One of the types of fractures seen in personal injury cases in California is forearm fractures. The forearm is comprised of two bones, that being the ulna and the radius. In most forearm fracture cases in adults, both bones are broken. A fractured forearm can happen near the elbow at the proximal (top) end of the bone, in the middle of the forearm, or near the wrist at the distal (farthest) end of the bone.

If you were involved in an accident and suffered a fractured forearm, you may be entitled to compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. To learn more, call one of our California forearm fracture attorneys for free, friendly advice at (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400. 

A fracture of the forearm can lead to emotional, physical, and financial consequences. That is why it is helpful to contact an experienced personal injury attorney for assistance. Retaining legal representation is essential for seeking financial compensation from difficult insurance companies representing at-fault parties. Our California law firm has helped injured parties and their families obtain full compensation in their forearm fracture cases since 1982. To learn more about how we can help you, contact us today to schedule a free case evaluation.

According to OrthoInfo of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS), there are several ways in which the bones of the forearm can break. The bone can either break into several fragments or crack just slightly. Conversely, the broken pieces of bone may be far out of place or line up straight.

In some cases, a break in the bone may cause a wound to penetrate down to the broken bone or bone fragments to protrude through the skin. This type of injury is called an open fracture which generally requires immediate medical care to prevent infection.

The most common causes of broken forearms reported by Mayo Clinic include:

• Direct blow
• Falling on an outstretched arm either from a height or during a sports-related activity
• Motor vehicle collisions

If you sustained a forearm fracture in an accident caused by another person’s negligent actions, you should speak with an experienced attorney right away. A lawyer experienced in California personal injury laws can help you understand your legal rights and options applicable to your unique situation.

The most common signs and symptoms of a broken forearm include:

• Bruising or swelling
• Inability to turn or rotate the arm
• Immediate pain
• Need for support of the affected arm with the other hand
• Obvious deformity from the forearm appearing bent and shorter than the other arm
• Weakness or numbness in the wrist or fingers

A medical professional will conduct a thorough physical examination after symptoms and medical history have been disclosed by the patient. This will include:

• Examination of the skin to observe any cuts from the injury. Since fragments of bone may protrude through the skin and cause lacerations, it may lead to an increased risk of infection.
• Evaluate the arm through palpations to determine if there are other areas of tenderness that may indicate other injuries or bone fractures.
• Checking the pulse at the wrist to ensure that proper blood flow is passing through the forearm to the hand.
• Checking the movement of the wrist and fingers to determine whether any nerves have been damaged at the time in which the bone was broken. This may result in numbness and weakness of the wrist and hand.
• Examination of the hand, wrist, elbow, upper arm, and shoulder if there are complaints of arm pain.
• In emergency room settings, the doctor may temporarily realign the bones, apply a splint, and provide a sling to maintain the position of the arm.
• Order X-rays to monitor the healing of the fracture as needed.

A fractured forearm has the potential to cause complications and further injury. These include:

• The end of a fractured bone is often sharp and may tear or cut surrounding nerves or blood vessels.
• An open fracture may expose the bone to the external environment increasing the risk of bone infection.
• Excessive swelling and bleeding immediately after a forearm fracture may result in acute compartment syndrome, a condition that involves the cut-off of blood supply to the forearm and hand due to swelling.

When the radius and ulna have been broken or if the bones of the forearm have punctured the skin, surgery is generally required. Surgical procedures are often scheduled immediately if there is an open fracture involve to prevent the risk of bone infection. Some of the types of surgeries for forearm fractures include:

• Open Reduction and Internal Fixation (ORIF) with screws, plates, and rods
• External Fixation with screws and pins

As with any surgery, there are potential risks. If a surgical procedure is recommended by a medical professional, that healthcare provider has considered that the benefits of the surgery far outweigh the possible risks. Some of the potential complications from surgery include:

• Infection: Any surgery can lead to the risk of an infection, whether it is for a fractured forearm or another condition.
• Damage to Blood Vessels and Nerves: The blood vessels and nerves around the forearm are susceptible to the minor risk of trauma. There may be temporary numbness after the injury, which is considered common. However, if there is persistent tingling or numbness in the fingers, a medical professional should be contacted immediately.
• Nonunion: Healing of a fractured forearm is not guaranteed through a surgical procedure. The rods, plates, or screws may break or shift. In other situations, the fracture may pull apart. This may happen for a wide array of reasons, including patient not following directives after surgery, the patient has underlying health conditions that have slowed the healing process, healing is often slower for open fractures, and infections of the bone may prevent or slow recovery.
• Synostosis: A rare complication involving healing between the radius and ulna with a bridge of bone. This is known as synostosis, which can prevent full movement and decrease rotation of the bones.

Further surgery may be needed if the fractured forearm has failed to heal. Watch the video below for additional information on surgical approaches to the forearm.

Our personal injury law firm represents Californians who have suffered all types of bone fractures, including broken forearms, in catastrophic accidents. Our lawyers understand the long-term impact of such injuries and have successfully recovered fair compensation for clients, including:

• Past medical expenses
• Costs of future medical care
• Lost wages
• Loss of future earnings
• Permanent injury or disability
• Pain and suffering

If you suffered a fracture of the forearm in an accident caused by someone else’s negligence, contact our personal injury lawyers today to discuss your legal options.

Calculating the value of non-economic damages such as pain and suffering is not a straightforward process for the plaintiff or claimant. An insurance company will generally calculate a personal injury settlement offer for pain and suffering damages based on the extent of wage loss and medical treatment. The higher the economic damages incurred, the higher the compensation for pain and suffering.

Unfortunately, insurance companies do not always extend fair settlement offers for fractured forearm claims arising from accidents. Insurers often use Colossus, a software program used to calculate the value of bodily injury claims. Colossus and similar artificial intelligence programs are used to evaluate nearly all personal injury cases, apart from some with specific facts and circumstances.

The only way to remove a claim from being in the Colossus system is to hire an attorney to file a lawsuit in court. This way, the value of the serious injury case will be determined by a jury of 12 people, not an artificial intelligence program that truly does not understand the pain that comes with a fractured forearm.

In California, a plaintiff generally has two years to file a lawsuit in civil court for a fractured forearm case. If the claimant does not accept a settlement from the insurance company or file within the two-year statute of limitations, they may lose the right to recover personal injury damages. Refer to the California Code of Civil Procedure Section 335.1 for more details.

If a personal injury case involves government entity negligence, a different filing deadline may apply. A claimant has up to 180 days to file a notice of claim against the government agency, as outlined in the California Government Code Section 911.2.

In a personal injury action against a healthcare provider for alleged professional negligence, a claimant must file a case within three years of the date of injury or one year after the forearm fracture was discovered, whichever happens first. This is by the California Code of Civil Procedure Section 340.5.

Since different time limits may apply in personal injury suits, it is best to consult with an experienced forearm fracture lawyer.

No matter how safe you are, someone else’s negligence may cause you to suffer a fractured forearm in an accident. This may put you in debt from mounting medical bills and being out of work for days, weeks, or even months.

Our personal injury law firm understands the frustration that comes with a broken forearm and can guide you through the claims process. Our forearm fracture attorneys handle cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning our clients pay no fees unless we win their personal injury case. Call our legal team today to schedule a free consultation with one of our injury attorneys today at (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400.

^{Editor’s Note: updated for accuracy and relevancy [cha 4.14.23]}

^{Picture Source: Pixabay}

^{ds [cs 1682] cha}