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What are Broken Bones and Fractures in Personal Injury Cases?
Broken bones are some of the most common injuries in hospital emergency rooms throughout Atlanta and the US. They can happen for any reason, but the most common cause is some type of accident.
Bones are our support system, helping with locomotion and posture, and providing support for the body. The skeleton also protects vital organs, including the brain, heart, lungs, spinal cord, and the rest of the visceral area. Functionally, bones also conduct blood cell production in the marrow, store minerals, and regulate mineral levels in the bloodstream.
Bone fractures need immediate treatment to prevent infection and help them heal correctly. The sooner you seek treatment, the better your chances of a complete recovery. Without treatment, the bones may heal incorrectly and leave a deformity. Although broken bones aren’t necessarily catastrophic and eventually heal, they can stop you from working for weeks or even months. But many accidents involve more than one broken bone and require a long recovery.
Long-Term Impact of Serious Broken Bone Injuries
Broken bones can have long-term physical and emotional impacts on a person, such as:
- Chronic pain from a bone that fails to heal correctly or develops complications
- Arthritis that develops later in a broken bone that includes a joint
- Joint stiffness, including a limited or long-term range of motion
- Weakness near the site of the injury leading to balance problems and decreased mobility
- Nerves near the injury site can be damaged and lead to numbness or tingling
- Physical limitations and chronic pain from a broken bone injury can also impact a person’s mental health and lead to anxiety or depression.
Broken bones need immediate medical care. Patients must follow a treatment and rehabilitation plan to allow healing and minimize the risk of long-term complications. Some injuries may be catastrophic, requiring lifelong care.
Proving Negligence & Causation In Broken Bone Injury Cases in Georgia
There are four points required to demonstrate negligence in Georgia for a broken bone personal injury claim:
- The defendant owed a duty of care to the plaintiff
- The defendant breached that duty of care
- The negligence was a direct cause of the accident
- The plaintiff suffered damages (losses) as a result of the accident
Your attorney will thoroughly investigate your accident, gather necessary evidence, and put together your claim to show proof of negligence.
Further Reading: Examples of Negligent Security that Lead to Serious Injury
Compensation & Damages Recoverable In Broken Bone Injury Lawsuits
Broken bones and associated injuries can be costly to treat. A broken leg can easily cost over $35,000 or more, especially if you don’t have health insurance. That doesn’t take into consideration the lost time from work, any property damage, or other expenses that come with a broken bone accident.
You may be able to recover:
- Medical expenses, including emergency treatment
- Ongoing medical care, such as surgery, prescriptions, and physical therapy
- Rehabilitative care
- Lost income, including lost future income
- Disability
- Permanent disfigurement
- Punitive damages
Georgia law (Section 9-3-33) allows a two-year statute of limitations to file a personal injury compensation claim, beginning on the day of the accident. The exception is children who suffer broken bones in an accident between a bicycle and a truck. Their statute of limitations begins on their 18th birthday, when they are able to file a lawsuit against a defendant.
If you or a loved one have suffered a broken bone injury in Georgia and would like to know what damages you may recover as part of your case, contact Apolinsky & Associates, LLC, for a free case evaluation.
Further Reading: What is Pain and Suffering and How Is Compensation Value Calculated?