Broken bones from a DC truck accident are an unfortunate yet frequent occurrence. In a car accident, you run the risk of injury. But when you are in a collision with a truck, which is, on average, five times heavier than the typical car, your risk of catastrophic injury and broken bones increases substantially. In our 70 years of experience, we have discovered the devastating impact a truck accident can have on a victim’s life. In less severe collisions, you may suffer only minor soreness. We believe those people are the lucky ones. In countless cases, our clients have suffered broken bones and various other life-threatening ailments.
Fortunately, there are fewer highways in downtown Washington, D.C., than in other jurisdictions in the country. Accordingly, there should be less speeding. But, of course, that is only sometimes the case. Drivers find a way to speed on any road; that is true in DC, even with the copious number of speed cameras. When a truck collides with another vehicle, whether by rear-end or head-on collision, broken bones are a common occurrence. Here, we will discuss the types of broken bones typically sustained in truck accidents so you can better understand your injuries and their value. Additionally, we will discuss the legal avenues available as a plaintiff in a civil lawsuit. While you may have experience in car accidents, truck accidents present many new challenges. Specific regulations and liabilities associated with trucking do not apply in a typical car accident case.
After handling thousands of truck accident cases in DC, we have seen nearly all possible broken bones from a DC truck accident.
A simple fracture is also known as a closed fracture. In general, it is considered less severe than a broken bone from a DC truck accident. But while it does not sound as severe as a compound fracture, it means that the fracture does not poke out of the skin. However, these fractures can still be incredibly painful and restrictive. You may be restricted from performing daily functions for months. You are entitled to compensation for this pain and suffering. One of the few positives of a simple fracture is there is little risk of infection. We will explore infections related to broken bones later on, but they can be a legitimate concern in a truck accident case. Moreover, the defense may claim that you did not correctly mitigate your damages and successfully exclude the infection part of the injury from your claim.
Their success on that defense will depend on the facts of your case and the skill of your truck accident attorney. Meanwhile, a compound fracture, or open fracture, involves a fractured bone that does pierce the skin. The risk of infection is present with a compound fracture. Not only can the skin get infected, but the deeper tissue can also get infected. This presents a severe health risk that demands immediate medical attention. You may need surgery to address this issue. The necessity of surgery will increase the cost and the recovery time. Thus, a fracture that may have been a minor break initially can become more severe once it pokes through the skin and becomes compound.
Whether you are colliding with the dashboard, seatbelt, or steering wheel, rib fractures are among the most common broken bones from a DC truck accident. Valuing a broken rib for the sake of settlement is an interesting proposition. Your pain and suffering will typically be on par with your medical expenses. However, there is not much medical treatment to be done for a fractured rib. A treating physician will usually advise you to rest and relax. There is rarely a need for surgery. Further, physical therapy is not a necessity the way it may be for a fractured arm or leg. On the other hand, broken ribs can be incredibly painful. You may have difficulty breathing, which you do every second of every day. This contrasts with a broken arm or leg, which will only cause pain sometimes.
Our clients with broken ribs also complain of difficulty sleeping. You may not be able to lie down comfortably while sleeping because of your broken rib. You also need to be acutely aware of the possibility of pneumothorax or a collapsed lung. A broken rib can quickly puncture a lung, resulting in life-threatening injury and immense pain. Thus, while there is not much treatment to be done for a fractured rib, pain management and careful monitoring are imperative.
When a driver or passenger braces for impact, an arm can be among the broken bones from a DC truck accident. When a person suffers a simple arm fracture, they may place their arm in a sling or cast. However, if there is a compound fracture to the arm, surgery may be necessary to avoid infection and put the bone back inside the body. The length of recovery time can vary significantly depending on the fracture’s severity and the victim’s age. The longer the recovery time, the more compensation a plaintiff may receive for pain and suffering causally related to the DC truck accident.
Fractured legs are frequently among the broken bones from a DC truck accident. When we see a broken leg, it is typically the femur or thigh bone. Mainly, if a truck accident victim is not seatbelted in the front seat, their femurs will bear the brunt of the force. The force exerted in an accident with a semi-truck is substantial. A loaded truck is about five times heavier than the average car. Thus, as one might imagine, the force exerted when a person is not wearing a seatbelt is enough to create a clean break to both femurs. Note that the femur is the largest bone in the body. Thus, it takes a lot of force to break a femur. Meanwhile, it is also one of the most painful breaks. Moreover, recovery from a broken femur is an immense undertaking.
Surgery is more likely for a broken femur. Considering the way a femur is fractured in a DC truck accident, it is expected to be a compound break. Thus, surgery will be necessary. You may need crutches and a cast to protect your recovery. You also will likely need to participate in extensive physical therapy to return to normal. This may last several months.
The long-term impact of broken bones from a DC truck accident is two-fold. First, there is a debilitating impact on your quality of life, at least for a few months, as you heal. Broken bones are immensely restrictive of movement. If you enjoy any physical activity as a hobby, you may have to postpone the next time you participate because of your injury. You are entitled to compensation for this.
Second, it impacts your ability to work. If you work in any physically laborious job, you may be unable to perform that job with a broken bone. While you are entitled to compensation for lost wages causally related to the truck accident and excused by your doctor, your job performance will also suffer. While your employer may understand, it is ultimately unfavorable for your job, even though it is out of your control.
Our truck accident lawyers have been handling broken bones from DC truck accidents since our founding in 1954. Since then, we have handled thousands of personal injury cases, many of which have involved broken bones. If you believe you have a case, call our office today for a free consultation at (202) 331-7227.