Bone Fracture Injuries In a Car Accident

Car accidents are one of the leading causes of accidental injuries in the U.S.—second only to falls. Fractures are among the most common injuries suffered in car crashes. Broken bones are not only painful, but they are also temporarily debilitating and in the worst cases can cause permanent disability, especially in the elderly.

What Types of Bone Fractures Occur In Car Accidents?

Bones in the human body form the support system holding us upright and protecting our organs. When a powerful impact occurs, it sometimes causes the bone to break under the force. Types of fractures that often occur in car accidents include the following types:

• Simple fractures occur when a bone snaps in a single clean break that doesn’t pierce the skin
• Compound fractures occur when the broken end of a fractured bone pierces the skin
• Comminuted fractures occur when a bone shatters or breaks in at least three places
• Segmental fractures occur when a bone breaks in two places and leaves a portion of the bone separated or “floating” between the two other pieces
• Compression fractures happen when bones are forced together under pressure and crush where they collide, typically in the vertebrae
• Greenstick fractures occur in children due to their more flexible bones and happen when a bone bends and splits
• Bow fractures happen when bones bend into bow shapes but don’t snap, typically in children
• A spiral fracture occurs when part of the bone twists during the break
• Longitudinal fractures occur when a bone breaks along its length instead of in a horizontal break 

Car accident lawyers in Atlanta suggest any of the above bone fractures can occur in car accidents, causing pain and temporary mobility problems.

What Bones Commonly Break In Car Accidents?

The crash force of an accident causes severe trauma to the body’s skeletal system when the collision propels the motorist forward and then the seatbelt abruptly snaps them back against the seat cushion. According to crash force calculations, a 130-pound person becomes an astonishing 5,850-pound force in an accident at only 45 miles per hour. At the same time, the metal structure of the vehicle collapses inward at collision points, commonly causing blunt force trauma to vehicle occupants. 

Bones often fracture in car accidents due to both blunt force trauma to limbs and the strong jarring or shaking during the collision. Fractures in car accidents occur to limbs, hips, ribs, pelvis, clavicle, and spinal vertebrae. In some cases, these fractures can be life-altering. For example, hip fractures are disabling injuries in the elderly and may lead to shortened life expectancy. When burst fractures occur to spinal vertebrae, shards of bones may damage the spinal cord, causing paralysis below the point of injury.

What Damages Can I Recover After Car Accident Fracture Injuries?

Broken bones are expensive to treat, especially when they cause temporary or permanent immobility. Common damages recovered in car accident claims for fractures, include past and future medical expenses, past and future income loss if the fracture prevents a prompt return to work, and compensation for pain and suffering. If the fracture causes permanent disability, a car accident injury victim could file a claim with a skilled personal injury attorney in Atlanta to recover compensation for loss of enjoyment of life or diminished quality of life.