People often assume that that a broken bone is an inconvenient but manageable injury. Many times, they’re right. But it’s a misconception to believe that all bones will heal fully and that life will always return to normal with time – particularly when the fractures happened in serious Louisiana motor vehicle crashes caused by a reckless motorist or other hazard.
Healing from a broken bone injury can mean hospitalization, weeks off work, wearing a cast or brace that makes routine activities impossible and paying for ongoing medical care. You shouldn’t be responsible for the costs associated with your fracture if someone else caused it. You need a New Orleans attorney to fight for you so that you can receive compensation for your injury.
Call the Louisiana law firm of Braud & Gallagher at 866-254-4979 or use our online contact form for a free consultation.
The skilled legal team at Braud & Gallagher is committed to protecting the rights of victims who have sustained broken bones in Louisiana accidents. Our attorneys combine years of legal expertise with innovative technology and aggressive trial techniques so that clients receive the maximum amount of compensation in the shortest amount of time possible.
We have a philosophy at Braud & Gallagher: Our job is not done until you have won.
Braud & Gallagher represents motorcycle accident victims in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Mandeville, Jefferson Parish, St. Charles Parish, Lafourche Parish, Terrebonne Parish, St. John the Baptist Parish and throughout Louisiana.
A Winning History
Braud & Gallagher has a proven track record of success in obtaining top-dollar verdicts and settlements
for our clients.
About Broken Bones
Broken bones are among the most common types of injuries across the United States, accounting for 3.5 million visits to U.S. emergency rooms and over 880,000 hospitalizations per year. The majority of fractures occur from sudden trauma to the bone, from impacts such as:
Serious breaks can also result from constant pressure being applied to the bone.
Doctors classify fractures based on the way the bone breaks:
- Closed, or simple: The bone is broken in two pieces, but does not protrude through the skin.
- Open, or compound: The skin is pierced by the broken bone or the bone is visible due to a blow that lacerated the skin at the time of the fracture. These breaks can be especially dangerous because they expose the body to infection.
- Greenstick: The bone is broken on one side, typically due to a bending injury.
- Comminuted: A fracture that breaks the bone into three or more pieces.
- Avulsion: A portion of the bone is torn away by a tendon or ligament.
- Transverse: A fracture that runs at a right angle to the length of the bone.
- Oblique: A break that runs diagonally to the length of the bone.
- Spiral: Occurs when a part of the bone has been twisted.
- Hairline: Occurs when the bone cracks, but does not break.
Lasting Effects from a Broken Bone Accident
Some broken bones heal easily once they are properly set and placed in a brace or cast. However, more severe fractures may require surgery so that doctors can place pins, screws, rods or plates to stabilize the affected bones. Sometimes that hardware will remain in the body forever. Other times, another procedure must be performed to remove the parts once they have helped the bones knit back together.
Many times, broken bones do not occur in isolation, but are accompanied by damage to surrounding tissues, arteries and organs. For example, a high-impact car crash could fracture the occupant’s skull when it hits the steering wheel while simultaneously causing massive brain hemorrhaging in a traumatic brain injury. A motorcyclist’s leg may be crushed in a sideswipe accident, but a subsequent fall to the pavement could cause a spinal cord injury or damage vital organs. Fractures can also lead to other disabilities for sufferers, such as limited mobility, inflexibility and a higher risk of developing arthritis.
Disfigurement can be another long-term consequence of a broken bone. This can be particularly tragic in the case of children whose growth plates are fractured or shattered in serious accidents. Growth plates are areas of developing cartilage near the ends of long bones, such as the arms and legs, and help determine the length and shape of the bones as the child develops. Serious fractures can ultimately cause stunted growth in the child and crooked or uneven limbs, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.
Aside from the initial discomfort and disruption that a broken bone causes, you will likely face 4-8 weeks of rest, follow-up doctor’s visits and rehabilitation to help strengthen the muscles that were weakened while your fracture was immobilized by a cast. Some of the most severe breaks will involve long-term hospitalization and daily at-home care until you are able to regain your independence – or adjust to your sudden, limited mobility if your accident also resulted in other conditions such as paralysis, quadriplega/tetraplegia or hemiplegia. The loss of wages and productivity in the injured person can result in significant financial hardships for families, not to mention pain and suffering.
If someone else’s negligence caused your broken bone injury, you have the right to hold them accountable for their irresponsibility. A successful legal claim can provide you with the money you need to get your life on track. Don’t speak to an insurance company about your accident until contacting an experienced New Orleans personal injury attorney. You could unknowingly sign away your rights to what you fully deserve.
Contact Our New Orleans Lawyers Today
If you or a family member suffered a shattered bone following a catastrophic Louisiana accident, call Braud & Gallagher at 866-254-4979 or use our online contact form for a no-cost consultation. Our Louisiana accident attorneys represent injury clients in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Mandeville, Jefferson Parish, St. Charles Parish, Lafourche Parish, Terrebonne Parish, St. John the Baptist Parish and throughout Louisiana.
Remember, our job is not done until you have won.
