Fractures Suffered In Florida Accidents
Most people have broken a bone at some point during their lifetime. Often, a fracture is seen as so ordinary that even if you sustain one because of another person’s negligence, you may think it too inconsequential to bother with. However, poorly healed fractures can linger for a lifetime, and cause much more pain and difficulty than one ever thinks possible. If you have sustained broken bones due to someone else’s negligence, it is a good idea to seek both medical treatment and monetary compensation as soon as possible.
Several Types Of Fractures
When the average person thinks of when they discuss broken bones or fractures is the contained type, which heals in four to eight weeks, and is not generally seen as worthy of going through the trouble of a lawsuit. This may be true for some. However, if someone has caused your injuries through negligence, it is important that you know you have the right to seek damages for what you have been through. In addition, a fracture can cause lifelong damage if not properly assessed or treated quickly enough.
For example, compound or ‘open’ fractures happen when a fracture pierces the skin, which not only requires immediate surgery most of the time, but is notoriously prone to infection. Another type that can have severe and long-lasting consequences is a comminuted or ‘shatter’ fracture, where the bone splinters into multiple pieces. Because the bone fragments are often so small, it can be very difficult for even the most able professional to reconstruct the bone successfully if they do not face the injury in time.
Filing Suit
If you believe that your injuries were caused by the negligence of another person, filing suit in Florida may be your next step. That said, if you sustained broken bones in a vehicle accident, you will be prevented from suing unless your injuries are “significant and permanent,” within a “reasonable degree of medical probability.” Florida is a no-fault state, which means that cases where injuries are less severe must generally be decided by filing a claim with your personal injury protection (PIP) insurer, ostensibly to keep small claims off district court dockets.
If your injuries were sustained in another type of accident, though, you should be able to file in most situations. While auto accidents are the most common way that adults sustain broken bones, slip-and-fall accidents are a close second, followed by workplace accidents. These accidents usually give rise to lawsuits under a theory of negligence, where an injured plaintiff must establish that the defendant owed a duty to exercise reasonable care, and failed, which in turn caused the plaintiff’s injuries. These suits are not easy to win, but with the right attorney to assist you, the odds are good.
Contact A Tampa Broken Bones Attorney
There are so many ways that a bone fracture can happen, and most people will sustain at least one during their lifetime. If yours is very severe, and happened due to another person’s negligence, you have the right to seek compensation for your harm. A Tampa fractures attorney from the Rinaldo Law Group can offer compassionate and knowledgeable representation during what can be a difficult time for you and yours. Call our offices today for a free consultation.
Resource:
my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15241-bone-fractures
