Pennsylvania Fracture Injury Attorney

A broken bone may seem like a minor injury, but the consequences can be severe. Those who have suffered bone fractures can face steep medical bills, loss of mobility, an inability to work and intense pain and suffering. When a fracture occurs because of an accident or event that could have been avoided, the person who suffers it deserves to be compensated.

If you or someone close to you has suffered a broken bone in a personal injury or workplace accident, the attorneys at Caroselli, Beachler & Coleman, L.L.C. are here to help. Since 1972, we have been standing up for individuals who have been injured because of someone else’s negligence in Pittsburgh and communities throughout Pennsylvania. Our practice is focused on helping injury victims get back on their feet, and over the years, we have recovered millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements on behalf of our clients.

We understand that fracture injuries can take a major physical, emotional, and financial toll on victims and their families, and we are here to provide skilled legal representation and moral support during this difficult time. We work closely with our clients, and we look at all potential legal avenues to help them recover maximum compensation. Whether through a workers’ comp claim, personal injury lawsuit, or Social Security disability claim, we are ready to help get you the compensation you deserve for your injuries.

Types of Fracture Injuries

Fractures are broken down into a number of different categories based on the type and severity of the break:

• Transverse Fracture: A fracture that occurs at a 90-degree angle in a straight line across the bone. This happens when the impact is perpendicular to the site of the injury.

• Stable Fracture: This refers to a clean break in the bone in which its parts are in alignment and the bone remains in its original position.

• Comminuted Fracture: The opposite of a stable fracture, a comminuted fracture is one that fragments the bone. This type of fracture happens most commonly with traumatic events such as auto accidents.

• Oblique Fracture: In this type of fracture, the bone breaks at an angle. Oblique fractures are most common with longer bones such as the tibia or femur.

• Hairline Fracture: Also known as stress fractures, these are hairline cracks in the bones that do not result in a complete break. Hairline fractures are most common with legs and feet, and they often occur with athletes due to the frequency and/or intensity of workouts or sports.

• Compound Fracture: This is a very severe fracture in which the broken bone penetrates the skin and causes an open wound. Compound fractures will almost always require surgery to stabilize the break and clean the area where the wound is located to avoid infection.

• Greenstick Fracture: With this type of fracture, only a portion of the bone is broken but it doesn’t go all the way through. Greenstick fractures are most common with children because they have bones that are not fully developed.

• Spiral Fracture: This is a serious fracture that happens in a twisting, forceful, and spiral-like motion and results in the bone breaking cleanly into two fragments.

• Pathological Fracture: This is a fracture that occurs mostly with aging and elderly individuals because of conditions such as arthritis that weaken the bones.

The seriousness of a fracture injury depends largely on not only the type of fracture, but where in the body it occurs. Common broken bone injuries that happen in accidents include:

• Skull Fractures
• Broken Arm, Hand, Or Wrist
• Broken Leg, Foot, Or Ankle
• Broken Ribs
• Broken Back
• Broken Face Bones
• Hip Fractures

Every fracture injury is extremely painful, and recovery time will vary depending on the type and location of the break, the age of the victim, and other factors. In general, younger people who suffer broken bone injuries will heal considerably faster than older victims. In any case, bone fractures typically require an extended amount of time to heal, during which the injured individual may need multiple surgeries, physical therapy, and other types of rehabilitation.

Helping Victims of Broken Bone Injuries

No two broken bone accidents are the same. Many people suffer bone fractures in auto accidents. Some people suffer multiple broken bones in truck accidents. Other broken bone injuries are caused by defective products. And still others are caused by serious accidents in the workplace. If you have suffered a broken bone injury, it is important to seek medical treatment. It is also important to have an experienced injury attorney on your side.

As we talked about earlier, our attorneys are well-versed in personal injury and related areas of the law, and we can help you pursue all avenues of compensation for your fracture/broken bone injury. This may include:

Workers’ Compensation Claim

If your broken bone injury happened in the workplace, then your first recourse is usually to file a workers’ compensation claim. Workers’ comp is a no-fault system, meaning you should be able to recover benefits regardless of how your injury occurred (with a few exceptions). Recovering the benefits that you are entitled to is not always easy, however, and our attorneys can help ensure that your claim is processed smoothly.

If you qualify for workers’ comp benefits, you should receive coverage for reasonable and necessary medical expenses, a portion of your lost wages, rehabilitation costs, and a few other reimbursements. Unfortunately, this program does not provide compensation for intangible losses such as pain-and-suffering. That said, some workplace injuries are caused by parties other than the employer, in which case you may be able to sue the responsible party directly and recover these costs.

Personal Injury Claim

If you had an injury at work that was caused by an outside party, or you suffered a fracture injury in an accident or event that resulted from someone else’s negligence, then you may be able to file a personal injury lawsuit against the party that was at fault. As mentioned in the previous section, a personal injury claim allows you to recover damages not only for direct monetary losses such as medical bills and lost wages, but also for noneconomic losses such as pain-and-suffering, emotional distress, and diminished quality of life.

Social Security Disability (SSD) Claim

If you suffered a severe fracture, you may be eligible to receive Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits. Essentially, any fracture that is not expected to heal within 12 months and/or results in complications that cause permanent debilitating conditions may qualify you for SSD. But even if you are eligible, it is extremely difficult to successfully recover SSD benefits, and the majority of claimants are denied in their initial application. Our attorneys can examine your case to see if you qualify, and if so, we can help ensure that your application is properly submitted.

Contact the Skilled and Compassionate Broken Bone Injury Attorneys at Caroselli, Beachler & Coleman

Have you or has someone close to you suffered a broken bone in a personal injury or workplace accident? Contact us today online or by telephone at 412-391-9860 or toll free at 866-466-5789 to speak with an experienced Pittsburgh broken bones lawyer. Initial consultations are free and confidential.