How Much Is My Broken Wrist Worth After a Car Accident?

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Youā€™ve suffered a wrist injury or broken wrist during a car accident, but what does that mean for you and your loved ones? You may be struggling with unpaid medical bills, lost income, and a lot of uncertainty, and it can be tempting to take a quick settlement from the insurance company. However, thatā€™s probably not in your best interest.

Crosley Lawā€™s car accident attorneys have seen their fair share of wrist injury claims. We are here to help you navigate the insurance claims process, fight against unfair claim denials, and calculate the value of your personal injury case. In this article, we will cover how car accidents can cause wrist injuries, some common wrist injury types, and what factors may affect your final settlement amount.

What Causes Wrist Injuries in a Car Accident?

During a car accident, there are any number of ways that you could be injured depending on severity of the crash and the conditions surrounding it. Wrist injuries are no exception and are caused by a variety of factors. However, the most common ways that wrist injuries occur during car accidents are through the high-impact force caused by the car crash itself.

Wrist injuries from a car accident are often caused by the wrist being bent or placed under pressure against a part of the car on impact. Injuries can be caused by the airbag deploying, the driverā€™s wrist bending while holding the wheel, or a passengerā€™s wrist breaking from bracing against the dashboard. The wrist is a delicate body part and is not designed to handle strain or pressure in high-impact situations.

RELATED: Everything You Should Know About Airbag Deployment Injuries and Claims

Common Wrist Injuries in a Car Accident

Wrists are a delicate and complicated structure open to a wide variety of potential injuries. Each wrist has 13 bones that are at risk of being fractured, broken, or crushed during a car accident. With so many different moving parts, wrist injuries are diverse and unpredictable. Although injuries vary depending on bones injured or regions affected, letā€™s explore common wrist injuries.

Wrist Fracture

A broken wrist is an extremely common type of wrist injury, and all 13 bones in the wrist are at risk. During a collision, your wrist is subjected to intense forces, especially if it hits parts of your car, like the steering wheel, windshield, or airbag. Itā€™s also common for people to use their hands and arms to brace themselves during an impactā€”and your wrist can take the brunt of the collision.

The most common bone to fracture is the scaphoid bone. Scaphoid fractures are the most common wrist fracture because the scaphoid bone is the smallest bone in your wrist. The injuries often occur when the force of a collision causes your wrist to hit or bend against parts of the car.

Broken wrist injuries tend to be the most severe of all wrist injuries and can lead to long-term effects. If fractures are unable to heal properly, you may need a bone graft. Wrist fractures are diagnosed through an x-ray, so if you or a loved one believe they have suffered one in a car accident, seek medical attention right away.

Sprained or Torn Ligaments

Your wrist is supported by a series of muscles and ligaments. Soft tissue injuries, like sprains, strains, and tendinitis, are also common during crashes. The same high-force trauma that causes fractures can also lead to sprained or torn ligaments.

While some soft tissue injuries heal quickly, others take much longer to resolve. They often need extensive and expensive physical therapy, bracing, pain management services, medication, and other intensive treatment.

Nerve Injuries

Two important nerves run through your wrist: the median and ulnar nerves. The median nerve runs through your carpal tunnel and provides sensation to your thumb, index finger, middle finger, and half of your ring finger. The ulnar nerve provides feeling in the other half of your ring finger and your pinky finger.

Car accidents can cause nerve damage anywhere in the body, causing issues carrying signals from your brain throughout the body. When nerve damage occurs in a hand or wrist injury, victims may suffer from chronic pain, impaired movement, or sensation. This results from a condition known as peripheral neuropathy, a disease resulting from damage to nerves found outside the brain and spinal cord. Nerve damage can also leave victims with long-term conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome, leading to more treatment and cost.

RELATED: My Arm Tingles. Did I Suffer Nerve Damage in My Car Accident?

Factors That Could Affect Your Wrist Injury Settlement

No two wrist injury cases are the same, which means no two settlements are calculated the same. Your wrist injury settlement can be increased or decreased depending on several factors. However, there are a few major factors used to determine the average settlement amount in broken wrist injury settlements. Your settlement will be based on medical bills and lost income, as well as potential pain and suffering damages determined by the following factors.

Injury Severity

Depending on the severity of your car accident, your wrist injury could range from a sprain to a full break. The level of damage your car accident causes to your wrist will be a main factor in determining compensation. Injury severity not only affects your own pain and suffering but can affect your ability to work and determine the amount and cost of medical bills.

In cases like Natalieā€™s, her car accident caused serious hand and wrist injuries, among others. Her injuries affected her ability to work as a chef, as well as her ability to care for her child. Between her medical bills and her pain and suffering, the severity of her injury seriously affected her final settlement amount.

Your Occupation

Wrist injuries impact victims differently depending on their occupation. Those in manual labor or specialized fields may be more impacted by their injuries than others. When your ability to work is affected by a wrist injury, your settlement will need to take lost wages into account, as well as any lost earning capacity.

Especially in cases like Kellyā€™s, where her work was extremely specialized, this factor can be a major influence on your total settlement. Those in the medical field rely on their motor skills more than average and any loss of physical function could mean a major impact on their careers and ability to earn income. An experienced personal injury lawyer will take this into consideration when calculating your settlement.

Amount of Required Medical Care

Based on the severity of your broken wrist injury, you might need a wide range of different medical treatments. From minor treatment to extensive physical therapy that can cost thousands, your medical bills can add up. However, it is not only the financial amount, but the duration of your care that needs to be considered when calculating a settlement.

Some wrist injuries are quickly treated, leaving no serious lasting effects. But others, like severe broken wrist injuries or a wrist fracture can lead to future problems that will require further medical care. Be sure to get an exact diagnosis and understanding of your wrist injury so you can file for a settlement that will accurately reflect your injuryā€™s true impact.

RELATED: Car Accidents and Broken Bones: How Much is My Case Worth?

Should I Consult With a Personal Injury Attorney Before Accepting a Settlement for My Broken Wrist?

Accepting a settlement is a big decision. Once you settle your car accident case, you give up your right to demand any additional compensation. So, even if your wrist injury worsens, you cannot go back to the insurance company and ask for more money.

If the insurance company discourages you from talking to a lawyer, remember thisā€”it is a for-profit company that is trying to settle your claim for as little as possible. Studies show that people who work with an experience personal injury lawyer typically get bigger settlements and jury awards than those who are unrepresented.

Consider the amount of time and expertise Crosley Lawā€™s car accident attorneys put into their cases:

  • Investigating all the causes and factors that contributed to your wrist injury
  • Identifying all the insurance policies that might apply to your case
  • Reviewing all your medical records and consulting with your medical team
  • Working with medical experts, economists, and care planners who can calculate your future needs
  • Retaining engineers and accident reconstruction experts who can pinpoint the cause of a crash
  • Educating you about all your legal options and the true value of your claims

Each of these steps can add value to your broken wrist claim, and most crash victims donā€™t have the expertise or skills needed to do this on their own.

And if youā€™re worried about the cost of hiring a lawyer, take a deep breath. Our injury attorneys have a no-fee policy, and youā€™ll only have to pay us if we help you settle your claim or recover compensation for you.

Crosley Law: Fighting for Car Accident Broken Wrist Settlement Claimants in Texas

At Crosley Law, we fight for car accident victims and their injuries. If you or a loved one has been the victim of a car crash and has suffered an injury that has left you unable to work, please contact our experienced car accident attorneys today. Our law firm works hard to fight back against unjust insurance companies so you can get the compensation you deserve.

Simply call 210-LAW-3000 | 210-529-3000 or complete this convenient online form to schedule your free consultation. 

References

Mayo Clinic. Peripheral Neuropathy- Symptoms and Causes. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/peripheral-neuropathy/symptoms-causes/syc-20352061

The contentā€Æprovided here isā€Æfor informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice on any subject.