Broken bones and scarring are among the most common injuries that victims face in the aftermath of an accident. Although common, these injuries can cause significant lifestyle changes and future medical complications for accident victims. That is why individuals involved in accidents need legal help to recover the money they deserve.
While an insurer may be quick to offer you a settlement, you can’t be sure the money they put on the table will be enough to compensate you for your medical bills both today and in the future. Will an insurer factor in all the financial consequences a victim may encounter? Will they think about your lost wages or the potential that you may not be able to return to work in the same capacity?
At Spiros Law, P.C., we measure how a broken bone or significant scarring can impact your daily life. We then focus on helping you recover the compensation you deserve for your injuries.
If you or someone close to you has suffered broken bones or scarring because of an accident, contact the Kankakee personal injury lawyers of Spiros Law, P.C.. We want to help hold the negligent party responsible for their actions and get you the money you need to recover from your ordeal. Call our office at (815) 929-9292 to set up a free, no-obligation consultation today.
Types of Bone Fractures
When a bone breaks or cracks it is called a bone fracture. Most fractures happen due to an extreme amount of external force. However, not all fractures are created equal. Some can be relatively straightforward to treat, while others require extensive surgical intervention and reconstruction.
When it comes to understanding the severity of bone fractures, it helps to know the different types of breaks. A fracture can be:
- Closed– A closed break means that the bone is broken, but it remains underneath the skin, inside of the body.
- Open– An open fracture means that a bone has broken and punctured the skin, exposing the bone to open air and potential contaminants like dirt and debris. An open fracture is also sometimes known as a compound fracture.
Complete fracture– A complete fracture happens when the bone is completely broken in two and the parts are separated.- Displaced fracture– In a displaced fracture, the two parts of a broken bone form a gap. These types of fractures generally require surgical intervention to repair.
- Partial fracture– A partial fracture means that the break does not go completely through the entire bone.
- Stress fracture– Stress fractures can happen from blunt impact but are generally caused by repetitive motions. These fractures are cracks in a bone.
Complete fracture– A complete fracture happens when the bone is completely broken in two and the parts are separated.These types of bone fractures can also have accompanying medical terms to describe the category of break. For example, an accident victim could have a partial oblique break or a complete transverse fracture.
- Avulsion- Tendons and ligaments are connective tissues that connect bones to other bones and muscles to bones. An avulsion happens when a tendon or ligament pulls part of a bone away.
- Comminuted- A comminuted break occurs when a bone is shattered into several different pieces. These types of breaks can be extremely serious and may require extensive surgery.
- Compression- This type of break happens when bones are compressed or crushed together. Compression fractures are most common in the spine when vertebrae are crunched into each other.
- Impacted- An impacted fracture takes place when the broken ends of a bone are rammed together. In accident cases, an initial violent act may break a bone, and then a subsequent jolt forces the broken ends to hit one another.
- Oblique- Oblique breaks travel diagonally across a bone.
- Spiral- A spiral fracture circles a bone in a spiral pattern. Spiral fractures typically impact the long bones of the human body, meaning the bones in the legs and arms.
- Transverse- A transverse break travels in a straight line across the bone.
Accidents That Cause Broken Bones and Scarring
A variety of events can cause traumatic bone breaks and significant scarring. Some of the most common accidents that can result in these types of injuries include:
- Car accidents
- Truck accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Farm accidents
- Dog bites and dog attacks
- Workplace accidents
- Premises liability claims or slip and fall accidents
- Construction accidents
At Spiros Law, P.C., our dedicated team of personal injury lawyers has experience handling these types of cases and more. If you have been injured in an accident that wasn’t your fault, reach out to our legal team today for more information on how we may be able to help you.
What Is a Scar?
A scar is the body’s way of healing an injury. Scarring happens when skin is lost or destroyed in an accident. The body will start healing by creating fibrous tissue to cover the open wound. Scars can be the result of a significant injury or can happen after surgical intervention.
Just like bone fractures, scars come in all shapes and sizes. Scars fade over time to become minor imperfections of the skin, or they can be so extensive that it makes moving certain body parts challenging. They can also be so extensive that they impact a person’s self-image and quality of life. The severity of a scar will generally depend on skin type, the location of the scar, and the amount of tissue loss or damage.
There are several different categories of scars. These include:
- Keloid scars– When too much collagen is produced at the site of a wound it can form a keloid scar. These scars are thick, raised, and can be a different color than the surrounding skin.
- Hypertrophic scars– These types of scars also occur when there is too much collagen produced at the site of a wound. However, these scars don’t extend beyond the boundary of the original trauma.
- Contractures– A contracture scar happens when a large amount of skin is either damaged or lost in an accident. The scar that forms pulls on the edges of the surrounding skin together, causing a tightening effect that can impact skin, muscles, joints, and tendons. These types of scars can be disfiguring and can impact range of motion. Burns and skin grafts can result in these types of scars.
Compensation for Broken Bones and Scarring
Victims of an accident that was someone else’s fault may have to contend with a lifetime of medical complications and lifestyle alterations because of significant bone breaks or scaring. A speedy settlement with an insurance company may not be enough to compensate you for your injuries, rehabilitation, and pain and suffering.
In many cases, it takes an experienced attorney fighting for your rights to get you the compensation you deserve after a negligent or reckless accident. Although the severity of your injuries and the cause of the accident can impact your claim’s value, in general, victims may be entitled to money for the following:
- Medical expenses
- Rehabilitation costs
- Lost wages
- Loss of earning capacity
- Loss of consortium
- Pain and suffering
Talk to a skilled lawyer at Spiros Law, P.C. today to find out what your claim may be worth.
Reach Out to an Experienced Personal Injury Accident Attorney for Help
Broken bones or significant scaring can change your life. Get the compensation you deserve and hold the negligent party accountable for their actions by contacting an experienced personal injury attorney with Spiros Law, P.C..
Contact us today by calling our office at (815) 929-9292. We offer a free case evaluation to help get you started.
