Orthopedic Injury

Orthopedic injuries are more than just sprains and strains. Orthopedic injuries can result in life-altering changes to the body. These changes can be profound, and sometimes a negligent accident is to blame. Workplace accidents or using a defective consumer product may cause serious and irreparable damage in the form of an orthopedic injury.

From car crashes to slip and fall accidents, there are a variety of situations that may cause a person to be injured and have to face the consequences of an orthopedic injury. At Veron Bice, LLC, we promise that you never have to face those consequences alone.

We know that you may still be dealing with the trauma of your accident. That’s why our Lake Charles personal injury attorneys are standing by to handle your case with kindness and compassion. We can walk you through all your legal options, advise you on your best course of action, and aggressively fight to get you the compensation you deserve.

If a serious accident left you with orthopedic injuries, contact us right away at 337-310-1600 to set up a no-obligation consultation.

What Is an Orthopedic Injury?

The term “orthopedic injury” is used frequently, but what exactly constitutes an orthopedic injury? Orthopedic injuries include any type of damage or injury to the musculoskeletal system of the body. Typically, the bones and joints are impacted, but muscle and tendon injuries can also be considered orthopedic injuries. Orthopedic injuries are often associated with advancing age. While it’s true people experience these injuries more easily as they age, these types of injuries are often a result of some type of accident or physical trauma in people of any age.

Types of Orthopedic Injuries

The musculoskeletal system is vast, which means a huge variety of injuries can be considered orthopedic injuries. The injuries can range from something as minor as a sprain to as major as a bone fractured in multiple places. Orthopedic injuries may require treatment as minimal as ice and some pain relievers. However, some orthopedic injuries call for much more invasive treatments, including multiple surgeries, reconstruction, and bone grafts.

Orthopedic injuries can be just as traumatic and life-altering as other types of injuries. The most common orthopedic injuries associated with accidents are:

  • Bone fractures
  • Stress fractures
  • Compression fractures
  • Joint dislocations
  • Amputations
  • Muscle tears
  • Torn tendons
  • Hernia

The most common areas of the body that are impacted include:

  • Long bones in the arms and legs
  • Hip and pelvic bones
  • Wrist
  • Knees
  • Ankles
  • Shoulders

Serious orthopedic injuries, such as some types of bone breaks, may require the fracture to be stabilized first. Then a physician will be able to assess the damage to the bone and surrounding tissue before surgically reconstructing the area. Some fractures may require plates, rods, and screws to be inserted in order to further stabilize the break and allow it to heal in the proper position. Bone grafts and deformity correction may also be needed.

Certain orthopedic injuries also run the risk of becoming infected and causing serious and sometimes life-threatening complications. One surgery may not always be sufficient to address the severity of an injury; follow-up surgeries may be required. Amputation is also a risk if blood flow cannot be restored or if serious infection sets in.

Bone, joint, and muscle injuries can be permanent and may impact an individual’s ability to work and earn a living. The resulting pain and complications may also cause changes in a person’s quality of life, limiting their ability to enjoy the things they once took pleasure in. Chronic pain and the lasting consequences and trauma from a serious accident can also alter a person’s attitude, as well as how they interact with their family, friends, and the world around them.

Common Causes of Orthopedic Injuries

Since many of the most common types of orthopedic injuries are considered minor by medical standards, people may incorrectly assume that orthopedic injuries can’t have a devastating impact on the human body, or that they don’t cost as much to treat as other types of injuries. That simply isn’t the case. Orthopedic injuries, especially those caused by traumatic accidents, can be life-altering, even fatal.

Some of the most common causes of orthopedic injuries include:

  • Car accidents
  • Truck accidents
  • Motorcycle accidents
  • Slip and fall accidents
  • Workplace accidents
  • Medical malpractice cases

While teams of medical professionals are trying to restore your body physically, behind the scenes the hospital is busy billing you for your extensive treatment. Your extensive hospital stays, surgical intervention, reconstruction, and rehabilitation means that medical bills can reach hundreds of thousands of dollars. Those types of medical costs can put almost most anyone in a financial bind, all because you were involved in an accident you didn’t cause.

If you were seriously injured as a result of an accident, contact the law firm of Veron Bice, LLC to discuss your situation. You may be entitled to receive compensation for your injuries and time missed from work. The experienced legal team at Veron Bice, LLC can review your situation and give you clear answers as to what your legal options are.

Negligence Can Lead to Serious Injuries

Unfortunately, orthopedic injuries are often the result of negligence. A driver too distracted by their phone to pay attention to the road is being negligent. A property owner that knows there is an issue with a crack in their walkway but does nothing to remedy the situation could be negligent. A workplace ignoring Occupational Safety and Health Administration guidelines for safety, which then is the location of an accident, may be considered negligent. Negligent behavior can result in serious consequences for both the victim and the person at fault.

In legal terms, what is negligence, and why does it have to be a factor in an accident?

In legal terminology, negligence is behavior that fails to rise to the level of care that someone of ordinary prudence would exercise under the same conditions and circumstances. The basic question asked when determining whether negligence is at play is this: Did the person who caused the accident act with reasonable care? Or were they reckless or careless in their behavior? If the answer is they were careless, then negligence may be at play and you may be able to seek compensation for the accident.

In order for a negligence case to be successful, there are four elements that must be proven. They include:

  • Duty of Care: To prove negligence under the law, a victim needs to demonstrate that the person who caused the accident has a duty of care. A duty of care is the obligation to act with a certain degree of reasonable caution and good judgment. For example, all drivers must exercise caution and follow all traffic laws. Running a stoplight and causing an accident is failing to act with a duty of care.
  • Breach of Duty: Once it is established that the individual or company has a duty of care, you must prove that this duty was somehow breached. That means they failed to act with reasonable care in the situation that caused the accident.
  • Causation: If the two above conditions are met, a victim will then need to demonstrate that the reckless or negligent actions resulted in an injury. There needs to be a direct connection between the negligent action and an injury. For example, a driver runs a stoplight and hits your vehicle, causing you to break your arm.
  • Damages: Once you demonstrate that the negligent behavior caused an accident that resulted in an injury, the final element you need to prove is that you suffered damages. This means translating the harm you suffered into dollar amounts. While it may sound like the simplest part of the process, it can get quite complicated. How do you put a price on quality of life changes?

The process may seem intimidating. That’s why getting in touch with an experienced personal injury attorney is important. At Veron Bice, LLC, we know our way around orthopedic injuries and Louisiana law. We work with you to build a strong case and carry the burden from beginning to end so that you can focus on what matters: your recovery.

How an Experienced Personal Injury Attorney at Veron Bice, LLC Can Help

In Louisiana, there is a limited amount of time to file a case after you’ve suffered an orthopedic injury in an accident. At Veron Bice, LLC, we want to get moving on your case quickly to make sure you get the compensation you are entitled to. Our efficient and experienced team can review the circumstances of your accident and lay out your legal options and next steps.

Don’t let medical bills from an accident jeopardize your future. Talk to someone who can help. Talk to an experienced Lake Charles attorney at Veron Bice, LLC.

If you or a loved one have suffered an orthopedic injury, call our office at 337-310-1600 today. Schedule a no-obligation consultation and let us help you recover the compensation you are entitled to.

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Lake Charles, Louisiana

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