The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons says that more than any other adverse event, car crashes can lead to femur fractures. Perhaps you fractured your femur when a speeding driver collided with you here in New York. The femur can be broken in different ways and requires immediate treatment.
Femoral shaft fractures are most common
The femur, or thighbone, has a head and neck that attach it to the hip. So-called hip fractures occur in this area and are seen less among crash victims than among elderly people who fall. The midsection is called the femoral shaft; this runs the highest risk of being broken in a crash. Crash victims may also incur a knee fracture, which injures the distal end of the femur. Femur fractures can be accompanied by crushing injuries that splinter the bone.
When femur fractures can be life-threatening
Crash victims with a broken femur need immediate medical attention because of several factors. They may die from excessive blood loss or from the development of blood clots. If their bone is protruding from their skin, they risk getting infected.
Doctors can provide intravenous antibiotics to prevent infection. As for reattaching the pieces of bone and realigning the femur, doctors can do this by implanting a metal rod and screws. It’s not often that a cast and a pair of crutches can suffice for these types of injuries. Patients may require long-term rehabilitative care and prescription medications to deal with the pain.
Knowing whether you can seek compensation
Assuming that PIP benefits cannot cover your losses, you may be able to file a personal injury claim against the responsible driver’s insurance company. The same principle holds if you were injured by an owner-operator. If the trucker belongs to a fleet, you may file against the fleet. Whatever the situation is, you may want a lawyer to handle the filing and negotiations, giving you more time to focus on your physical and emotional recovery.