Pendergast Law Personal Injury Lawyers

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Pendergast Law Personal Injury Lawyers

Free Consultations  |  Phones Answered 24/7

Committed to helping you heal while we recover.

Pursuing Compensation For A Serious Fracture Or Broken Bone

Well over 6 million Americans suffer bone fractures each year, disproportionately affecting the elderly. While some fractures are minor and may only take you out of work for a few weeks, others can be far more severe. You may suffer a permanent and sometimes disabling injury, or be forced to endure costly surgeries to fully recover. Given that it takes a great deal of force to cause a bone to break, it is common for serious auto collisions, bicycle accidents, and rough falls to cause these injuries.

If you or a loved one suffered multiple fractures due to someone else’s negligence, you need a dedicated Seattle bone fracture attorney on your side. Insurance companies are quick to dismiss broken bone claims as minor, but at Pendergast Law, we understand the full costs of these injuries. Our firm has spent over four decades helping injury victims and their families secure financial compensation for their injuries. We offer every potential client a free consultation, so there is no cost to picking up the phone and calling our office at 888-539-9211.

After my car accident where I received multiple fractures, I was put in a nursing home and was unable to get legal help until I contacted Pendergast Law. They actually came to the nursing home, took over all the coordination of my case and simply took all the stress off of me. They visited me regularly to keep me informed and make sure my needs were being met.
– Carol B., Burien, WA

Is A Broken Bone A Minor Injury?

How serious a broken bone is depends on the severity of the insult, where it occurred, and other medical complications. For example, a single broken finger will likely heal with a splint. However, if a motorcyclist was hit by a truck, causing the bike to collapse on him, he may suffer a painful and traumatic hip fracture. This can require invasive surgeries to repair the damage, and he may need several metal screws placed in his hip or a total hip replacement. In addition, if the biker suffered internal organ damage, such as trauma to the bladder or genitalia, he may be left with a serious medical condition for the rest of his life.

With regard to the body’s internal organs, a broken rib cage also can lead to a punctured lung and weeks of pain. In other severe cases, broken bones can cause internal bleeding, which can range from heavy bruising to a life-threatening situation.

Nerve damage is another possibility. Many nerves wrap around the body’s joints and can be compressed or torn when a bone is broken. If you experience numbness in the area below your break, intense pain when you flex your muscles, or difficulty controlling your limbs, you should speak to a doctor immediately. Nerve damage can become permanent if not treated immediately, and you may be left with chronic pain or partial paralysis if the damage is extensive. This is also a major risk if you suffer a broken bone in the neck or back, which could lead to a permanent spinal cord injury.

Blows to the head can also lead to severe and costly fractures. In addition to the possibility of a traumatic brain injury, being struck on the face can damage the nasal cavity and make it difficult for the victim to breathe. If the orbital bone suffers a fracture, it could severely damage the eyes and cause blindness or at least partial vision loss. Lastly, if the side of the head is struck, the bones in the ear could puncture the eardrum, leading to permanent deafness.

Washington Bone Injury Case Results

  • $2,125,000 recovery for a fractured neck and closed head injury in a motor vehicle accident in Kent.
  • $1,200,000 recovery for a woman who suffered a crushed heal and fractured ankle in a motor vehicle accident in Snohomish County.
  • $750,000 recovery for a woman who suffered a fractured pelvis in a motor vehicle accident in Kirkland.
  • $390,000 recovery for a woman who fractured her leg and ankle when she was struck head-on by a truck in Skykomish.
  • $372,000 recovery for a 19-year-old woman who fractured her pelvis while riding as a passenger in a vehicle that was struck head-on in Moses Lake.
  • $275,000 recovery for a 19-year-old woman who fractured her jaw when her car was forced off the highway, and into a light pole in Kent.
  • $225,000 recovery for a 45-year-old man who fractured his leg when he was hit while riding on his motorcycle in Seattle.

View more Case Results here.

Fractures And The Elderly

While anyone can suffer a traumatic fracture, seniors are far more prone to these types of injuries. Many of them lose muscle and bone mass over time, making the body weaker and more brittle. But another factor is coordination. If a senior lost her footing due to a wet floor or overturned rug, she could fall backward and suffer catastrophic injury to her spinal column, hips, or skull. These injuries can be life-threatening, and the senior may have to deal with serious repercussions for the rest of her life.

Common Causes Of Bone Fractures

Broken bones are the result of intense pressure being placed on the body, offering during an accident. Vehicle collisions can slam a victim against the interior of a vehicle and result in multiple fractures. In turn, a fall from a great height can bring the full weight of one’s body down upon a single bone, snapping it. In many cases, these injuries come as the result of someone’s reckless or negligent decision.

  • Automobile accidents: Any type of automobile accident can lead to multiple broken bones. If a passenger vehicle is T-boned by a semi truck, the occupants could suffer crush injuries due to the vehicle’s collapsing frame. In addition, drivers who are rear-ended may be slammed against the steering column, resulting in broken kneecaps or femurs. These dangers are only worsened for pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorcyclists.
  • Slip, trip, and fall accidents: Places of business are required to clean up all safety hazards on their property, such as spills, broken steps, and overturned carpets. Because these issues are the responsibility of the property owner, if you fell, you may be able to file a claim against their liability policy to recover compensation.
  • Nursing home abuse: As mentioned earlier, the elderly are the most at-risk of suffering multiple fractures, especially during a fall. Despite the fact that nursing homes should provide the highest level of care, many have major safety issues, from dangerous employees who physically abuse residents to unsafe bedrails to poor resident management. When nursing homes fail to meet state and federal standards and a resident suffers a broken bone, a resident may be eligible to file a personal injury claim.
  • Assault: Unfortunately, violent attacks are a common cause of serious head wounds, such as fractured skulls, broken noses, and dislocated jawbones. Defending yourself from an attack can also lead to broken bones in the hands and wrist. While some legal claims deal directly with the perpetrator, if your injuries were partially caused because the property you were on lacked proper security measures, you may have a negligent security claim on your hands and can recover compensation from the property owner.

If your injuries were caused by someone else’s carelessness, or reckless actions, you may be eligible to file a claim against them. To do that, you will need to work with a knowledgeable team of lawyers who can investigate the circumstances, review any available insurance policies, and collect evidence of negligence. In addition, we can also calculate the total value of your claim.

What Is My Claim Worth?

Broken bones are typically valued lower than catastrophic injuries, especially by insurance companies. However, if you suffer multiple fractures or another related condition as a result of someone else’s actions, then you may be able to file a strong claim for compensation. Within the state of Washington, personal injury claims for broken bones can include:

  • Current and future medical bills
  • Lost wages from missed work
  • Lost career opportunities and future wages if you are left disabled or have to change jobs
  • Physical rehabilitation
  • Pain and suffering

Do not let the at-fault insurance company dictate the value of your claim. Most insurance companies barely offer enough for the full costs of your medical expenses and may try to deny coverage for any physical therapy or non-surgical care. However, if you work with an experienced attorney at Pendergast Law, we can advocate for full and proper compensation for your injuries. Broken bones can go far beyond a few weeks out of work, especially if you experienced a great deal of pain and suffering due to your injuries.

Call An Experienced Seattle Broken Bone Attorney

The legal team at Pendergast Law has been helping injured clients and advocating for their right to compensation for nearly 30 years. We have represented clients who have suffered severe spinal fractures, head trauma, multiple fractures, and more. If you bring your case to us, we will not minimize your injuries or dismiss your trauma. Instead, we will hear you out in a free consultation and discuss all your legal options. To get started on your claim, contact our office at 888-539-9211 to speak with an injury attorney in Seattle today.

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