Broken Bone Injury Lawyer in Wisconsin

There are over 200 bones in the typical adult human body. If you are ever involved in an accident, you may find that one or more of those are fractured by the force of the impact. A broken bone may not sound that serious on paper, but in reality it can lead to temporary–and in some cases, permanent–disability that leaves you unable to walk or engage in other basic activities of daily living.

We often see broken bones in accidents caused by third-party negligence. This includes a car accident caused by a reckless driver, a slip-and-fall accident at a store that is improperly maintained, or even a nursing home patient suffering from abuse or neglect. Whatever the underlying cause, the victim has the right to seek full legal compensation for their injuries. Fitzpatrick, Skemp & Butler, LLC, is a team of dedicated Wisconsin broken bone injury lawyers who can help you in demanding accountability. Call us today to schedule a free consultation so we can evaluate your case and advise you of your options under the law.

How Do Broken Bones Injuries Occur in Wisconsin?

Just about any accident or incident involving a blunt force can lead to a bone fracture. Here are just a few of the more common broken bone injury scenarios that we see with our clients:

• Motor Vehicle Accidents: The typical passenger car weighs about 4,000 pounds, and a commercial truck may weigh as much as 80,000 pounds when loaded with cargo. These motor vehicles are dangerous weapons in the hands of a negligent driver. Indeed, the force of a car or truck accident often leads to multiple bone fractures for persons caught up in the carnage.
• Pedestrian and Bicycle Accidents: At least in a car, a passenger has some protection from the force of an impact. That is not the case when a motor vehicle strikes a pedestrian or bicyclist. These individuals are especially vulnerable to bone fractures due to their exposure to the elements.
• Slip and Fall Accidents: A wet floor at the supermarket often creates a significant risk of broken bones if an unsuspecting customer slips and falls. Property owners have certain legal obligations to keep their premises reasonably safe for customers and other invited guests. This means they can be held financially responsible for broken bone injuries.
• Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect: Nursing homes have a special legal duty to care for their residents, many of whom are vulnerable, elderly individuals. If the nursing home staff’s abuse or neglect leads to a resident suffering a bone fracture, the facility’s ownership can be held accountable.

How Serious Is a Broken Bone Injury in Wisconsin?

To be clear, the terms “broken bone” and “bone fracture” are one-in-the-same. From a medical standpoint, a bone fracture involves the “loss of continuity of the bone.” In broad terms, there are four types of bone fractures we commonly see in an accidents:

• Closed Fractures: Also known as “simple” or “stable” fracture, this is where the bone becomes misaligned but does not break through the body’s skin.
• Open Fractures: Also known as “compound” fractures, this is where the misaligned bone does break through the skin. This can lead to additional complications, as the open wound can become infected.
• Displaced Fractures: This describes an injury where a bone breaks into two or more pieces and the broken ends fall out of alignment. Such injuries are described as “comminuted” when the bone breaks into several pieces.
• Non-Displaced Fractures: This is where there is a partial or complete break in the bone, but the bone itself remains correctly aligned (i.e., there is no displacement).

The severity of broken bone injury often depends on where the fracture occurred. For instance, a broken arm may only require a few weeks in a cast, while a hip or pelvic bone fracture often requires surgery followed by months of rehabilitation. Additionally, a broken bone injury may become more severe if not properly treated. This is why it is imperative to always seek medical attention following any accident or sudden physical trauma.

What Compensation Can You Seek for Broken Bone Injuries in Wisconsin?

In a Wisconsin personal injury lawsuit, you can seek to hold a negligent party accountable for your economic and non-economic damages arising from an accident. With respect to broken bone injuries, your economic damages include all of the costs of your medical care and rehabilitation. So if you require surgery and are out of work for six months due to a broken bone sustained in a car accident, you can demand the negligent driver pay 100 percent of those expenses. You can even claim incidental expenses arising from your broken bone injury, such as the cost of hiring someone to care for your home while you recover, and the transportation costs incurred going to and from your medical and rehab appointments.

Non-economic damages refer to your intangible injuries and losses arising from a defendant’s negligence. There is no set formula for determining non-economic damages. Instead, a judge or jury will take into account the overall impact of the accident on your life. For instance, if you sustained a serious bone fracture, your non-economic damages would include your ongoing pain and suffering, your inability to participate in the same activities as you did before the injury, and even the psychological impact of living with permanent disfigurement.

Contact Our Wisconsin Broken Bone Injury Lawyers Today

At Fitzpatrick, Skemp & Butler, LLC, we understand that a broken bone is more than a minor inconvenience. It is a serious injury that can permanently affect your life. That is why our Wisconsin broken bone injury lawyers will work to obtain full and just compensation for your losses. Call us today to schedule a free consultation. We will be happy to answer any questions you have about the process of filing a personal injury claim, including how we charge for our services.