Broken Bones from College Park Pedestrian Accidents
Pedestrians do not have the protection of a vehicle or any other protection. It is a vehicle coming into contact with the body and under all circumstances the person is going to be on the losing end. Serious injuries very often result, such as broken hips and legs to include the femur, tibia, the fibula, knees, ankles, arms, elbows, and wrists. Many times pedestrians suffer head injuries from the contact itself and being thrown on to the car and the ground. There are many serious and oftentimes catastrophic injuries to pedestrians. Anyone who suffers these injuries in a pedestrian accident should consult with a College Park attorney to determine whether they may be able to file a claim and seek compensatory damages for their injuries.
Impact of Broken Bones on a Person’s Life
Broken bones are very disabling in terms of mobility. For example, if someone’s leg is broken and they are in a cast, their mobility is severely restricted. If their arm is broken, particularly their dominant arm, they are severely limited in performing normal activities both of a recreational and work nature. If the break is serious and surgery is required, then they must undergo a surgical procedure to repair the bone and promote the union of the broken bones. The injured party will be unable to carry out normal functions such as bathing, grooming, cooking, cleaning, and the like for a period of time. Such restrictions are very disabling over a period of time until recovery allows for a gradual resumption of activities.
Effect on Employment
Broken bones can be very disabling in terms of earning income. The lack of mobility and severe restrictions can cause an extended absence from work while recovering from injury. The injured party likely will not be mobile enough to travel for a period and will be restricted in the activities of daily living, such that work will not be possible, leading to loss of income. While recovering from injury, the injured party likely will not be able to work. Lack of mobility and being restricted to a wheelchair, walker, or crutches inhibit the ability to work.
Additionally, depending on the seriousness of the injuries, the injured party may not be able to return to the type of work in which they were engaged at the time of the accident. Therefore, there may be a gap in employment while seeking work within those restrictions.
Medical Treatment and Bills
Serious injury such as broken bones may require hospitalization, surgery followed by orthopedic care, physical therapy, and rehabilitation as well as a lengthy recovery period. The injured party will incur substantial medical bills resulting from the necessary treatment. Hopefully, the injured party has health insurance to cover the medical bills for treatment. But, in many instances, there will be out-of-pocket expenses or deductibles and co-pays.
Additionally, the health insurer will likely be entitled to repayment of the liens or payments made for injuries resulting from the incident from any compensation recovered. Broken bones are some of the most painful type injuries that can be sustained in a pedestrian collision. It goes without saying that breaking a bone is very painful in and of itself. Many times such injuries are painful for an extended period of time.
Many times there are many procedures—both surgical and rehabilitative—that the person has to undergo, which is painful as well. The healing process can be lengthy and painful. The pain may be managed by strong pain medication. Broken bones are some of the most common injuries in pedestrian accidents. They vary from hairline fractures to single and multiple fractures, to compound fractures, to skull fractures. No broken bone is minor, but some are surgical repairs, some require casting, some require hospitalization, and some do not. The type of injuries and broken bones that can occur run the gamut because of the serious nature of the injury from the collision of a vehicle with someone’s body.
