Broken Bones After a Car Accident in Las Vegas, NV

Fractures are among the most common injuries in car accidents. If you have suffered broken bones as a result of a traffic collision, you may have sustained a relatively simple break or a compound fracture. With any serious bone fracture, you may be facing surgery, intensive physical therapy, and time off work as you recover. You should not be left to shoulder the costs of medical bills and loss of income after an accident that someone else caused.

injured hand and knee due to car accident

If a negligent motorist caused your injuries, you may demand compensation for the medical expenses and other losses you have incurred as a result of the accident. The Las Vegas personal injury attorneys at Sam & Ash Injury Law can help you understand your rights to hold the at-fault party accountable through an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit. You deserve What’s Right. We are ready to help you demand it. Contact us today for a free, no-risk consultation with a car accident attorney in Las Vegas.

Compensation for Car Accident Fractures in Las Vegas

In Nevada, if you are injured in an accident that someone else caused, you may file an injury claim against that person’s auto insurance.

The types of compensation that may be sought for bone fracture injuries include:

  • Present and future medical costs, including hospital bills, surgeries, X-rays and other scans, doctor’s visits, emergency care, in-home care, medical equipment such as crutches or a wheelchair, and medications
  • Rehabilitative care costs, including physical and occupational therapy
  • Lost wages, if you have to take time off work while you are being treated
  • Reduced future income, if you are unable to perform the same job in the future or can only take on light duties
  • Physical and emotional pain and suffering, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), mental distress, emotional trauma, and depression
  • Loss of quality of life

In special situations, you may be entitled to seek punitive damages if the person who injured you acted in a flagrantly reckless way. Punitive damages are meant to punish the defendant. The threshold for seeking punitive damages high. You should consult with an experienced Las Vegas personal injury attorney to understand if you may be entitled to demand punitive damages.

Are Fractures Different from Broken Bones?

A fracture is a medical term for what most of us call a broken bone. The two terms are interchangeable. A broken bone is one that has been fractured.

Car Accidents Are a Leading Cause of Broken Bones

The impact of a collision can put more stress on the body than it can withstand, causing bones to bend, break, or even shatter. Car accidents are one of the biggest causes of blunt force trauma.

People involved in crashes may suffer broken bones from being:

  • Thrown around inside of the vehicle
  • Ejected from the vehicle
  • Crushed between objects
  • Slammed against the sides of the vehicle or the windshield
  • Struck by a vehicle while walking nearby

What Bones Are Most Likely To Be Broken in a Car Crash?

Some of the bones most commonly broken in car accidents include:

  • Arm fractures — A person may extend their arms to try to brace themselves and sustain a broken arm.
  • Wrist fracture — The wrists contain many small, fragile bones that can break as a result of a crash impact.
  • Thighbone fracture — The femur is the largest bone in the body, but is still susceptible to fracturing, especially if the passenger compartment is crushed.
  • Collarbone/clavicle fracture— The pressure of a shoulder restraint can cause the fragile collarbone to break in a collision.
  • Rib fracture — The force of airbags deploying or impact of the torso striking a hard surface during a crash can cause broken ribs, which can cause other complications including lung punctures.
  • Pelvis fracture — Pelvis fractures can occur in automobile accidents but are especially common in motorcycle crashes.
  • Skull/facial bone fracture — People who are not wearing seat belts are susceptible to facial fractures from their face hitting the dashboard or windshield. Skull fractures can cause traumatic brain injuries.
  • Spinal fractures — The blunt force trauma on the body in a head-on collision or rear-end collision can cause fractured discs due to compression of the spinal column.
  • Tibula/fibula fractures— Lower leg injuries are common in high-speed collisions. They are also common injuries to bicyclists and pedestrians when struck by cars.
  • Ankle fractures —Fractures of the lower extremities including the lower legs, ankles, and feet are common in collisions.

If you suffered a broken bone in a car accident, you should seek prompt medical attention. Most insurance companies require claimants to be evaluated within 72 hours after an accident. If you aren’t evaluated within that time frame, the insurance company may argue that you suffered the injury in a separate incident. This is a particular problem because hairline fractures can take time to become noticeable without X-rays.

Common Fractures in Car Accidents in Las Vegas

Some of the common terms that doctors use to describe bone fractures include:

  • Transverse – A fracture in which a bone breaks in a straight line across the bone, typically caused by blunt force.fractured arm
  • Comminuted — Comminuted fractures are those in which a single bone is broken into several pieces. Comminuted fractures are more complex to repair because there is more than one break.
  • Compression fracture — These occur when the bones are crushed.
  • Compound – A compound fracture is one in which the broken bone tears through the skin, creating a second wound and risk of infection.
  • Avulsion – Avulsion fractures occur when a small part of the bone is pulled away from the bone’s main mass. These fractures typically require surgery to repair.
  • Oblique – An oblique fracture is one in which the break is on an angle through the bone.
  • Hairline – Hairline fractures can be so small that you might not realize that you’ve suffered one. However, these fractures can spread over time and cause complications if left untreated.

Contact a Las Vegas Injury Lawyer Today

Did you sustain broken bones in a Las Vegas car accident? Was someone else at fault? If so, the Las Vegas injury attorneys at Sam & Ash Injury Law may be able to help you seek the money you need to put your life back together.

We understand the ways in which a broken bone injury can disrupt your life and cause loss of income and financial burden. We are committed to helping people who have been injured through no fault of their own get the compensation to which they’re entitled.

Contact us today for a free, no-risk consultation. You deserve What’s Right. Let us help you demand it.