Broken bones are painful medical afflictions, but they’re also expensive. A fracture or multiple fractures may involve months of doctor’s appointments, physical therapy and rehabilitation, and costly scans. If you’re struggling under the weight of medical bills due to broken bones, you may be eligible for compensation under Florida’s personal injury laws.
Your compensation amount will depend on several factors, including the nature and severity of your injuries. For example, a compound fracture of your arm may be more medically serious than a broken toe, requiring more extensive medical care.
Seek treatment for your injuries as soon as possible. One of the most important factors in your personal injury case is an official medical record. Unlike soft tissue injuries, broken bones are readily apparent on scans and are virtually indisputable. Seeing a doctor to attain medical evidence like x-rays will make negotiating your settlement easier.
Another important aspect of your personal injury case is “valuing” what your injuries might be worth. A jury may award two types of damages in a personal injury settlement:
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When valuing general damages, attorneys also look at how having a broken bone affects your everyday life. If, for example, you were a very active person before your injury and ran nearly every day, a broken bone may severely affect your quality of life. A sedentary person, on the other hand, may arguably suffer less from having a broken bone.
The other obvious factor in your broken bone case is determining who is liable for your injuries, as well as the amount of evidence available. If your broken bone was the result of a car accident, your sole recourse may be filing a claim with your own insurance company in accordance with Florida’s no-fault insurance laws. On the other hand, if your broken bone resulted from a slip and fall accident at a local establishment, you may be able to sue the company for compensation.
If your injury occurred on the job, you’ll typically file a workers’ compensation claim through your employer. Since it’s a no-fault system, you won’t have to prove fault to collect benefits. Receiving workers’ compensation benefits, on the other hand, limits your ability to file additional personal injury claims, unless they’re against a third party. For information about your legal options when injured at work, talk to a worksite injury attorney.
Broken bones can lead to months of pain and a diminished quality of life. If you’ve suffered a broken bone and think someone else is to blame for your injuries, contact David I. Fuchs, Injury & Accident Lawyer, P.A. for a free initial consultation. Take advantage of our contingency-fee legal services today.
Case Type: Traumatic Brain Injury