Broken Bone After a Car Crash: Signs, Care and Records

What is a fracture, and what are the signs?

A broken bone, or fracture, can cause intense pain, swelling, bruising, a limb that looks out of place, or trouble moving. Get medical care if you think a bone is broken.

MedlinePlus says fractures often happen in car crashes, falls and sports.

Other signs include numbness and tingling, or not being able to put weight on a leg.

If the bone breaks through the skin, it is called an open or compound fracture. If not, it is a closed fracture.

In a strong crash, a bone can shatter into three or more pieces.

When should I call 911 for a broken bone?

Call 911 if the person does not respond, bleeds a lot, or has a bone through the skin. Also call if a bone in the head, neck, back, hip, pelvis or upper leg may be broken.

Also call if the skin below the injury is pale, cold, clammy or blue.

Do not move a person who may have a head, neck or back injury.

Other broken bones may not be an emergency. MedlinePlus says they still need prompt care.

An open fracture is serious because the wound and the bone can get infected. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, or AAOS, says almost all are treated with surgery.

How are broken bones diagnosed and treated?

A provider will examine you, ask how you got hurt, and likely order an X-ray. A cast or splint is the most common care. Some breaks need surgery.

X-rays are the most common way to check a fracture. If more detail is needed, a doctor may order a CT scan or another imaging test.

A cast or splint keeps the bone still while it heals, often for several weeks. Some breaks need surgery to put in plates, pins or screws.

Healing time depends on the bone and the break. AAOS says some take 3 to 4 weeks, and others take months or longer.

A broken rib can hurt when you breathe or cough. Rib fractures often come with other chest injuries, so providers check for those too.

What does the evidence say about healing and follow-up care?

You will likely have follow-up visits to check how the bone heals. Many people also need exercises to get back strength and motion.

After a bone is set without surgery, a follow-up visit is likely within 5 days to 2 weeks.

MedlinePlus says to see your provider right away, or go to the ER, if the limb feels numb or tingly. The same goes for skin around the cast that looks pale or blue, or pain that pain medicine does not ease.

It also says to get care right away for chest pain or shortness of breath while you heal.

Pain often stops before the bone is strong enough for normal use. Ask your provider when you can go back to work or sports.

After an open fracture, stiffness and weakness may keep getting better for a year or more.

Which records show a broken bone in a claim?

Records that show a fracture include ER notes, the X-ray or CT report, and notes from surgery, follow-up visits and therapy. Keep your bills too.

You have a right to copies of your medical and billing records from health care providers and health plans, with few exceptions. This includes images such as X-rays.

A provider cannot refuse you a copy because you have not paid your bill. It may charge a fair fee to copy and mail records, but not to search for them.

You can also ask in writing to have a copy sent to another person you name.

If something in your record is wrong, you can ask the provider to change it.

Can I claim pain and suffering for a fracture in a no-fault state?

In some no-fault states, a fracture is one of the injuries that lets you sue for pain and suffering. It does not decide who was at fault or who pays.

New York: you need a “serious injury” to sue for pain and suffering after a crash. The law lists “a fracture” as one type.

New Jersey: under the limited right to sue option, “displaced fractures” are on the list of injuries that allow a claim for pain and suffering.

Washington, D.C.: if you have PIP, you have 60 days after the crash to tell the PIP insurer if you choose it. If you choose PIP, you can sue the other driver only for some serious injuries, such as lasting harm. If you do not choose, the usual liability coverage applies.

Who pays depends on fault and on each policy, not on the diagnosis alone.

What if I want to talk with a law firm about a broken bone?

You can get care, keep your records and file insurance claims on your own. The steps above show where to start.

Some people also want to ask a law firm about a broken bone from a crash. People’s Justice is not a law firm. We do not review your crash or recommend a lawyer. If you want, you can use the form on this page to ask to be connected with a law firm that pays us to advertise.