Value of a Broken Wrist, Arm, or Hand in a Kansas City Accident
A broken wrist, arm, or hand can happen in a traffic accident involving a car, bicycle, truck, motorcycle, or pedestrian. A slip and fall can also cause a broken wrist, hand, or arm. The value of a personal injury claim involving broken bones depends on various factors, including the exact injury, who is at fault, and the damages you sustain because of the accident.
A Kansas City personal injury lawyer can evaluate your case and advise you of your rights and options for recovering compensation for damages. Before you settle your injury claim, call our injury attorney in Kansas City at 816-203-0143. The consultation is free and confidential, and it can help ensure you receive a fair settlement amount from the other party’s insurance company.
Broken Wrists, Hands & Arms from Accidents in Kansas and Missouri
Fractured Wrists
Your wrist is a fragile area of the body. The bones in the wrist can be susceptible to pressure. Twisting and crushing can cause severe wrist injuries in an accident.
You have eight bones in your wrist that connect the ulna and radius to your hand. When any one of these eight bones breaks, it is called a fractured wrist. Because the bones in the wrist are fragile, they can break with very little pressure.
The bones of the wrist are referred to as the carpal bones. Those bones are:
- Trapezoid
- Trapezium
- Scaphoid
- Lunate
- Triquetrum
- Pisiform
- Hamate
- Capitate
A distal radius fracture is the most common type of wrist fracture. The scaphoid bone in the wrist sits at the bottom of the wrist right above the radius bone in the forearm. A distal radius fracture is commonly caused when a person puts out their hand to break a fall. However, several other types of fractured wrists can occur in falls and motor vehicle accidents.
If you suspect your wrist might be fractured, you need immediate medical treatment. Without medical care, the bones might not heal properly. The bones could be out of alignment, which could result in ongoing pain and stiffness.
Common symptoms of a fractured wrist include swelling, pain, tenderness, bruising, and any obvious deformity. If you experience any of these symptoms, or experience numbness, swelling, or problems moving your fingers, contact your doctor immediately.
Hand Fractures
The bones of the hand include the phalanges or the small bones that form the fingers and the thumb. There are two phalanges in the thumb and three phalanges in each finger. The metacarpals are the five bones located in the palm. A fractured hand occurs when any one of the bones in the hands breaks.
One of the most common hand fractures involves the fifth metacarpal (the bone in the palm of the hand directly below the little finger). It happens when you punch or strike your hand on a hard object with your hand closed in a fist. A person gripping a steering wheel in a fist could sustain this type of hand fracture if a hard object strikes the hand.
In addition to direct blows to the hand, falls can cause fractured hands. Multiple bones in the hand could be broken in a fall if a person puts their hand out to break the fall. Crushing and twisting in a car accident can also cause one or more bones in the hand to fracture.
Symptoms of a fractured hand include tenderness, pain, swelling, bruising, numbness, stiffness, inability to move fingers or thumb, and crooked fingers or other deformities. Immediate medical attention is required to avoid additional harm. Bones that are not set correctly could cause impairments. Surgery might be necessary to repair the damage to a fractured hand.
Broken Arms
A broken arm can involve a break or fracture in one of the three bones in the arm, the ulna, radius, or humerus. A common cause of a broken arm is trying to catch yourself as you are falling. A direct blow to the arm or hitting the arm on the dashboard or other objects during a car crash can cause a broken arm. Also, the vehicle’s frame crushing into the passenger compartment can cause a broken arm.
Signs of a broken arm include an arm bent or twisted in an unnatural position. Swelling, severe pain, bruising, and the inability to move your arm are also indications of a broken arm.
Broken arms require immediate medical attention. Surgery might be required to repair the damage. Plates, pins, or screws may be required to stabilize the bone. Without medical treatment, the bones could heal incorrectly, which could result in permanent impairments.
Who's At-Fault for a Broken Bone in Kansas or Missouri?
The person who caused the accident that resulted in your broken bone is generally responsible for your damages. In a slip and fall accident, it could be the property owner, tenant, commercial company, government entity, or a private individual. In a car accident, the responsible party could be the other driver. However, car crashes can also involve other parties, such as car manufacturers, mechanics, and government entities.
A Kansas City personal injury lawyer investigates the accident to identify the party responsible for your damages. The attorney also gathers evidence proving fault. You cannot recover damages for a broken wrist, arm, or hand until you prove the other party was responsible for causing the accident.
What Damages Are Recoverable After a Kansas City Broken Wrist, Arm or Hand?
The damages in a broken bone injury claim depend on the facts in your case. In most cases, accident victims are entitled to receive compensation for:
- The cost of medical treatment and care
- Expenses related to personal care
- Loss of income and benefits
- Permanent impairments and disabilities
- Physical pain and suffering
- Loss of quality of life
- Mental trauma and anguish
- Emotional suffering and distress
- Other out-of-pocket expenses and financial losses
The amount of money you might receive for a broken bone depends on the severity of your injury, your financial losses, and whether you contributed to the cause of the accident. Your Kansas City personal injury attorney fights to recover maximum compensation for your claim. You can help your attorney by seeking immediate medical care after an accident and contacting our office as soon as possible.
Contact Our Kansas City Personal Injury Attorney for a Free Case Review
If you sustained a broken wrist, arm, or hand in an accident, we are here to help. Our legal team handles all aspects of your injury claim from the investigation through settlement. You can focus on your recovery and getting back to day-to-day life while we focus on protecting your legal rights and getting you the money you deserve.
For a free consultation with a Kansas City accident attorney, contact The Law Office of Kevin J. McManus by calling 816-203-0143.