Bone fractures are more than just a painful inconvenience; they can throw your life into chaos in ways you may never anticipate. You could very well find yourself unable to go to work, pay your bills, pick up your kids from school or other activities, and even get a decent night’s sleep.
The harm doesn’t stop at the physical break, either; you’re highly likely to experience a wave of stress, given things like mounting medical costs and lost income due to your lengthy recovery period.
There are a variety of ways these injuries can occur as well. It could be someone else’s carelessness that leads to your broken bones, or it could be nothing more than a freak accident. No matter what, though, the result is the same: Your body’s damaged, your routine’s wrecked, and everything’s gotten far more difficult.
Types of Fractures and Their Hidden Risks
Not all fractures are created equal. Some will heal with a cast and a little bit of time and rest, while others may need surgery, pins, or plates, and they can still leave a person with chronic pain if they don’t heal properly.
Additionally, the way the bone breaks (and how badly it does) depends on the force of the accident and what part of the body takes the hit, including:
- Arm and wrist fractures are common when someone tries to catch themselves during a fall.
- Car crashes often cause broken ribs, collarbones, and legs.
- Slips on hard surfaces can fracture hips, especially for older adults.
Some of these injuries can lead to complications, such as:
- Nerve damage
- Constant pain
- Infections after surgery
- Bones that don’t align properly when they heal
These damages can be permanent. Once one part of the body gets thrown off, others often follow. A broken ankle, for instance, can change the way you walk, which can mess with your knees, hips, and back for years.
The Price Tag of a Broken Bone
Treating a broken bone can be remarkably expensive. The ER visit alone can empty your wallet, and that’s typically followed by rounds of imaging, follow-ups, specialist appointments, physical therapy, and perhaps long-term rehab, all of which will cause you to take days away from work. Even with insurance, your out-of-pocket costs are all but bound to add up fast.
Money isn’t the only thing you can lose, though; if your job involves physical labor, a fracture might mean you can’t work at all until you’ve recovered. Some people never return to the same kind of work ever again because of their injuries; a heavy hit to both their finances and their mental health.
Finally, there’s the toll a fracture takes on your daily life. You might not be able to drive, cook, clean, or even shower without help, and that loss of independence can eat away at people. For many, recovery involves rebuilding their entire life from the ground up.
Common Causes of Bone Injuries in Pensacola
Drivers who aren’t paying attention, unsafe property conditions, and employers cutting corners on safety are all catalysts for preventable injuries, and these can happen anywhere: on the road, at work, in stores, on sidewalks, or at someone else’s home.
In Pensacola, FL, some of the most common causes of broken bones include car accidents on busy roads like I-110, falls in public spaces, and workplace injuries on construction sites.
Long-Term Effects of Broken Bones
Bone fractures leave scars that can’t always be seen. Some people deal with arthritis and reduced mobility for the rest of their lives. Others struggle mentally and wrestle with depression, anxiety, or PTSD after a traumatic injury, refusing to return to the location where they were hit.
These long-term impacts don’t always show up on X-rays, but they’re just as real as the physical break, and they can reshape your life in ways no one expects.
It’s easy for others to assume a broken bone heals quickly, but anyone who’s been through it knows better. When someone else’s negligence caused your injury, it adds injustice to an already stressful situation. You’re left suffering while they move on, and that’s not fair. You shouldn’t be the one paying the price.
Contact Our Pensacola Personal Injury Lawyers for a Free Consultation
If you’ve suffered a broken bone in Pensacola due to someone else’s carelessness or negligence, you deserve compensation for what you’ve been through. At Gross & Schuster Injury Lawyers, we know what’s at stake, and we’re ready to fight for you. Contact us online or call (850) 434-3333 today to schedule a free consultation.