Pennsylvania Fracture Injury Attorney

A broken bone may seem like a minor injury, but the consequences can be severe. Those who have suffered bone fractures can face steep medical bills, loss of mobility, an inability to work and intense pain and suffering. When a fracture occurs because of an accident or event that could have been avoided, the person who suffers it deserves to be compensated.

If you or someone close to you has suffered a broken bone in a personal injury or workplace accident, the attorneys at Caroselli, Beachler & Coleman, L.L.C. are here to help. Since 1972, we have been standing up for individuals who have been injured because of someone else’s negligence in Pittsburgh and communities throughout Pennsylvania. Our practice is focused on helping injury victims get back on their feet, and over the years, we have recovered millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements on behalf of our clients.

We understand that fracture injuries can take a major physical, emotional, and financial toll on victims and their families, and we are here to provide skilled legal representation and moral support during this difficult time. We work closely with our clients, and we look at all potential legal avenues to help them recover maximum compensation. Whether through a workers’ comp claim, personal injury lawsuit, or Social Security disability claim, we are ready to help get you the compensation you deserve for your injuries.

Types of Fracture Injuries

Fractures are broken down into a number of different categories based on the type and severity of the break:

• Transverse Fracture: A fracture that occurs at a 90-degree angle in a straight line across the bone. This happens when the impact is perpendicular to the site of the injury.

• Stable Fracture: This refers to a clean break in the bone in which its parts are in alignment and the bone remains in its original position.

• Comminuted Fracture: The opposite of a stable fracture, a comminuted fracture is one that fragments the bone. This type of fracture happens most commonly with traumatic events such as auto accidents.

• Oblique Fracture: In this type of fracture, the bone breaks at an angle. Oblique fractures are most common with longer bones such as the tibia or femur.

• Hairline Fracture: Also known as stress fractures, these are hairline cracks in the bones that do not result in a complete break. Hairline fractures are most common with legs and feet, and they often occur with athletes due to the frequency and/or intensity of workouts or sports.

• Compound Fracture: This is a very severe fracture in which the broken bone penetrates the skin and causes an open wound. Compound fractures will almost always require surgery to stabilize the break and clean the area where the wound is located to avoid infection.

• Greenstick Fracture: With this type of fracture, only a portion of the bone is broken but it doesn’t go all the way through. Greenstick fractures are most common with children because they have bones that are not fully developed.

• Spiral Fracture: This is a serious fracture that happens in a twisting, forceful, and spiral-like motion and results in the bone breaking cleanly into two fragments.

• Pathological Fracture: This is a fracture that occurs mostly with aging and elderly individuals because of conditions such as arthritis that weaken the bones.

The seriousness of a fracture injury depends largely on not only the type of fracture, but where in the body it occurs. Common broken bone injuries that happen in accidents include:

• Skull Fractures
• Broken Arm, Hand, Or Wrist
• Broken Leg, Foot, Or Ankle
• Broken Ribs
• Broken Back
• Broken Face Bones
• Hip Fractures

Every fracture injury is extremely painful, and recovery time will vary depending on the type and location of the break, the age of the victim, and other factors. In general, younger people who suffer broken bone injuries will heal considerably faster than older victims. In any case, bone fractures typically require an extended amount of time to heal, during which the injured individual may need multiple surgeries, physical therapy, and other types of rehabilitation.

Helping Victims of Broken Bone Injuries

No two broken bone accidents are the same. While some people may suffer a simple hairline fracture, others endure comminuted or compound fractures that require multiple surgeries and extensive rehabilitation. 

Many individuals suffer bone fractures in auto accidents, often due to the sudden, violent impact of a collision. Some people suffer multiple broken bones, such as rib fractures or complex limb fractures, in high-impact truck accidents. 

Other broken bone injuries are caused by defective products, where a manufacturing flaw or design defect leads to a catastrophic failure, such as a faulty ladder collapsing or a machine breaking apart during use. 

And still others are caused by serious accidents in the workplace, ranging from falls from height to being struck by heavy equipment. Regardless of the circumstances, if you have suffered a broken bone injury, it is important to seek immediate, appropriate medical treatment. Equally vital is securing legal support to pursue the compensation you deserve.

A fracture is not a minor injury; it disrupts your life, often causing immense physical pain, restricting mobility, and creating significant financial strain. Dealing with medical appointments, physical therapy, and financial stress is overwhelming. 

That’s why having legal counsel focused on personal injury and related areas of law is so valuable. Our attorneys are well-versed in personal injury and related areas of the law, and we can help you pursue all avenues of compensation for your fracture/broken bone injury. This comprehensive approach ensures that we examine every potential source of recovery.

Workers’ Compensation Claim

If your broken bone injury happened while you were performing your job duties in the workplace, then your first recourse is usually to file a workers’ compensation claim. Workers’ comp is designed as a no-fault system, which means you should be able to recover benefits regardless of who was technically at fault for your injury (with a few statutory exceptions). 

The system is intended to provide prompt support, but recovering the benefits that you are entitled to is not always easy. Insurance carriers often push back on the extent of necessary treatment or attempt to minimize the duration of temporary disability. 

Our attorneys are accustomed to navigating this process and can help ensure that your claim is processed smoothly and that your rights are upheld from the initial filing through any necessary hearings.

If you qualify for workers’ comp benefits, you should receive coverage for reasonable and necessary medical expenses, a portion of your lost wages (referred to as disability payments), rehabilitation costs, and a few other reimbursements. 

It is crucial to understand that this program does not provide compensation for intangible losses such as pain and suffering, emotional distress, or loss of enjoyment of life. However, certain workplace injuries are caused not by the employer’s basic negligence, but by a third party—meaning an entity or individual other than the employer or a co-worker. 

Examples include a delivery driver hitting an employee at a construction site or a contractor installing faulty equipment that causes an injury. In these situations, while you still receive workers’ compensation, you may be able to sue the responsible party directly and recover those costs that workers’ comp does not cover, including compensation for your non-economic damages. Our practice handles third-party claims, allowing us to simultaneously manage your workers’ comp claim and your injury lawsuit.

Personal Injury Claim

If you suffered a fracture injury in an accident or event that resulted directly from someone else’s negligence—whether at work due to an outside party, or in a public setting like a supermarket or on the road—then you may be able to file a personal injury lawsuit against the party that was at fault.

The foundation of a personal injury claim is proving negligence. This requires demonstrating four key elements: the at-fault party owed you a duty of care (e.g., a driver’s duty to obey traffic laws), they breached that duty, that breach directly caused your broken bone injury, and you suffered quantifiable damages as a result. Our legal team is focused on gathering the necessary documentation—accident reports, witness statements, and medical records—to establish clear liability and causation.

As mentioned in the previous section, a personal injury claim is broader in scope than a workers’ compensation claim. It allows you to recover damages not only for direct monetary losses (economic damages) such as medical bills, future projected treatment costs, and lost wages, but also for noneconomic losses. 

Noneconomic losses are critically important and can include pain-and-suffering, emotional distress, loss of consortium, and diminished quality of life. The severity of a fracture, such as the need for rods, plates, or joint replacement, directly impacts the value of these non-economic claims.

Social Security Disability (SSD) Claim

For victims who suffer a severe fracture with devastating consequences, you may be eligible to receive Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits. The Social Security Administration (SSA) maintains specific rules for musculoskeletal injuries. 

Essentially, any fracture that is not expected to heal within 12 months and/or results in serious, permanent, debilitating conditions may qualify you for SSD. Examples of qualifying conditions often include non-union fractures (where the bone fails to heal) or complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) stemming from the initial injury, particularly when they involve a major weight-bearing joint like a hip, knee, or ankle.

The SSA’s application and review process is notoriously complex and challenging. Even if you are eligible, it is extremely difficult to successfully recover SSD benefits, and the majority of claimants are denied in their initial application. The process often requires gathering extensive medical records and presenting a compelling argument that meets the SSA’s stringent requirements. 

Our attorneys are ready to examine your case to see if your injury and resulting impairment qualify under the SSA’s criteria. If so, we can help ensure that your application is properly submitted, organized, and includes all necessary supporting evidence. Furthermore, should your initial application be denied—a common occurrence—our practice is prepared to guide you through the reconsideration and administrative law judge hearing appeals process.

The Investigative and Negotiation Phases

The commitment of a legal practice to a broken bone injury case extends far beyond just filing paperwork. Once we take on your case, a thorough investigation begins immediately. This may involve:

1. Scene Documentation: Working with accident reconstructionists or investigators to document the accident site, preserve evidence, and establish key facts.
2. Medical Correlation: Collaborating with your treating physicians to fully understand the long-term impact of your fracture, which can include the potential for arthritis, nerve damage, or reduced range of motion. We use this detailed medical insight to accurately project future healthcare needs.
3. Financial Analysis: Collecting evidence of past and future lost earnings, including working with financial analysts to calculate the full monetary impact of the injury on your career.

After the investigation, the claim moves into the negotiation phase, where we deal directly with the insurance companies. Insurance adjusters are trained to minimize payouts. 

Our attorneys have a thorough understanding of injury valuation and employ methodical strategies to advocate for a fair settlement that fully covers the economic and non-economic losses associated with a severe fracture. We prepare every case for trial, which puts us in the strongest possible position during settlement discussions, demonstrating a full commitment to securing justice whether through negotiation or litigation.

The recovery from a broken bone injury, especially a serious one, is an arduous journey. By handling the legal complexity across workers’ compensation, personal injury, and disability claims, our legal team allows you to focus solely on your physical recovery.

Contact the Skilled and Compassionate Broken Bone Injury Attorneys at Caroselli, Beachler & Coleman

Have you or has someone close to you suffered a broken bone in a personal injury or workplace accident? Contact us today online or by telephone at 412-391-9860 or toll free at 866-466-5789 to speak with an experienced Pittsburgh broken bones lawyer. Initial consultations are free and confidential.