Dallas Broken Bone Attorneys

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Helping Dallas Orthopedic Injury Victims

Knowing that The Lenahan Law Firm represents only those who have suffered a severe injury, one of the most common questions we’re asked is, “Well, what do you consider to be a ‘severe injury?’”

Everything that required emergency surgery, or worse.

Bad breaks and bad joint injuries certainly qualify. Hard recoveries and lifelong consequences are very common. We at The Lenahan Law Firm understand that. If you suffered a severe fracture due to someone else’s negligence, you should not hesitate to contact our Dallas orthopedic injury attorneys. Our track record demonstrates that we have the necessary skills to secure full compensation for your trauma. We can sit down with you in a free consultation to discuss what happened to you and explain all of your options. Call us today at (214) 295-1008.

"I had a broken scapula, & multiple broken vertebrae's in my spine. I had to have surgery & was hospitalized for a couple days...He worked very hard to make sure that I was compensated financially for all that had happened to me..."
- Nikki B

The Different Kinds of Breaks

Anything that causes damage to the musculoskeletal system, which includes bones, muscles, tendons, and ligaments, can cause orthopedic injuries. Because the musculoskeletal system is such a large portion of the body, and parts of it are so fragile and finely tuned, even small things, like typing too much, can cause tears and trauma. In the majority of cases, an orthopedic injury involves some type of broken bone.

Not all fractures are the same, and the kind that you have suffered will dictate what kind of treatment you need in order to recover. Some breaks require surgery, others amputation, and some may even heal on their own if you are careful. When it comes to breaks caused by accidents, some of the most common types are:

• Open fractures: This is when the broken bone pierces the skin, causing the bone to be partially exposed. This is incredibly dangerous, as the wound could easily become infected.
• Displaced fractures: If the bone breaks and is thus misaligned from where it is supposed to be in the body, then it is considered a displaced fracture.
• Stress fractures: These fractures are fairly minor, just a small crack in the bone. You may not even notice if you developed a stress fracture initially, as they often don’t hurt much and may even heal on their own with proper rest.
• Avulsion: Avulsions are incredibly serious and may require surgery. This kind of injury occurs when the break in the bone causes a tear in a tendon or ligament.
• Transverse: If the bone breaks completely, essentially snapping in two, then is a transverse break. These kinds of breaks can easily rupture the skin, causing further damage.
• Oblique: When two bones twist over each other, causing a diagonal break, it is considered an oblique break. These are most common in car accidents.
• Comminuted fracture: If the bone is broken in several pieces, such as with crush injuries, then it is comminuted. This kind of injury may require amputation, as it may be impossible to completely reset the bone and heal it properly.

What Are Common Causes?

Bones help us hold our shape and support our bodies. As such, they are made to withstand large amounts of force. They are not unbreakable, however. If the body is hit with enough impact, it can very easily fracture bones. There are many ways that a severe orthopedic injury can occur. Some of the most common ones are:

• Car crashes
• Motorcycle accidents
• Pedestrian accidents
• Boating accidents
• Truck wrecks
• Bike accidents
• Slip/trip and falls
• Airplane crashes
• Amusement park accidents
• ATV accidents
• Defective firearm injuries
• Workplace injuries

Any of these situations can leave you feeling helpless and in extreme pain, both physically and emotionally. You shouldn’t have to pay for someone else’s bad decisions and negligence. The injuries won’t disappear, but the medical bills might with an experienced personal injury lawyer at your side.

What Are Symptoms to Watch For?

Orthopedic injuries, when they’re severe, can be devastating. However, because they are often internal, it can be hard to know just how catastrophic the damage is. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms after an accident, it likely means there is something incredibly wrong and that you should seek medical help immediately.

• Bones sticking out at an odd, unnatural angle
• Major swelling
• Excruciating pain when breathing
• Limb(s) unable to hold any weight
• Extreme pain when moving
• Bones piercing through the skin

Accidents, whether you were a passenger, driver, or pedestrian, are traumatic and dangerous enough. You shouldn’t risk a worsened medical condition as well. If you have been involved in any sort of accident, the first thing you should do is get medical assistance. Once you have undergone the necessary treatments, contact a skilled Dallas personal injury attorney so that you can start making your case right away.

How Can Broken Bones Cost You?

A small fracture, such as with a stress injury, is unlikely to impact you a great deal. The cost of medical aid will be relatively low, and you won’t have to change your life much to recover. Overall, the break will likely become just another memory once it has healed, and you can spend your energy on your emotional recovery. A serious break, such as an avulsion or a comminuted fracture, however, is a completely different story.

For serious breaks, you may be required to undergo surgery in order to heal. These surgeries could involve reattaching a torn tendon or ligament, or the amputation of a limb that was too damaged to save. In either case, your medical costs are likely to be incredibly high. On top of that, recovering after a major surgery requires a long period of rest, meaning you may not be able to work. After a case of amputation, if your job requires you to be abled-bodied, you may never be able to go back and will be forced to look for a new job or even career.

The combination of time off from work and high medical bills is very likely to leave you in a difficult financial situation. So, on top of the emotional trauma you suffered in your accident, you will also have to worry about how you will pay rent, put food on the table, and buy yourself and any family members necessities like clothes and school/work supplies. That is why filing a claim against the party that is at fault for your injuries is so important.

Filing a Personal Injury Claim in Dallas

Long-term or permanent disability is an expensive condition to live with. Going to work may be impractical and even daily chores may be impossible. However, filing a claim can mean financial liberation, as well as create a nest egg so that you can live your life as comfortably as possible while you recover.

It is important to remember that insurance adjusters and the companies they work for care more about their profits than they do about your well-being. This means that they will work very hard to get you to take the lowest possible amount in compensation. Before you decide to accept a settlement that seems to be "fair," you should talk to a Dallas bone fracture lawyer who is experienced in evaluating the consequences of severe injuries. Medical complications such as the following can mean new surgeries and expensive long-term care:

• Nerve damage
• Serious infection
• Bones that won't mend

Get the Help You Need From Our Dallas Injury Attorneys

Many people innocently think that large insurance companies are going to offer a truly fair settlement out of concern for their well-being, both now and in the future. In general, an insurance company only offers what is absolutely necessary in order to settle the claim as quickly as possible.

The legal team at The Lenahan Law Firm understands the financial and emotional stress you may be experiencing. Also, we are fully aware that if a settlement agreement is entered into too early, it may leave the victim without the means to cover future medical care.

We draw on the expertise of medical professionals and other such experts in order to ensure that your injury and damage claims include all of your losses, past and future. In some cases, punitive damages may also be assessed.

A personal injury attorney at our firm focuses on a select few severe injury cases at a time, providing the necessary, committed attention to each client's needs.

Additional Information

• Fractures - MedlinePlus
• Muscle and Bone Diseases - National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
• Fractures - Merck Manual
• Fractures (Broken Bones) - OrthoInfo