Brockton Accident Victim Attorneys

Bone fractures are a common occurrence. Most people will experience at least two fractures over the course of their lifetime. Generally speaking, the older we get the weaker our bones grow. As we age our bones lose density becoming thinner and more brittle over time. Broken bones and fractures occur when the amount of force exerted on the bone is stronger than the bone. Car, truck and motorcycle accidents and other accidents producing high impact collisions are quite capable of generating enough force to break bones. Degenerative bone conditions like osteoporosis also make bones more susceptible to the stress generated in high impact collisions.

A fractured bone is the same thing as a broken, cracked or shattered bone. The difference between a serious and not so serious fracture depends on the location of the break. The extent of the injury depends on the effect the broken bone has on the surrounding tissue. Blood vessels and nerves can get damaged which can cause serious complications. The bone itself can get infected.

Fractures can be extremely painful for several reasons:

  • Pain fibers which are the source of pain are contained in nerve endings that surround the bone. The bone displaced by the fracture can come in contact with the nerve endings irritating the pain fibers.
  • Broken bones bleed just like a pricked finger. The blood and trauma causes swelling which produces pain.
  • When a bone breaks the surrounding muscles fight to keep the fractures and fragments in place. The muscles can get overworked causing spasms which are a source of pain.

Pain can be your friend because it makes it easier to detect fractures. A fracture can go undiagnosed if pain isn’t produced. That is why it is important to go to the emergency room if you have been involved in a car accident. Emergency room physician’s usually order trauma series CT Scans when a patient comes into the ER after a crash. These CT Scans are ordered to clear the patient of fractures. Doctors will usually have the cervical, lumbar and thoracic spine scanned.

Types Of Fractures

There are several types of fractures. Each fracture produces different symptoms and requires different treatment. Each fracture is unique:

  • A closed or simple fracture is a break that doesn’t pierce or disrupt the skin. These are the most common fractures and are fairly easy to treat./li>
  • Compression fractures usually occur in the thoracic or lumbar spine. People with osteoporosis are very susceptible to this type of fracture.
  • A comminuted fracture is like a shattered bone. This fracture occurs when the bone shatters or splits into several pieces.
  • An open or compound fracture is a break pierces through the skin. This fracture may break through the skin at first and then retreat back underneath the surface of the skin. A bone that has broken through the skin is exposed to harmful contaminants that exist outside the body. This creates a high risk of deep bone infection which could require surgery, the administration of antibiotics and removal of dead tissue.

Fracture injuries can have serious longer term medical effect:

  • A fracture that affects a growth plate can stop the bone from growing. There is a 4 percent chance a wrist fracture will result in growth plate arrest. A knee fracture, which is a common injury, has a 50 percent chance of preventing future bone growth. This can have a serious impact on a child that has not fully grown.
  • Fractures can contribute to future arthritis. A large number of people with hip arthritis have experienced a hip fracture.
  • Fractures can make the bone hyper sensitive to changes in temperature. A lot of people that had fractures in the past experience pain and stiffness when it gets cold or damp outside.

About Broken Bones Resulting from Accidents

Head and Facial Fractures

Leg, Knee and Ankle

Arm Fractures

Other

Children and Broken Bones

Schedule Your Free Consultation With An Experienced Personal Injury and Accident Victims Lawyer

Serving The Greater Boston Area And All Of Southeast Massachusetts

For over thirty years our attorneys have been helping accident victims secure the compensation they are entitle to. Our firm has settled hundreds of insurance injury claims over the last few years. Our firm takes cases on a contingency fee basis. This means there is no cost to you unless we get you compensation for your accident. If you or a loved one has sustained a fractured or broken bone as the result of a slip and fall accident or a car, truck or motorcycle accident call us today at (508) 588-0422 to schedule a free, no-obligation legal consultation.

We offer a free, no-obligation legal consultation to help you understand your rights and the value of your case.

Our knowledgeable and experienced Greater Boston accident claims and personal injury attorneys at The Law Offices of Gerald J. Noonan are available to assist clients throughout all of Southeast Massachusetts, including but not limited to Plymouth County including Brockton, Plymouth, Bridgewater, Marshfield, Hingham, Duxbury, Wareham, Abington, Rockland, Whitman, Hanson, Holbrook, Middleborough; Norfolk County including Quincy, Stoughton, Dedham, Weymouth, Braintree, Avon, Holbrook, Randolph, Canton, Sharon, Brookline, Franklin; Bristol County including New Bedford, Fall River, Taunton, Attleboro, Mansfield, Westport, Dartmouth, Easton, Raynham, Lakeville, Norton; Cape Cod, Hyannis, Falmouth, Barnstable and the Greater Boston area including Cambridge, Somerville, Medford, Everett, Lawrence, Lynn, Revere, Dorchester, Roxbury.