If you were in a high-impact car collision in Illinois, then you might have fractured one or both of your femur bones. Car crashes are the number one cause of femur fractures according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Such an injury can require you to undergo long-term rehabilitative care and physical therapy and take pain medications, but if you were not to blame for the crash, you may seek compensation for these extensive medical costs.
Where the femur can be fractured
Though it’s the strongest bone in the body, the femur can be broken with enough force. The elderly, whose bones are fragile, are more likely to fracture bones after an accident. In their case, it’s usually a hip fracture, which affects the femoral neck. Car crash victims normally incur a knee fracture, which affects the femur’s distal end, or a fracture along the femoral shaft, which is the midsection.
Effects of a femur fracture
High-impact motor vehicle accidents will most likely result in other injuries besides femur fractures. The fracture can lead to the tearing of blood vessels, muscles and ligaments; the formation of blood clots; and possibly, if the bone protrudes from the skin, an infection. These complications can sometimes be more life-threatening than the fracture.
How these fractures are treated
A stress fracture can heal as long as patients take plenty of rest. As for fractures that displace the bone, doctors may need to insert metal rods and screws into the bone to reattach and straighten it. Metal plates and screws may be necessary for hip and knee fractures. In less serious cases, victims may have a cast put on them.
Filing a personal injury claim
To determine whether the motor vehicle accident you were in can form the basis for a personal injury claim, you may want to schedule a legal evaluation. Having a lawyer may prove to be beneficial, especially when it comes to gathering evidence against the negligent driver who caused your injuries and negotiating for a settlement. If successful, you might be covered for all past and future medical expenses, lost wages and more.