Broken Bones in Car Accidents

Car Accident Injuries

Broken bones are a common consequence of car crashes because of the extreme force exerted on the bones. Serious broken bone injuries that can result from New York car accidents include pelvic fractures, fractures to the sternum and/or ribs, and skull fractures. Other debilitating and painful types of broken bone injuries include fractures to the ankle, femur, collarbone, and neck, as well as spinal cord related injuries, such as crushed vertebrae. It is not uncommon for broken bones in car accidents to require surgery as the injuries often include multiple fractures or crush injuries. In either case, reconstructive surgery may be required. Depending on what bones were broken in the motor vehicle accident, recovery could take a substantial amount of time, resulting in considerable medical expenses and loss of income.

The New York motor vehicle accident attorneys at Block O'Toole & Murphy have considerable experience dealing with car crashes resulting in multiple fractures. They attained a $12,000,000 settlement on behalf of a child who suffered numerous broken bones when struck by a car. Along with organ damage, the plaintiff sustained eight broken bones, including a right femoral leg fracture, a right tibia fibula fracture, a left tibia fibula fracture, a fracture to the left distal femoral growth plate, a fracture to the left tibial condyle and growth plate and a left humeral fracture, in addition to multiple pelvic fractures.

Types of Broken Bone Injuries

A car accident in New York can result in any or all of the following types of broken bones:

• Buckle Fractures: Also called a "torus fracture" or "incomplete fracture," this is when part of a bone buckles or ruptures, but does not entirely break. Children are more likely to suffer buckle fractures in car accidents, because their bones are softer.
• Greenstick Fracture: Similar to the buckle fracture, these are more common in children with softer bones and refer to when part of the bone fractures, but the other side of it bends.
• Hairline Fractures: Also called a stress fracture, these are small cracks in the bone. Unlike most other types of broken bones, a hairline fracture could occur in a car accident and initially go unnoticed.
• Transverse Fracture: This refers to a fracture that runs directly across the bone, at a right angle to the long axis of the bone. This is typically the consequence of a direct blow to the bone, snapping it into two pieces.
• Avulsion Fracture: This is when a tendon or ligament that attaches to a bone pulls off a piece of the bone; in extreme cases, surgery may be required.
• Oblique Fracture: This is a break to the bone which is at a diagonal to the long axis of the bone. These are uncommon, and generally occur when one bone gets trapped and the other bone twists over it. The violent force of a car accident could cause an oblique fracture.
• Comminuted Fracture: This is when the bone is broken into at least three pieces. The crushing force in a motor vehicle accident could cause this multi-fragmentary fracture, which is very difficult to treat.
• Compound Fracture: When the force of an accident causes a broken bone to break the skin, this is called a compound fracture. There is a significant risk of infection and complications in these cases.

If you or a loved one has suffered a broken bone injury in a car accident in New York, our attorneys may be able to help you recover compensation for damages. Contact us today for a free case review.