the femur, or located on the spinal column or skull. However, the location of a fracture does not show the full picture of how serious the condition is. Potential other fractures complicate the victim’s situation, as does the type or types of fractures they suffered. According to the Cleveland Clinic, there are seven major types of fractures.

• Spiral: the break spirals down the bone
• Oblique: the break crosses the bone diagonally
• Transverse: the break forms a straight line across the bone
• Avulsion: a piece of the bone is pulled away, often by an attached ligament or tendon
• Compression: the bone has been crushed
• Comminuted: the bone is shattered into many pieces
• Impacted: the broken ends of the bone are driven into one another

One other type of fracture poses a serious risk of infection. A compound fracture can technically be any of the above types of fractures, except as an added complication a piece of the broken bone pierces through the skin and other soft tissue.

Common Causes of Moderate to Serious Fractures

• Car collisions
• Pedestrian collisions
• Truck collisions
• Bicyclist collisions
• Motorcyclist collisions
• Domestic abuse
• Sexual abuse
• Trips and falls
• Dog attacks
• Other types of premises accidents
• Work-related accidents and employer negligence

How Fractures Affect People of All Ages

Babies, toddlers, and young children all have bones that are still growing. Their bones are more flexible than an adult’s harder, stiffer bones. As such, they may break more easily than an adult’s bones in some instances. Yet, these “greenstick” fractures generally heal much more quickly than an adult’s bones. There are risks, however. If the damage is caused at a growth plate within the bone, that bone may be stunted and never grow correctly or as long as it should. There are other risk factors for people on the opposite side of the age spectrum. 80% of fractures suffered by people age 50 or older are caused, in part, by osteoporosis—a disease that weakens bones due to calcium loss, according to Osteoporosis Canada. Older people are more likely to suffer complications with fractures, as well. A fractured hip could spell the end of an older person’s life, as broken hips are a leading contributor to death for those over the age of 65. Tragically, 20% of fall-caused hip fractures lead to death in seniors.

Is a Lawyer Really Necessary?

All citizens and businesses in our society are obligated to provide a certain level of care for one another. This obligation is called a “duty of care,” and when that duty is violated, such as when a driver pulls out a cell phone and texts instead of looks ahead to the road where a pedestrian is crossing the street, and an injury is caused, the at-fault party is responsible for compensating the injured party. Serious injuries are always right around the corner and the only thing that keeps them from happening to people on a regular basis are traffic laws, building codes, environmental regulations, workplace laws, and other regulations upon which we, as a society, have agreed.

While a civil lawsuit or personal injury claim does not prevent a serious injury from happening, it does provide the victim with the financial means to cover their bills, lost wages, and future medical needs. Whether your leg was broken while riding your bike when a motorist cut you off, you slipped on ice that should have been cleared by a business owner, or you were attacked by a dog that the owner was unable to hold back while on a leash, you deserve compensation. The only way to secure that compensation is to work with a lawyer who will pursue maximum payment for your damages by negotiating and pressuring the negligent party’s insurance provider. This process takes months and sometimes years depending on the circumstances and the extent of your injuries, and insurance adjusters and defense lawyers are as tireless as they are cunning. You need a lawyer to thwart their tactics and continue pressing onward for your best interests, and the fracture lawyers at Preszler Injury Lawyers have the qualities and professionalism needed to get the job done.

Our Barrie Fracture Lawyers Can Help You Seek Financial Justice

Whether you suffered a single fracture in your wrist or collarbone due to a slip and fall, or multiple fractures of your ribs, femur, and spinal column, you deserve fair and adequate compensation for your pain and suffering, lost wages and earning capacity, out-of-pocket medical expenses, and more. Let our Barrie fracture lawyers help you seek justice by filing a personal injury claim against the responsible driver, property owner, or a business owner. To get started today, call Preszler Injury Lawyers at 1-800-JUSTICE to schedule a free consultation.