Bone fractures occur when too much force is exerted on a bone, causing it to bend and break. Broken bones are a serious type of car accident injury that can give a victim in New York the right to pursue a claim outside of the state’s no-fault insurance system. If you or a loved one broke a bone in a recent car crash, consult with a car accident attorney about your legal recovery options.
Common Bones Broken in Vehicle Collisions
Any part of the body that absorbs the force of the impact in an automobile accident could sustain a bone break, crack or fracture. The most commonly affected parts of the body include:
- Lower extremities (legs, ankles, feet)
- Pelvis
- Ribs
- Clavicle (collarbone)
- Sternum (breastbone)
- Vertebrae
- Skull
- Face
- Arm, wrist and elbow
In serious car accidents, victims may suffer multiple broken bones. Broken bones can also cause secondary injuries, such as a broken rib that punctures a lung.
Signs of a Bone Fracture After a Car Accident
If you get into a car, truck, motorcycle, bicycle or pedestrian collision in New York, it’s important to remain calm and assess yourself for injuries. Check from head to toe for possible signs of a broken bone.Â
Common symptoms include pain in the area, trouble moving the affected body part, swelling or bleeding, bruising, numbness, tingling, a visible deformity, or exposed bone. Always get immediate medical treatment if you suspect a broken bone or other crash-related injuries.
How to Get Compensated for Your Bone Fractures After a Car Accident in New York
If you discover one or more broken bones after seeking medical care for your car accident injuries, you may be eligible for financial compensation from your own insurer as well as the insurance company of the at-fault driver in New York.
Your own personal injury protection (PIP) insurance can cover expenses such as your medical bills, lost wages and necessary household services after a car accident involving a broken bone. This coverage is available from your insurance policy without you having to prove that another driver was at fault for the wreck.
Since a broken bone qualifies as a serious injury under New York’s threshold, you may also be able to recover damages from another party’s insurer. A third-party claim against the responsible individual or entity could lead to greater compensation for a bone fracture, including pain and suffering damages.
What Is the Average Settlement for a Broken Bone?
The value of a car accident settlement where the victim suffered a broken bone can vary drastically, with outcomes ranging from $15,000 or less to $500,000 or more. Bone fracture case values are based on the location of the bone broken, the severity of the fracture, whether the victim sustained other injuries, the amount of insurance coverage available, comparative negligence, and other factors.
How Can a Car Accident Lawyer Help With a Broken Bone Claim?
It’s important not to place your trust in an insurance provider as a car accident victim with a broken bone in New York. Insurance companies are for-profit corporations that are highly experienced at taking advantage of claimants.
It is likely that you will encounter challenges when trying to collect fair financial compensation for your bone fracture, such as the insurer diminishing the severity of your injury, downplaying your losses, refusing to offer a fair settlement or even rejecting your claim.
Rather than facing your broken bone injury case alone, contact an injury attorney from Abaev Law Firm, PLLC to represent you. Our lawyers will put years of car accident case experience in New York to use for you. We offer free consultations and don’t charge anything unless we win.