If you’re unfortunate enough to be injured in a car accident in Washington state, there is a high probability of suffering a broken bone injury. Broken bones are the most common injury from motor vehicle accidents and, while they are extremely painful, most such injuries heal rapidly with time and the right medical care. However, some bone fractures develop complications and can create major disruption and upheaval in your life. If you have suffered a broken bones injury in an accident caused by a negligent or reckless party, the bone fracture lawyers in Federal Way can help you claim for losses.
What Are Bone Fractures?
All bone fractures have the potential to become serious. They result from impact, strain or trauma to the bone in question, which may fracture, buckle or even break into pieces and puncture the skin. Whether it’s a rib fracture from impact in a car accident or something more serious like a broken leg, wrist, hip, or spinal injury, bone fractures need immediate professional medical care. Many simple fractures may require no more than wearing a cast for six weeks. These may limit work and leisure activities for a temporary period of time but have no lasting consequences.
Complications With Broken Bones
Complications with bone fractures are common and the more complex breaks require surgery, medical implants, and rehabilitation. They can even become life-threatening.
Typical complications with broken bones include:
- Damage to surrounding nerves
- Artery and blood vessel injuries
- Tissue damage around the fracture site
- Damage to vital organs like the brain, lungs, liver, etc.
- Difficulty breathing
- Infections
- Loss of mobility
- Deformities with bone regrowth
- Chronic pain
Complications like these can lead to extensive time off work and loss of quality of life, considerable inconvenience in normal day-to-day life, as well as pain and suffering.
When combined with the emotional trauma of the accident itself, these long-term effects can be devastating.
What Damages Apply For Broken Bone Claims?
The exact nature of your accident and resultant injury will determine the damages you can claim from an accident in Washington. However, in general, we will seek the following economic and non-economic losses for victims that we represent:
- Medical costs – the costs associated with ambulance, emergency care, hospital, etc.
- Ongoing medical costs – medication, physical and mental therapy, wheelchair costs etc.
- Property damage – any losses incurred to your property e.g. your car
- Loss of income – lost wages due to missed work
- Loss of potential income – losses you will suffer because of future lost work
- Pain and suffering – past and future pain and suffering, including mental health issues
- Loss of quality of life – often applicable if there is a more permanent injury
What is Comparative Negligence?
Washington is a “comparative negligence” state. This means that even if you were partly at fault for the accident that caused your injury, you may be able to claim losses from another party (or parties) for their proportion of fault. If your case proceeds to trial, the court will decide the proportion of fault to be attributed to each party and the amount of compensation awarded will take this into account.
