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Which Bones are More Susceptible to Injury in a Car Accident?

Car accidents can and do cause a wide range of injuries, but broken bones are amongst the most common. Unfortunately, just because they occur at a relatively high rate does not make them any less painful, debilitating, or expensive to treat. It is, however, often possible for car accident victims to recover the cost of their medical bills and other losses by filing a claim against the at-fault party. To learn more, please reach out to one of our dedicated Miami car accident lawyers today. 

Broken Bone Causes

Even relatively minor accidents that occur at low speeds involve a significant amount of force. These impacts often result in broken bones, but this is not the only way to sustain a broken bone in a car crash. For instance, some people are injured not by the impact of the collision, but from being ejected from the vehicle and striking the ground or another vehicle. Being struck by an airbag or a loose item in the vehicle can also cause severe injuries, as can slamming forward into the seat belt, or bracing for impact. 

Common Broken Bones

Certain bones are more susceptible to injury in car accidents. Fractures of the spinal vertebrae in the back and neck, for instance, are common during rear-end and head-on collisions, which force the neck to snap forwards and backward. These kinds of crashes are also more likely to cause facial fractures to the nose, jaw, cheekbone, and orbital bones, which can occur when the face strikes the airbag, dashboard, or steering wheel. Other examples of bones that are commonly broken in car accidents include:

  • The clavicle, which runs across the top of the rib cage and is especially at risk of breaking due to its thin density;
  • The fibula, and tibia, or lower leg bones, can break when part of the vehicle caves in, trapping the legs between the floor and the dashboard;
  • The femur, or upper leg bone, which is one of the strongest in the body, but is susceptible to fracture if the car crumples upon impact;
  • The skull, which can occur when the head strikes a solid object, like the dashboard, window, or steering wheel;
  • The sternum, or breastbone, which is frequently broken by lurching into the seat belt upon impact; 
  • The ribs, which help protect the lungs and heart and if broken, could end up puncturing one of these organs; and
  • The wrists, which are composed of fragile bones that can easily shatter when crushed or injured during impact.

How broken bones are treated varies widely depending on the particular bone in question. Femur bones, for instance, are very strong and so often take much longer to heal, while wrist bones tend to heal much more quickly. Clavicles, as well as the sternum and ribs, cannot be braced or placed in a cast and so are often more difficult to immobilize, meaning that they can take longer to heal. Fortunately, regardless of the type of treatment required, the medical expenses involved can often be recouped from the at-fault driver who caused the crash. 

Experienced Miami Car Accident Lawyers

If you were injured in a car accident and have questions about your recovery, the dedicated car accident attorneys at Dolan Dobrinsky Rosenblum Bluestein, LLP can help. Please call us at 305-371-2692 to learn more.