Broken Bones in Virginia Pedestrian Accident Cases
Some of the most common broken bones in Virgina pedestrian accident cases occur when someone is struck by a large, heavy object moving at a fast rate of speed and their body cannot withstand that force. Bones break or impact injuries occur when the person is thrown or knocked off their feet and hits the ground. There are secondary impacts when a person is initially knocked off their feet or thrown in the air and then hit the ground and are unable to break their fall, or they break their fall with their hand, elbow, or wrist.
There are different kinds of broken bones in pedestrian accidents. At the initial impact stage when a vehicle strikes a pedestrian, there are lower body breaks, ankles, shins, legs, knees, and things like that. When they hit the ground, there are commonly upper body injuries to the wrists, arms, forearms, head, face, and neck from the hitting the pavement. If you have suffered similar injuries due to the negligence of another party, contact an experienced pedestrian accident lawyer to begin preparing your claim.
Common Injuries
Broken bones in Virginia pedestrian accident cases can range in severity such as:
- Broken ribs
- Broken arms
- Complex crush fracture that needs to be surgically set with screws and pins
- Back or neck fracture that could lead to serious injuries including paralysis
Bone pain can affect anyone who suffers an injury as a result of a pedestrian accident. They may be in a situation where they have to take painkillers to allow them to bear the physical pain associated with their recovery.
Impact of a Broken Bone
Broken bones in Virgina pedestrian accident cases can have a serious impact on anyone. At the very least, broken bones require a significant recovery period and may include rehabilitation, splinting, casting, and crutches. There is a recovery period with any broken bone which may also be a surgical period at the time of the initial broken bone.
Many times the break is a compound fracture where the bone breaks the skin, a complex fracture where the bone is displaced in other ways or an injury that has to be reset surgically to heal properly. Surgical procedures lead to additional recovery time, long-term consequences, and rehabilitation. Complex breaks result in a permanent injury. A permanent disability may include issues with walking, running, mobility, long term pain, and things of that nature.
Loss of Income During Recovery
There numerous situations where broken bones in Virgina pedestrian accident cases may lead to a decrease in earning capacity. Depending on the circumstances of the break and what restrictions they have, they may be unable to earn income the way they did before the accident. This is especially true when they earn income by being physically active and they are on their feet. They may work in an office where they sit at a desk for an extended period of time using a computer and writing and their ability is hampered because they have a broken hand, wrist, or leg.
If a person is medically unable to continue their job, they could be discharged as a result of their injury. If the person’s recovery takes a long period of time and they cannot maintain their position and there are no other alternatives at their current job, there may be issues with maintaining employment. If an individual cannot physically do a job that requires physical traits or otherwise using physical activity, they may lose employment.
Other Significant Costs
Many times when a person breaks a bone, they have an initial upfront cost going to the hospital. They may have initial surgery costs to have a bone reset or surgically set. There may be rehabilitation costs including casting, splinting, crutches, wheelchairs, and other medical expenses. There are physical therapy and rehabilitation costs as well.