If you have suffered a broken wrist, you may be entitled to a settlement from your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance. However, every case is unique, and the amount of money you can receive will depend on the specifics of your situation.
How much you will receive depends on the severity of your injury and how it has affected your ability to work. In this blog post, we will discuss how broken wrist settlements are calculated and how you can maximize your payout.
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What you need to know about broken/fractured wrists?
Broken wrists are one of the most common injuries seen in emergency rooms and doctors’ offices. The severity or type can depend on what caused it and how bad your break was (a simple fall could leave you with just some X-rays). Usually, when there’s an injury to this area, we find ourselves going straight away for follow-up treatment.
The X-rays reveal the extent of your injury from a broken wrist. With four bones in the wrist area ulna, scaphoid, and two radius ones), doctors have found that a fracture to the radius bones is the most common type of broken wrist injuries. The most typical type is the break at the end part – called the “ulnar canal.”
Types of Broken Wrist Injuries
Broken wrist injuries can be categorized into two main groups:
- Displaced fracture: as the name suggests, displaced fracture is a condition where wrist bones have shifted from their natural position. Usually, these injuries need surgeries to help align the bones into the right position before healing. In most cases, surgery will involve making an incision on the palm side of your wrist and then fixing the displaced bones with tiny screws.
- Non-displaced fracture: This is an injury involving breaking wrists bones without a change in position. In order to heal, such injuries need a stable environment. A cast will help provide that for them while they’re being monitored with X-rays every two weeks in case the injury has shifted.
What are the common causes and symptoms of broken wrist injuries?
A broken wrist can occur due to a number of different accidents or injuries. Some of the most common causes of broken wrists include:
- Falls: If you fall onto an outstretched hand, it is likely that your wrist will be broken.
- Car accidents: Wrist bones breaking or sustaining fractures is common in car accidents.
- Sports injuries: Wrist fractures are common in contact sports and related activities. In some cases, the force may be applied by falling onto an outstretched hand, such as inline skating or snowboarding.
- Workplace accidents: Workplace accidents constitute a higher percentage of broken wrist injuries. The main cause of workplace injuries result from trip, slip and fall. This could be a slip on a wet surface, well-polished floor or you trip over an object that was not put in the right place.
Symptoms
The most common symptoms of a broken wrist include:
- Severe pain that worsens moving, squeezing, or gripping your wrist
- Swelling
- Bruising
- Obvious deformity like bent wrist
- Tenderness
In some cases, you may also experience difficulty moving your wrist or hand. If you have any of these symptoms, it is important to seek medical attention right away.
How much does it cost to fix a fractured wrist?
A broken or fractured wrist can be a very painful experience. If you have suffered this type of injury, you may be wondering how much it will cost to fix it.
In general, the average cost of fixing a broken wrist without any health insurance is around $7,000 to $12,000. However, this number can vary widely depending on the severity of your injury and the specific treatment you require. For example, if you require surgery, your costs will be much higher than if you only need a cast or splint.
Is a broken wrist very painful?
Yes, a broken wrist can be very painful. Depending on the severity of your injury, you may experience pain and swelling immediately after the accident or injury occurs. In some cases, the pain may even get worse over time.
Consequently, it is important to seek medical attention right away if you believe you have suffered a broken wrist. This will allow you to receive the necessary treatment and reduce the risk of further complications.
When you have a broken wrist, it can be difficult to move or use the hand and wrist. If there are swelling or bones out of place on your arm, then they will most likely look deformed. This is because their incorrect position affects how well fitted each part feels together with other parts around them.
Can a broken wrist heal without surgery?
In most cases, a broken wrist will require surgery in order to heal properly. If you do not have surgery, there is a risk that your bones may not align correctly, which could lead to long-term problems with your wrist.
Surgery is generally a safe and effective way to fix a broken wrist. However, it is important to discuss your options with an experienced medical professional before making a decision.
Uncomplicated broken wrist injuries take weeks or months to heal, but you have the power in yourself. Take good care of your wrist by eating proper food and staying away from smoking.
How much is a broken bone settlement worth?
The amount of money you could potentially receive in a broken bone settlement will vary depending on the severity of your injury and the specific details of your case. In general, however, the average broken bone settlement is worth around $25,000.
Keep in mind that this number can vary widely depending on your accident or injury circumstances. For instance, the average settlement in bicycle accidents can be higher and sometimes approaches $50,000. If you have suffered a broken bone, speaking with an experienced attorney who can help you understand your rights and guide you through the legal process is important.
What is the average settlement for a hand injury?
The average hand injury settlement is $30,000 and $75,000. Usually, the key to getting a high payout depends on the severity of your injury and the recovery period. You can also expect to receive around $30,000 to $75,000 in compensation for a carpal tunnel syndrome diagnosis.
Is a broken wrist a serious injury?
Yes, a broken wrist can be a severe injury. If not treated properly, it may lead to long-term problems with your wrist or hand.
Wrist fractures can cause arthritis years later. If you start to notice pain or swelling in your wrist, see a doctor immediately because it could be an indication of something more severe like nerve damage and blood vessel injuries from trauma to the area near where we break our wrists.
Therefore, it is important to seek medical attention right away if you believe you have suffered a broken wrist. This will allow you to receive the necessary treatment and reduce the risk of further complications.
When do I need surgery for my broken wrist injury?
Usually, broken wrists don’t always heal on their own. If you’ve broken both your radius and ulna, there’s a good chance that surgery will be necessary to help fix the bones. This will help prevent traumatic healing and wrongfully aligned bones.
Fortunately, wrist surgery is an outpatient procedure that typically requires general anesthesia. Doctors may use titanium plates or pins to fix the bones in place and ensure proper wrist alignment. This allows your broken wrist injury to heal on its own without pain for you.
Wrist breaks can be a messy, painful process, but with proper care and attention to detail, this will not affect your ability at all. Medical providers recommend wearing either an arm cast or splint for 6-8 weeks while healing occurs to allow you to regain use of the affected area.
What is the average insurance settlement for a broken wrist?
Broken wrists don’t always need surgery, but it can increase the amount of money you receive from insurance when they do it. For example, if your injury required extensive fixing, then chances are good that any settlement will be higher than what would have otherwise been paid out.
There’s no doubt that a case involving surgery has the potential for higher payouts due to the invasiveness. The average insurance settlement for wrist injury cases that require surgery is around $40,000-$60,000. On the other hand, cases that are resolved without surgery will typically receive a lower payout, which can range between $15,000 to $20,000.
However, the average insurance settlement for broken wrist can vary from state to state and jurisdiction. For instance, The cost of a broken wrist in a car accident in California ranges from $100,000 to $200,000.
Can a wrist injury result in permanent damage?
Yes, a wrist injury can sometimes lead to permanent damage. This is particularly true if the broken bone does not heal properly or if you experience long-term pain and dysfunction.
Thus, wrist injuries are not only capable of causing pain, but they can also lead to permanent disability and chronic pain that requires constant medical needs. The need for care may never go away even after the injury has healed because there is often lifelong damage that cannot be corrected with surgery alone.
One of the most common post-accident wrist injuries is arthritis. However, broken wrist injuries can also result in carpal tunnel syndrome and other complications.
Samples of Broken Wrist Settlements and Verdicts
George A. Smith, California
George, a 45-year man, was hit by an uninsured motorist while on his way from work. During the accident, he sustained multiple injuries, including a severe broken wrist injury involving fractures on one of the two radius bones on his wrist. The injury required arthroscopic surgery as some of the wrist bones were out of position.
After the accident, George sued the at-fault motorist’s insurance company for being liable under the uninsured coverage. He was awarded $40,000 for the damages, while his wife received $8,000 for loss of consortium.
Byron K. Bush
Byron, a 50 years salesperson, was involved in an accident with another vehicle driven by an uninsured driver. He sustained severe wrist fractures and other injuries. After filing a claim, he was able to prove through his lawyer that the defendant was at fault as he had acquired uninsured motorist policy before the crash. The defendant admitted liability in the case. After the case, Byron was awarded $945,000 compensation, which was mainly a settlement for pain and suffering.
Lydia J. Thrope
After being rear-ended while inin light traffic, a 40-year old Lydia suffered multiple injuries and wrist damage that required wearing a cast and several surgeries. She sued her insurance company as they tried to limit the amount she was to receive as a settlement for her injuries.
After the case, she was awarded $90,000 from the tortfeasor. She also received an additional $350,000 from the co-defendant.
Edward Miller
Edward, a 37-year old Edward, suffered fractures and severed tendons in one of his wrists when he was involved in a collision. Collided with a 18 wheeler waste truck, which was making a turn near a blackspot corner while on his way to pick his daughter from school.
The injuries caused him to spend more than 3 weeks in hospital and undergo surgery for his injuries. Besides, the injury left him with serious surgical scars and complications that made it harder for him to carry out normal activities. Later, he filed a claim and was awarded $120,000 as compensation for pain and suffering and lost wages.
Conclusion
If you have suffered a broken wrist, it is important to seek legal assistance as soon as possible. A broken wrist can be a very painful experience, and in some cases, it may lead to permanent damage.
Hiring an experienced workers’ compensation attorney can help you understand your rights and guide you through the legal process. The right personal injury lawyer will also be able to advise you on how much money you could potentially receive in a settlement.
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