Bone Fractures After a Car Accident in San Antonio

A car accident can exert a great deal of force on the people inside the vehicle. If the force is too much for the victim’s body to withstand, it can result in bone fractures. Broken bones are painful and debilitating injuries that can cause immense losses for the victim. If you suffer this type of injury in an automobile accident in San Antonio, learn how to protect your rights.

Types of Fractures

A car accident victim can sustain a variety of different types of bone fractures depending on the nature of the collision. Possibilities include a simple or closed fracture, where the bone breaks but does not pierce the skin, or a compound (open) fracture, which does pierce the skin. 

There are also displaced fractures, where pieces of broken bone move out of alignment, and comminuted bone fractures, where the bone gets shattered into multiple pieces. Finally, there are hairline or stress fractures, which describe a small crack in the bone but not a total break.

Common Broken Bones in a Car Accident

The dynamics of the average motor vehicle accident mean that certain bones suffer fractures more often than others. The position of a motor vehicle driver, for example, often leads to knee and chest injuries due to the body’s impact with the steering column, a seat belt or airbag. 

Commonly injured bones in a car accident include:

• Ribs
• Clavicle 
• Arms 
• Knees and legs
• Pelvis
• Hips
• Spine
• Skull

Broken bones can lead to a variety of health complications. For example, a broken rib could puncture a lung, leading to a life-threatening emergency called pneumothorax, or collapsed lung. Other complications include nerve damage, internal bleeding, organ damage, traumatic brain injuries and permanent paralysis.

How Do Car Accidents Cause Bone Fractures?

Bone fractures may occur in an automobile accident due to an impact between the victim’s body and an object inside of the vehicle, such as the steering wheel, dashboard or windshield. Even if the victim is wearing a seat belt, contact with the safety harness or airbag could be powerful enough to crack or break bones. If the victim gets ejected from the vehicle, the force of landing on the road can also result in fractures.

Seeking Compensation for Broken Bones After a Car Accident in San Antonio 

In Texas, the car insurance system holds the at-fault party accountable for causing a crash. The car insurance company of the at-fault driver will pay for others’ damages, including medical care for broken bones. As a victim with a bone fracture, you could recover financial compensation by filing a claim with the at-fault driver’s car insurance provider. 

You or your car accident attorney in San Antonio must prove that the other driver caused the crash through an act of negligence or carelessness, such as speeding or distracted driving. You must also provide medical evidence documenting your fractures. Your lawyer can help you submit the evidence needed for a strong insurance claim.

Do I Need a Car Accident Attorney for Broken Bones?

Hiring a San Antonio personal injury attorney can make it easier to recover the financial compensation that you need for broken bone injuries after an automobile accident. To request a free consultation with a car accident attorney in San Antonio, contact Hill Law Firm Accident and Injury Attorneys. We have years of experience representing victims with broken bones.