Most Common Broken Bones in Car Accidents

There are many types of injuries you may sustain in a car accident, but arguably the most common are broken bones and fractures. Some people may be lucky enough to fully heal from a break, given enough time. Some fractures, however, can lead to long-term or permanent disfigurement and/or pain. The severity of the car accident may play a role in the severity of the injury, though that is not always the case. Today, we want to look at the most common types of broken bones in car accidents, and what you can do if you sustain these types of injuries.

Vertebral Fractures

Vertebral fractures, which affect the back, neck, or spine, are more common in severe car accidents. High-speed collisions, rollovers, head-on crashes or other catastrophic collisions can exert enough force to fracture one or more vertebrae. These types of injuries are particularly serious as they can lead to chronic pain, nerve damage, mobility issues, or even paralysis. They can also progress rapidly, even if pain is not immediately felt, which is why it’s important to see a doctor if you suspect any type of back or neck injury resulting from a car accident. Types of vertebral fractures include:

• Compression Fractures: When the front of a vertebra collapses due to intense forward force, such as from a sudden deceleration or rear-end collision.
• Burst Fractures: These result from high-energy impacts like head-on crashes, causing the vertebra to shatter in multiple directions.
• Chance Fractures: Caused by abrupt forward bending of the spine, often seen in rollovers or accidents where seatbelts improperly restrain the torso.
• Fracture-Dislocations: A combination of a break and a dislocation.

Treatment for vertebral fractures is typically long-term and usually involves braces, surgery, physical therapy, and plenty of rest depending on the severity and type of injury.

Cranial Fractures

Cranial fractures are another type of serious injury that can lead to long-term or even life-long disability if not properly treated. These injuries can happen when the head strikes a hard surface, such as the steering wheel, dashboard, or window, or when an external object penetrates the skull during a collision. Symptoms of cranial fractures vary depending on the severity and location but may include:

• Swelling
• Bruising
• Skull deformity
• Headaches
• Confusion
• Nausea
• Blurred vision

Broken skulls often go hand and hand with brain injuries, and so if you sustain a blow to the head during a car accident, it’s important that you seek immediate medical attention. Minor fractures may heal on their own with rest and ice, but serious brain injuries do not, and advanced cranial fractures may require surgery.

Broken Arms, Wrists, and Hands

It is not difficult to break a wrist, finger, or even an arm; drivers or who brace themselves for impact are more likely to suffer these breaks than passengers. However, anyone can break an arm, wrist, or hand in car crash. While these types of injuries can be incredibly painful, the good news is that with proper medical attention, many will resolve in six to twelve weeks. Treatment typically involves casts or braces, or in more serious cases, surgery.

In more serious cases, however, the delicate bones within the hands or wrist can shatter. This can mean multiple surgeries, or even amputation. Bone breaks can be accompanied by nerve damage or torn muscles, ligaments, or tendons, which may require additional treatments.

Broken Ribs/Sternum

Locked-up seat belts, steering columns, and even airbags which deploy too forcefully can all break ribs. When the break is minor, symptoms usually include mild to moderate pain at the site of the fracture, especially when breathing deeply, coughing, or moving the upper body. There may also be tenderness or swelling in the affected area, along with some bruising.

Unfortunately in more serious cases, such as when a broken rib punctures an organ, the symptoms are much more severe, including intense chest pain, difficulty breathing, and shortness of breath. There may also be coughing up blood or a feeling of tightness in the chest, along with dizziness or fainting if internal bleeding occurs. Regardless of the exact symptoms you may be feeling, an impact to the chest is cause enough to see a doctor; in minor cases, treatment may be as simple as rest and ice.

Maxillofacial Fractures

Maxillofacial fractures is an umbrella term used to describe a break or fracture sustained in the face. These may include:

• Nasal fractures
• Lower jaw fractures (also known as mandibular fractures)
• Upper jaw fractures (also known as maxillary fractures)
• Cheek fractures (also known as zygomatic fractures)
• Orbital fractures (a fracture that occurs around the eyes)

When a driver unexpectedly moves forward or to the side, either from a rear-end collision, side swipe, or T-bone car accident, the head moves forward hitting the steering wheel, dash, or window. When this happens, it’s often the face that is first to make contact. Treatment of facial fractures depends on what type of fracture it is, but in many situations, surgery is required to stabilize the bone with the use of pins and plates.

Broken Legs, Ankles, and Feet

Like other broken appendages such as hands, wrists, and arms, suddenly bracing for impact is usually the cause of most fractures sustained in the legs, ankles, and feet. There are several different types of fractures that affect this area of the body including:

• Heal Bone Fractures: As you might guess, these types of fractures occur when a person attempts to brace against the car with their foot, often in an attempt to hit the brake or gas.
• Femur Fractures: These types of fracture often occur in passengers who have their knees pressed against the dash when a front-end collision happens.
• Bimalleolar Ankle Fracture: This can happen from twisting of the ankle during a crash.

When a bone is broken in one of these areas, the pain is fairly obvious, though you may not be aware that the bone is broken. Even in minor accidents, if pain persists for several days, see a doctor for a medical evaluation.

Pelvic Fractures

Apart from spinal or cranial fractures, pelvic fractures are typically the most serious and the most painful injuries you can sustain during a car accident. A pelvic fracture occurs when the pelvis absorbs the brunt of the impact, often when being T-boned or side-swiped at a high speed. Symptoms of a pelvic fracture typically include severe pain in the pelvic area, difficulty walking or standing, swelling, bruising, and sometimes numbness or tingling in the legs. In more severe cases, bleeding can occur due to damage to nearby blood vessels.

If through a medical evaluation, your doctor finds that you have a pelvic fracture, the treatment will depend on how serious the injury is. For example, in cases where the fracture is barely visible, all that’s usually needed is rest and ice. In more serious cases, you could be looking at surgery and the use of a brace or other medical device for several months.

Broken Clavicle

In most cases, a broken clavicle usually happens when a seatbelt or steering wheel is pressed against the collarbone during an accident. If this happens to you, the pain will be fairly obvious and you will likely have trouble moving one or both of your arms as a result. Treatment usually includes a sling, rest, and ice, but with more serious breaks, you may need to get surgery. Once treated, however, most people with a broken clavicle can expect to heal within eight weeks.

What Types of Bones Breaks Are Most Common in Car Accidents?

• Compound Fractures: Also known as an “open fracture,” these types of injuries describe bone that has broken and pierced through the skin. In most cases, these are caused by high-impact car accidents involving speeding or drunk driving.
• Greenstick Fractures: When the bone bends and cracks on one side, but does not fully break. These are most common in children.
• Avulsion Fractures: This type of injury occurs when a piece of the bone is dislodged from the rest of the bone, often when a person is ejected from the vehicle and rolls on pavement or when a car flips over.
• Spiral Fractures: Another type of fracture that results from spinning or twisting which causes a spiral-like break.
• Stress Fractures: These types of breaks may start out small or even undetectable, but over time they spread causing complications many years later.

Can You File a Car Accident Lawsuit for Broken Bones?

Regardless of the type of injury you sustain from a car accident, the option of pursuing a personal injury case is almost always available, and for many, it’s the only option as insurance companies often offer very unreasonable settlement amounts.

While the cost of a car accident lawyer sometimes causes car accident victims to second guess a personal injury suit, the cost of medical bills without insurance is often much higher than the cost of hiring a lawyer, especially since most personal injury lawyers offer their services on contingency. If you’re considering this route, be sure to research legal options in your area, and note your prospective lawyer’s experience and case results. If you have any questions about the legal process, schedule a consultation to see if a personal injury suit is right for you.