Sacramento Tibia Fracture Lawyer

The largest primary weight-bearing joint of the body is the knee. The knee joint is comprised of three bones: the patella (kneecap), femur (thighbone), and the tibia (shinbone). The bones are held together by tendons and ligaments acting as strong ropes and restraints. The formation of the bones allows some types of movements of the knees. It also helps keep them in proper alignment. When a fracture occurs in the shinbone, one of the two bones that make up the lower leg, it may impact the ankle and knee joints.

If you suffered a tibial shaft fracture in an accident caused by someone else’s negligence, contact our compassionate California personal injury attorneys today for free, friendly case advice. Call (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400 to speak with one of our lawyers and learn how to help you.

Our law firm has handled all types of bone fracture cases, including those of the shinbone, since 1982. The key in such cases is to prove the severity of the injury and resulting damages to an insurance adjuster or a jury. There is no question that you will need a lawyer experienced in handling personal injury cases like yours to ensure you receive full compensation for this painful and debilitating injury. Contact our tibia fracture attorneys today for a free consultation.

A tibia fracture may occur from a bone that is compromised, either through infection or cancer. In other situations, this type of bone fracture may occur from stress, such as minor breaks from unusual and excessive activities. Most broken shinbone cases result from high-energy trauma such as sports-related injury, falls from considerable heights, and traffic collisions.

The symptoms of a fractured shinbone may include:

• Cool feeling or paleness of the foot may indicate a possible impairment of the blood supply
• Deformity or swelling of the knee
• Limitations on the ability to bend the joint
• Pain that is worsened when there is weight placed on the injured leg

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms after suffering trauma to the leg, it is essential to seek an evaluation from a physician right away.

Classification systems are used by physicians to describe bone fractures. Fractured tibias are classified based on:

• The location of the break in the bone (middle, distal, and proximal third of the tibial shaft)
• The pattern of the break (for instance, the bone may have broken into different directions like in the middle, lengthwise, or crosswise)
• Presence of tearing of the muscle over the bone and skin attributed to the injury (open fracture)

When planning care, the treating physician may consider several factors that include:

• The overall health of the patient
• The cause of the broken bone
• The severity of the fracture
• The extent of damage to soft tissue

The initial management of a fractured shinbone may consist of a splint to provide support and comfort. Unlike full casts, splints may be adjusted to allow swelling to happen safely. Once the swelling has gone down, the treating physician may consider a range of options for treatment.

The doctor may immobilize the fractured extremity in a cast for initial recovery. Once a few weeks have passed, the cast may later be replaced with a functional brace comprised of fasteners and plastic. This will serve to provide support and protection until the healing process has been completed. It may be removed for physical therapy and hygiene purposes.

Surgical intervention may be necessary for patients presenting with open fractures, breaks that have not yet healed through non-surgical procedures, fractures with a large degree of displacement, and many broken bones fragments. Most surgeons use intramedullary nailing in the treatment of tibia fractures. Other surgical treatment methods may include plates and screws and external fixation.

Most cases of fractured tibial shafts take approximately four to six months to recover from. If the bone was broken into several fragments, the fracture was open, or the patient uses tobacco products, the healing process may take longer.

There are three types of fractures in the tibial shaft, including:

• Displaced/Comminuted: This fracture type occurs when the bones have broken into several pieces and are not aligned. A displaced fracture is attributed to high-energy trauma, like a motor vehicle collision or getting hit by a car. Treatment may include setting the bone without surgical procedures and a long leg cast for four to eight weeks. In some patients, a short leg weight-bearing cast may be necessary. In cases of unstable fractures, surgery may be necessary for maintaining alignment.
• Displaced/Non-Comminuted: This type of tibial shaft fracture occurs when no more than two fragments of bones are broken (non-comminuted) and are not aligned. The fibula remains intact as this is an isolated fracture of the shinbone. This is the most common type of fractured tibial shaft as it often results from a twisting or rotational force like a fall or sports-related injury. Treatment may include a long leg cast with the forefoot abducted, the knee bent, and the foot externally rotated. This serves to set the bone without surgical intervention. Conversely, surgery may be necessary in cases of unstable displaced fractures.
• Nondisplaced: This type of tibia fracture occurs when the bones that have broken stay aligned. Nondisplaced fractures of the tibial shaft are typically seen in adolescents under the age of four. It may result from a traumatic event that is mild in severity or a twisting injury. The initial symptom of this type of fracture is limpness. An examination may reveal swelling or tenderness in the lower region of the shinbone. Treatment may usually involve immobilization in a long or short leg cast. The process may take six to 10 weeks for older adolescents and three to four weeks for toddlers.

An accident causing a serious injury such as a shinbone fracture may require extensive and long-term medical treatment. The goal after such an injury is for the injured party to get their life back on track after medical care. However, for most, that may come at a cost.

After a motor vehicle collision, there may be mounting medical expenses and the temporary or permanent inability to return to work. Fortunately, an experienced tibia fracture attorney is there to help. If the incident occurred because of someone else’s negligence, an injury lawyer might help in recovering full and fair compensation.

The insurance company representing the other individual may attempt to limit financial liability for the incident. This focus on extending lowball settlement offers may leave injured people insufficient to cover all resulting damages. This is why working with an experienced attorney handling shinbone fracture cases is essential to ensure you receive a fair financial recovery. A lawyer can help recover economic and non-economic damages for:

• Medical bills
• Lost income
• Loss of future earnings
• Emotional distress
• Mental anguish
• Loss of consortium
• Pain and suffering

A traumatic injury may impact all aspects of life, and no one deserves to bear the burden when it was caused by someone else’s negligence. Having a skilled and compassionate attorney can be of great assistance if this has happened to you. For details on how to find the best lawyer to represent you, watch this video.

After a catastrophic accident, we depend on the insurance company to be there for us. However, insurers have a vested interest in protecting their bottom line and will do so by paying as little as possible on accident injury claims. The legal process is not straightforward as there may be many factors that may impact the case’s value. Therefore, it is essential to retain legal counsel with experience handling tibia fracture cases.

Insurance carriers may use various defense tactics to downplay the value of a claim or outright deny it. One of which may include pre-existing conditions. While having a pre-existing condition does not necessarily prevent an injured party from seeking compensation for damages, it must be established that the existing medical issue has worsened because of the accident in question. Extensive medical records and other evidence must prove that the injuries were aggravated after the incident.

Few things may be as challenging and overwhelming as an insurer refusing to provide fair compensation in your time of need. It is not easy to accumulate medical bills, missing work to recover from accident-related injuries and other unexpected expenses. Unlike the insurance company, a personal injury lawyer cares about you and your needs. An attorney will explain your rights and your potential options for recovery after suffering a serious injury in an accident, such as a broken shinbone.

Our Sacramento-based personal injury lawyers have assisted many injured parties in protecting their rights and obtaining justice after suffering a tibia fracture, and we can help you too. Our law firm approaches every case with the understanding that no two are the same. Each client has experienced a unique incident that has caused them to get badly injured, and our job is to help them return to their normal way of life.

If you or a loved one was seriously hurt in a crash caused by another party or entity, reach out to our legal team today for free, friendly case advice at (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400. We are available anytime to meet with you and your family to hear your story and determine the best steps in moving forward with a claim.

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

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