Fractured Wrist Accidents
A Broken Wrist is Extremely Common
If you’ve broken a bone, the odds are one out of ten that you’ve suffered a broken wrist. Wrist fractures can be caused, among other things, from a slip/trip and fall, or involvement in a motor vehicle accident. Although a common injury, it can impact many parts of your everyday life including driving, working, dressing and performing household chores.
“There are several types of wrist fractures, and they’re definitely not all treated the same way,” says Carrie Swigart, M.D., a hand surgeon and Chief of Yale Medicine Hand and Upper Extremity Surgery. “A wrist fracture can mean that a person has broken one of the small (carpal) bones in the joint, or, more commonly, the distal radius, which is the larger of the two bones that make up the forearm. This bone most often breaks at the lower end, near where it connects to the bones of the hand and thumb,” Dr. Swigart explains.
How do Wrist Fractures Happen?
In a motor vehicle accident, a wrist fracture can be caused when bracing against the steering wheel, from the airbags deploying, or the sudden impact with other parts of the vehicle. Sometimes the break is in many pieces and often requires surgical repair.
During a slip and fall, the automatic response is to outstretch your hand in an attempt to break your fall. Unfortunately, it is often a wrist that winds up breaking. Since anyone can take a tumble, this is one of the most common causes attributed to a fractured wrist.
How to Know if You’ve Broken Your Wrist
A fractured wrist might result in these symptoms:
-Severe pain that might worsen when gripping or squeezing or moving your hand or wrist.
-Swelling
-Tenderness
-Bruising
-Obvious deformity, such as a bent wrist.
If you think you may have fractured your wrist, seek medical attention immediately. A delay in treatment can lead to poor healing, decreased range of motion, and decreased grip strength. Even with medical treatment, a fractured wrist can lead to complications such as ongoing stiffness or aching, osteoarthritis or nerve or blood vessel damage. Prompt medical attention is the best way to avoid these potential complications.
Get the High-Quality Legal Help You Need Now
If you or a loved one has been injured due to someone else’s negligence, contact Denlea & Carton today for a free consultation. Call (914) 368-7168 to discuss your case with an experienced member of our legal team.
We have recovered over $100,000,000 in verdicts and settlements on behalf of our clients and will fight hard to get you the compensation you deserve after a serious accident with injuries. Cases are handled on a contingency fee basis, meaning there are no fees unless we win.
