Fractures & Soft Tissue Injuries
Broken bones and soft tissue injuries are among the most common injuries suffered in serious accidents. Although these injuries are sometimes dismissed as less severe than traumatic brain or spinal cord injuries, fractures and damage to muscles, ligaments, tendons, and other soft tissues can cause significant pain, require surgery or extensive rehabilitation, and interfere with a person's ability to work and perform everyday activities.
Some injuries heal within weeks or months. Others result in chronic pain, reduced mobility, weakness, permanent limitations, or the need for additional medical treatment in the future.
At The Law Office of Todd I. Siegel, we represent individuals and families throughout New Jersey who have suffered fractures, soft tissue injuries, and other serious injuries because of another party's negligence.
What Are Fracture Injuries?
A fracture is a partial or complete break in a bone. Fractures can occur when the body is subjected to significant force during a collision, fall, workplace accident, or other traumatic event.
Depending on the severity of the injury, treatment may range from immobilization with a cast or brace to surgery involving plates, screws, rods, or other hardware.
Common types of fractures include:
Simple or closed fractures
Open or compound fractures
Displaced fractures
Nondisplaced fractures
Comminuted fractures
Compression fractures
Stress fractures
Hairline fractures
Greenstick fractures
Avulsion fractures
The seriousness of a fracture depends on factors including the location of the break, whether the bone has moved out of position, whether surrounding tissue was damaged, and the age and overall health of the injured person.
Common Broken Bones After an Accident
Almost any bone in the body can fracture during a serious accident.
Frequently injured areas include:
Arms and wrists
Hands and fingers
Legs
Ankles and feet
Hips
Ribs
Collarbones
Shoulders
Facial bones
Pelvis
Vertebrae of the spine
Some fractures can significantly interfere with mobility and independence. A broken hip, pelvis, leg, or ankle, for example, may prevent a person from walking or working for an extended period.
Fractures involving the spine, skull, or other sensitive areas may also be accompanied by additional serious injuries.
What Are Soft Tissue Injuries?
Soft tissue injuries involve damage to the muscles, tendons, ligaments, and other tissues that support and connect structures throughout the body.
Unlike a broken bone that may be readily visible on an X-ray, certain soft tissue injuries can be more difficult to identify and may require additional diagnostic testing and medical evaluation.
Common soft tissue injuries include:
Sprains
Strains
Muscle tears
Tendon injuries
Ligament injuries
Rotator cuff injuries
Whiplash
Meniscus injuries
ACL and other knee ligament injuries
Contusions
Herniated or damaged discs
Injuries involving the neck and back
Soft tissue injuries can range from relatively minor conditions that improve with rest to serious tears or structural damage requiring surgery and extensive rehabilitation.
Fractures and Soft Tissue Injuries From Car Accidents
Motor vehicle collisions can place tremendous force on the human body. Drivers and passengers may strike the steering wheel, dashboard, doors, windows, airbags, or other parts of the vehicle during an accident.
Car accidents can result in broken ribs, wrists, arms, legs, ankles, hips, and other bones. The sudden movement of the body can also damage muscles, ligaments, tendons, and structures in the neck and back.
Whiplash is one example of a soft tissue injury frequently associated with collisions. The rapid forward-and-backward movement of the neck can injure muscles and supporting tissues and may cause pain, stiffness, headaches, and reduced range of motion.
New Jersey's automobile insurance laws can affect claims for non-economic damages after a motor vehicle accident. Under the state's limitation-on-lawsuit framework, the nature of an injury—including certain displaced fractures or permanent injuries—can be legally significant.
Fractures Caused by Slip and Fall Accidents
A sudden fall can cause a person to instinctively reach out with their hands or arms to break the impact, resulting in fractures of the wrist, hand, arm, elbow, or shoulder.
Falls can also cause:
Hip fractures
Pelvic fractures
Ankle injuries
Knee injuries
Leg fractures
Shoulder injuries
Torn ligaments
Back and neck injuries
Older adults can be particularly vulnerable to serious fractures following a fall.
When a dangerous property condition causes an accident, questions may arise regarding whether the property owner or another responsible party failed to reasonably address the hazard.
Workplace and Construction Accident Fractures
Construction sites, warehouses, factories, and other workplaces can expose employees to heavy machinery, elevated surfaces, falling objects, vehicles, and other hazards capable of causing serious orthopedic injuries.
Workers may suffer fractures or soft tissue injuries from:
Falls from ladders or scaffolding
Falling objects
Machinery accidents
Vehicle accidents
Crush incidents
Repetitive physical strain
Slips and falls
Equipment failures
Depending on the circumstances, an injured employee may be entitled to workers' compensation benefits. In some cases, when a third party other than the employer contributes to the accident, a separate personal injury claim may also be available.
Symptoms of a Fracture
Symptoms can vary depending on the location and severity of the broken bone.
Possible signs include:
Severe pain
Swelling
Bruising
Tenderness
Difficulty moving the affected area
Inability to put weight on an injured limb
Visible deformity
Numbness or tingling
Reduced range of motion
Some fractures are immediately obvious, while smaller or nondisplaced fractures may be more difficult to recognize without diagnostic imaging.
Anyone who suspects a fracture following an accident should seek appropriate medical evaluation.
Symptoms of Soft Tissue Injuries
Soft tissue injuries can sometimes become more noticeable in the hours or days following an accident.
Symptoms may include:
Pain or tenderness
Swelling
Bruising
Muscle stiffness
Weakness
Reduced range of motion
Muscle spasms
Neck or back pain
Joint instability
Difficulty performing normal movements
Persistent symptoms should be medically evaluated. Proper diagnosis can help determine whether the injury involves a sprain, strain, tear, or another condition requiring treatment.
Treatment for Fractures and Soft Tissue Injuries
Treatment depends on the nature and severity of the injury.
A fracture may require:
Casting or splinting
Immobilization
Reduction or repositioning of the bone
Surgery
Plates, screws, rods, or other surgical hardware
Physical therapy
Pain management
Soft tissue injuries may be treated with rest, medication, physical therapy, injections, bracing, or other conservative treatments. More serious ligament, tendon, or muscle tears may require surgery.
New Jersey's civil jury charge framework specifically recognizes both medical expenses and future medical expenses as potential components of damages in appropriate non-auto personal injury cases.
Long-Term Complications From Broken Bones
Although many fractures heal successfully, a serious break can result in lasting complications.
Potential long-term effects include:
Chronic pain
Reduced range of motion
Weakness
Arthritis
Nerve damage
Limited mobility
Improper bone healing
Need for additional surgery
Permanent physical limitations
A fracture involving a joint may be particularly significant because damage to the surrounding cartilage, ligaments, or other structures can affect movement long after the bone itself has healed.
Long-Term Effects of Soft Tissue Injuries
Some soft tissue injuries resolve with appropriate treatment and rehabilitation. Others can cause persistent symptoms that interfere with a person's work, exercise, sleep, and everyday activities.
Long-term problems may include:
Chronic neck or back pain
Reduced flexibility
Joint instability
Muscle weakness
Limited range of motion
Recurring pain
Difficulty lifting or performing physical work
Need for future surgery or therapy
A person's prior medical history can also become relevant in some injury cases. New Jersey recognizes circumstances in which an accident may aggravate a pre-existing injury or condition, although the evidence required depends on the particular facts of the case.
Proving a Fracture or Soft Tissue Injury Claim
Medical documentation can play an important role in establishing the nature, severity, and cause of an injury.
Evidence may include:
X-rays
MRI or CT scans
Emergency room records
Orthopedic evaluations
Surgical records
Physical therapy records
Medical bills
Photographs
Documentation of missed work
Physician opinions regarding permanent limitations
Evidence of anticipated future treatment
Soft tissue injury cases can require particularly careful documentation because some injuries may not be as visually apparent as a broken bone.
Compensation for Fractures and Soft Tissue Injuries
When another party's negligence causes a fracture or serious soft tissue injury, the injured person may be entitled to pursue compensation for the resulting losses.
Depending on the circumstances, damages may include:
Past and future medical expenses
Surgery and rehabilitation costs
Physical therapy
Lost wages
Reduced future earning capacity
Pain and suffering
Permanent physical limitations
Loss of enjoyment of life
Other damages available under New Jersey law
The value of a claim depends on the individual circumstances, including the severity of the injury, treatment required, recovery time, whether the injury is permanent, and how it affects the person's ability to work and live their normal life.
Contact a New Jersey Fracture & Soft Tissue Injury Lawyer
A broken bone or serious soft tissue injury can result in months of treatment, time away from work, substantial medical expenses, and lasting physical limitations. When another person's or company's negligence caused the accident, you deserve to understand your legal options.
For more than 30 years, The Law Office of Todd I. Siegel has represented injured individuals and families throughout New Jersey. Our firm investigates serious accidents, evaluates the medical and financial impact of our clients' injuries, and helps them pursue the compensation available under New Jersey law.
If you or a loved one suffered a fracture or serious soft tissue injury because of another party's negligence, contact The Law Office of Todd I. Siegel to discuss your case and learn more about your legal options.
