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A car crash in South Florida can be devastating, whether during your I-95 commute in West Palm Beach or working your way up to University Drive in Davie. What happens immediately after broken bone injuries can affect the quality and length of time it takes for your recovery. The experienced car accident attorneys at Cecere Santana can protect your rights and make sure you get paid for your injuries.
How Bones Break in a Car Crash
Whenever the structure of a bone is damaged, the result is a broken bone. It is one of the most common auto accident injuries. It occurs as a result of the force of the energy involved and how much your body was tossed around during the crash. Circumstances that result in a fracture during a collision include:
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- Slamming forward into the safety belt
- Being struck by loose items in the vehicle or airbag
- Hitting the pavement when ejected from the auto
- Bracing for impact by moving to protect your face
Even if you are not moving at highway speeds, the accident can be forceful. For example, if you take an adult who weighs 150 pounds, riding in a car driving 30 mph, the force of the impact is equivalent to being hit by 15 tons of bricks.
Bones Broken in a Broward County Car Accident
Although any bone can be damaged in a car crash, some bones are more vulnerable to fractures than others, such as:
Clavicle – Also known as the collar bone, strengthens the connection between the rib cage, shoulder, and arm. Depending on the type and location of the break, it could require surgery, physical therapy, and several months for recovery.
Vertebrae in the back or neck – These fractures often occur in a head-on or rear-end collision. While minor fractures can heal with rest and medication, severe injuries may require surgical realignment. If left untreated, these injuries can lead to nerve damage, spinal cord injury, and paralysis.
Facial injuries – A broken nose, cheekbones, jaw, or orbital bones occur when the face meets the airbag or dashboard at high velocity. Depending on the extent of the damage, several surgeries may be required. Scarring or disfigurement could result.
Femur and Fibula – These are the primary upper and lower leg bones. A break often occurs when the collision causes the vehicle to crumple, and the forces generated are directed to the lower part of the occupant’s body.
Pelvic bone – When a car stops violently, the body is thrown into the lap restraint, which puts enormous pressure on the pelvic region. This pressure can cause the bone to break.
Skull fractures – These injuries occur when the head hits the steering wheel, dashboard, or window. Cranial injuries often go undetected in the immediate aftermath of the crash, as there may not be visible signs of damage.
Types of Fractures in a Car Crash
Not all bone breaks are the same. Understanding the type of injury sustained in the car accident helps determine its severity. These are some of the most common types of bone fractures.
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- Stress – A hairline break in the bone commonly found in the leg and foot.
- Closed or Simple – The bone breaks, but the skin doesn’t rupture.
- Open or Compound –The broken bone pierces the skin and exposes the body’s interior to infection.
- Displaced – The bone breaks and loses alignment or breaks into several pieces.
- Non-Displaced – Although fractured, the break doesn’t go all the way through the bone, and it maintains alignment.
- Avulsion – A small piece of bone completely separates from the rest of the segment.
- Oblique – The break occurs at an angle after fracturing under sharp pressure.
- Transverse – Occurring as a result of long-term stress or one traumatic shock, these breaks run perpendicularly to the bone.
Attorneys for Bone Fractures
Broward County car accidents can have life-altering consequences. Whether you live in Fort Lauderdale, Plantation, Sunrise, Pembroke Pines, Weston, Miramar, Cooper City, or Coral Springs, the team at Cecere Santana can evaluate your case; we can help you file a claim and fight to get you the settlement you deserve. Contact us today or call 800-753-5529 to schedule a free consultation to discuss your options. We can also schedule to meet you at home, work or hospital. No costs or fees if no recovery.
Featured Image: Shutterstock / JRC – Stop Motion
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