Car accidents can cause a wide range of bone injuries, from small cracks to severe fractures that require surgery and long-term rehabilitation. Understanding the most common types of bone injuries after a crash can help injured people recognize symptoms early and seek the right treatment.
What Are Common Fracture Locations?
Fractures and breaks are different words for the same type of injury. Some of the most frequently injured bones in car accidents are the arms, legs, ribs, collarbone, pelvis, spine, and skull. These injuries happen when the body is thrown forward, braces against impact, or is crushed by the force of the collision.
Arm fractures of the humerus, radius, or ulna occur when someone instinctively puts out their hands to protect themselves.
Leg fractures of the femur, tibia, or fibula happen in head-on crashes or side impacts as a result of the significant force absorbed by the lower body.
Ribs or the clavicle is often fractured when the upper body makes contact with the steering wheel or dashboard. In serious crashes, the skull can fracture after striking a hard surface leaving the brain underneath damaged.
Fractures in the upper body can cause severe pain and disrupt breathing. Lower body fractures can seriously affect mobility and require lengthy recovery periods and, in some cases, cause nerve damage and other complications.
What Are the Different Types of Bone Fractures?
Not all fractures are the same. A break may be classified by how the bone is damaged, how far it has shifted, or whether the skin is broken. The following are some of the most common types of bone fractures:
- Hairline fracture: a thin crack in the bone that is not a complete break
- Simple fracture: the bone breaks but does not puncture the skin
- Compound fracture: the broken bone breaks through the skin, which can lead to infection
- Transverse fracture: the bone is broken in a straight line
- Oblique fracture: the bone break is at an angle
What Are Common Symptoms of a Bone Fracture?
Not all bone injuries are obvious immediately. Common symptoms include pain, swelling, bruising, deformity, reduced range of motion, and an inability to bear weight or use the injured limb normally.
Some fractures may seem minor at first but worsen over time if untreated. In the aftermath of a crash, adrenaline may mask symptoms and obscure the fact that a bone has been injured. Any pain that becomes more severe after a crash, especially in the chest, back, hips, arms, or legs, should be evaluated promptly.
Treatment and Recovery
Treatment depends on the type and severity of the fracture. Many broken bones are treated with immobilization using a cast or splint, whereas more serious fractures may need surgery to realign and stabilize the bone.
Recovery can take several weeks or months, and severe injuries may require physical therapy to restore strength and movement. In major crashes, bone injuries can also be accompanied by nerve damage, internal trauma, or long-term pain that affects everyday life.
Compensation for Bone Injuries After a Car Accident in Piscataway
Because bone injuries can lead to expensive treatment, missed work, and lasting pain, it is important to document everything after a crash. Medical records, imaging tests, and follow-up care help connect the injury to the accident and show the full extent of the harm. For victims, the key is to get medical care quickly and work with an experienced attorney who can explain your legal options for compensation. Broken bones may heal, but the financial and physical impact of a serious fracture can last much longer.
Piscataway Car Accident Lawyers at Mikita & Roccanova, LLC, Recover Compensation for Injured Victims of Negligent Drivers
If you have been in a motor vehicle collision, the Piscataway car accident lawyers at Mikita & Roccanova, LLC, know what it takes to get the compensation you need for your car accident injuries. Our experienced legal team will review your case and fight for you. Schedule a free initial consultation with one of our attorneys by visiting our website or by calling us today at 732-705-3363. We have offices in Hazlet and Piscataway, NJ, and we serve clients in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.