Although broken bones are always serious, most of these injuries heal well with time. When a broken bone fails to heal healthily, however, the injured party can suffer significantly negative long-term health repercussions:

• Chronic pain
• Unrelenting stiffness
• Physical disabilities

Several complications are closely connected to injuries involving broken bones:

• A malunion – A malunion takes place when the broken bone does heal but is left in a deformed state. Surgeries are normally required to correct the deformities caused by malunions.
• Osteoarthritis – When a bone breaks, pieces of it can shatter and cause fragments of the bone to jab into a nearby joint, which can lead to a painful condition called osteoarthritis in later life.
• Osteomyelitis – Osteomyelitis is a serious infection of the bones that is generally caused when an open bone fracture pierces through the skin and provides an entrance for contaminants to move into the fracture.
• Chronic regional pain syndrome – Chronic pain refers to ongoing pain—and it can debilitate a victim. Chronic regional pain syndrome (CRPS) often afflicts the limbs’ larger bones, and can lead to painful burning and stinging sensations that cause extreme sensitivity to touch.

All of these conditions—and more besides—can derail your broken bone’s ability to heal healthily. If you suffered a broken bone in an accident that someone else’s negligence caused, it may not be a straightforward process to assess your damages until you’ve been through the healing process and know what your progress looks like. This usually amounts to allowing yourself the necessary time, medical treatments, and physical therapy to healthily recover—but not always. In addition, even broken bones that heal exactly as they should take plenty of time to do so, and that means extended periods of rest for you, which necessitates significant time lost from work.

Broken bone claims are often complicated by the bone’s lengthy healing process, which can leave you in limbo in relation to any complications that may arise. Your health and your rightful compensation, however, are too important to leave to chance—or to the vagaries of the insurance company. If you suffered a broken bone that someone else’s negligence caused, you need an experienced personal injury lawyer to protect your best interests.

It’s especially important to recognize that insurance companies—though they’re paid to cover you and though they’re held to federal and industry standards—are not above double-dealing with you and your claim when you’re most vulnerable, such as after you’ve been afflicted with a painfully broken bone in an accident. Insurance companies are in the business of making a profit, and that is what guides their actions—your just compensation is not their primary concern (and it may directly compete with their primary concern). If the insurance company comes to you with a settlement offer, it might seem like an easy way to put this unfortunate event behind you, but it’s always advisable to speak with a skilled personal injury attorney before you accept such a settlement offer. Your attorney will help you evaluate your claim to determine if the offer fairly covers the full extent of your damages.

A broken bone will set you back, but you may be able to collect compensation on a range of damages:

• The medical expenses associated with your accident and your broken bone, which can include emergency transportation and emergency care; appointments with physicians, specialists, and surgeons; surgery and aftercare; physical therapy; ongoing medical care; prescription medications; and adaptive healthcare devices
• Your wages lost to time off work and your lost earning potential if you can’t return to work or if you need to return to work for lesser pay (if your broken bone develops into a chronic condition)
• Your general pain and suffering related to the accident and your broken bone