This page was written, edited, reviewed & approved by Justin C. Olsinski following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. Justin C. Olsinski, the Founding Partner, has 16+ years of legal experience as an attorney.
Broken bones from car accidents happen often in Charlotte. Even minor car crashes can cause serious broken bone injuries. The human body can't withstand sudden crash forces. When you break bones in a car accident, it often means you'll be facing months of medical treatment and physical therapy.
At Olsinski Law, we help people in Charlotte get compensation for their injuries. We serve clients in Rowan, Gaston, Union, Iredell, Cleveland, Mecklenburg, and Cabarrus counties.
Car crashes create strong forces that cause bone fractures throughout the human body. Your body moves fast when cars stop suddenly during collisions. Bone fractures take much longer to heal than cuts or bruises that fade quickly. These serious injuries happen when bones in the body hit hard surfaces inside vehicles.
Common bone fractures happen because many bones are easily broken under extreme pressure. The strongest bones can shatter during high-speed car crashes or rollover accidents. Steering wheels, dashboards, and windows cause many arm fractures and facial bones to break. We handle many personal injury cases with severe fractures at our law firm every year.
Auto accident victims often don't realize how many different injuries occur during a single crash. The human body has over 200 bones that can break in various ways. Some fractures cause immediate pain, while others develop symptoms hours or days later. Pain management becomes a critical part of recovery for most bone injury patients.
Your body keeps moving forward when your car stops suddenly in a crash. Seat belts save lives, but can also cause compression fractures to your ribs. The steering wheel often breaks arms when drivers brace themselves for impact. Your legs hit the dashboard with tremendous force and cause serious leg fractures.
The upper leg contains the body's longest bone, which can snap under high-pressure impact. Knees slam into dashboards and cause fractures that require months of healing time. Crash forces violently throw occupants around inside cars like rag dolls during collisions. Bones hit hard surfaces and break easily during these violent impacts.
Airbags deploy at over 100 miles per hour and can cause their own injuries. The sudden inflation can break small bones in the hands, wrists, and arms. Front-seat passengers face different injury patterns than those sitting in back seats.
Side crashes often result in the worst bone fractures because car doors typically don't provide sufficient protection. T-bone accidents often result in multiple fractures on the impact side of the body. Rollover crashes create many opportunities for bones to break as bodies tumble inside vehicles. Arms and legs get hurt when people instinctively try to shield themselves from impact.
The rib cage breaks easily under pressure from seat belts during sudden stops. Pelvic fracture injuries are particularly serious because this area supports your entire body weight. These breaks often require surgical repair and months of physical therapy to heal properly. Clavicle fractures happen when the shoulders slam into car doors or windows with great force.
Head-on collisions cause different injury patterns than side impacts or rear-end crashes. Each type of accident creates unique risks for specific bones throughout the body. Understanding these patterns enables doctors to provide more effective emergency care to crash victims.
The most frequently fractured bones in car accidents consist of:
Auto accident victims often suffer different injuries based on where they sit. Drivers get more upper-body injuries from steering wheels. Back seat passengers usually have more broken leg bones from hitting the front seats. Wrist fractures also happen when people put their hands out to break their fall.
Different bone breaks need different medical treatment approaches:
The type of fracture affects your recovery period and medical expenses. Complex breaks that require surgery cost much more than simple fractures. A crush injury to bones often needs surgical intervention to heal properly. Doctors must treat bone fractures promptly to prevent other injuries from worsening.
Broken bones cause severe pain for months during the healing process. You can't work when you have broken legs or arm and leg fractures. Many people lose money for several weeks while their bones heal. Physical therapy sessions are helpful, but they also take time away from work.
These common injuries make simple daily tasks extremely challenging. Many people feel sad or worried during long recovery times. Some fractures never heal quite right and cause permanent problems.
Long-term issues may include arthritis, ongoing pain, or reduced mobility in the affected areas.
Emergency doctors use X-rays and CT scans to see broken bones clearly. Quick diagnosis helps prevent complications that could worsen the injuries. Medical treatment depends on which bones are broken and how badly.
Simple fractures might only need a cast to keep the bone in place. Serious breaks require surgery with pins or plates. Most fractures require a period of six to eight weeks for complete healing. Complex fractures can take several months before you can work again.
Emergency teams stop bleeding and manage pain first. They use splints to keep broken bones still before taking X-rays. Immediate medical attention prevents blood clots and infections. Emergency doctors also check for brain injuries that might not show symptoms right away. Obtaining medical attention promptly facilitates the proper healing of bones over time.
Simple breaks can heal with casts alone when bones line up correctly. Surgical repair becomes necessary when bones shatter or move out of place. Metal implants help hold bone pieces together during healing. Surgery takes longer to recover from and requires more physical therapy.
Some patients require physical therapy for months after surgical intervention to regain full movement.
Follow these important steps after a car crash:
Missing medical appointments gives insurance companies reasons to question your injuries. Take photos of visible injuries and save all medical reports. Record the impact of injuries on your everyday life and work capabilities.
Complete medical records prove how serious your injuries are in personal injury cases. Missing treatment or stopping care early hurts your claim value. Retain copies of all test results and medical reports. A physical therapist can provide records showing your recovery progress.
This documentation helps lawyers demonstrate to insurance companies the full extent of the impact of your broken bones.
Broken bones might seem healed, but complications can appear later. Some fractures can develop into infections or chronic pain that require additional medical care. Early settlements often don't include provisions for future medical expenses. Insurance companies want quick settlements before you understand the full injury costs. Once you accept money, you can't ask for more later, even if complications develop.
A car accident lawyer protects your rights and calculates your injury value correctly. We know how to prove fault and negotiate with insurance companies. Our experience with bone fracture cases enables us to advocate for fair compensation. Insurance companies have lawyers working to pay you less money.
You need legal representation to get fair payment for pain, medical bills, and lost wages. We understand how broken bones affect your life and fight for every dollar you deserve.
Don't let insurance companies take advantage after you suffer broken bones in a crash. Contact Olsinski Law today for a free consultation about your case. We'll review your injuries and explain your legal options clearly.
Our team is well-equipped to handle complex bone injury cases and secure the maximum compensation for our clients. Call today to protect your rights and start building a strong case.
Mr. Olsinski founded his criminal defense practice in Charlotte, NC, in January 2010. He has successfully defended cases ranging from B1 Felony First Degree Sex Offenses/First Degree Murder to Misdemeanor marijuana charges.
"*" indicates required fields
