Broken nose and sinus fractures account for nearly half the fractures in the facial area. Sinus fractures can happen from all sorts of accidents where you are hit in the head or take a direct blow to the face. This can include getting into a physical altercation with someone, but many people develop a sinus fracture after a slip and fall or a motor vehicle accident.
If you ended up with a fracture in your sinuses, you are likely to experience some or all of the following symptoms:
- Bruising (contusion) at the site of injury
- Tenderness and swelling
- Black eye in one or both eyes
- Chronic nasal discharge, even though you don’t have a cold
- Nose bleeds
- Difficulty breathing though the nose
- Different appearance of the nose, particularly the nose being crooked or cock-eyed
Aside from pain and discomfort, fractures in the sinuses can have severe complications that can compromise the quality of your life. Medical intervention can correct these issues and restore the shape of your nose, but these treatments are undoubtedly expensive. Due to your recovery needs, you are likely to have other monetary losses that will be hard to deal with on your own.
If someone else’s conduct was the cause or contributing factor in why you are injured, you have the right to file a compensation claim with help from an experienced accident lawyer. If you need lawsuit info as the victim of a slip and fall or car accident injury attorney, please contact the offices of Normandie Law Firm.
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What is a Sinus Fracture?
A sinus fracture is a break or crack in the bones around your sinuses. This injury can be caused by trauma or impact to the face, and there are different forms of sinus fractures based on the location of injury. For example, a paranasal sinus fracture may involve the maxillary, frontal, ethmoid, and sphenoid sinuses. If, on the other hand, you sustain a heavy blow to the front of your face, you may have what’s known as a frontal sinus fracture.
It’s very common to sustain a sinus fracture after a car accident, where the face may be hit by a steering wheel, airbag, dashboard, and other parts of the vehicle. Objects that break through the windshield can also make contact with the face and cause a sinus fracture from a concussion or another form of head trauma. In fact, many cases of sinus fractures are secondary to a brain injury (TBI), so it’s important to see a doctor right away and ensure that you are aware of the full scope of your injuries.
Please note that you can develop serious health complications if your sinus fracture is left untreated. These include:
- Breathing problems
- Sinus infections from untreated cuts and wounds
- Facial deformity
Ways to Treat a Sinus Fracture
There are several treatments for a sinus fracture depending on the location of the fracture and the severity of health complications. The goal with any treatment is to restore normal function in the sinuses and facial contour and prevent serious health issues, like breathing difficulties. Here are some treatment options that may be recommended by your doctor:
- Sinus obliteration – surgery to remove the frontal sinus, thereby eliminating chronic infections in this area.
- Open reduction and internal fixation – commonly referred to as ORIF, this is a surgical procedure for severe dislocations and fractures. Essentially, the bones in and around the nose are realigned and stabilized with pins, wires, screws, etc.
- Endoscopic placement – a procedure for older fractures, endoscopic placement of bone powder or another material may improve your appearance if you have a frontal sinus fracture.
Can I Sue for my Injury?
Yes, you can sue for a maxillary sinus fracture or any other injury from an accident that was caused by another party’s negligence. Essentially, negligence refers to careless or reckless conduct that results in bodily harm and/or property damage to someone else. A person who is driving too fast, for example, may lose control of the car and end up crashing into another driver. Or, a broken pipe leaking water in a building may have caused someone to slip and fall down.
These are fairly straightforward cases, but liability, i.e., who is responsible for an accident, can be difficult to figure out, depending on the circumstances. That’s why a thorough investigation of your accident is essential, along with immediate medical care for your injuries. To discuss your case with a car accident lawyer, don’t hesitate to give us a call. We also have a dedicated team of slip and fall attorneys, who are ready to help if you fell down due to a dangerous condition on someone else’s property.
How Much can I Get from a Lawsuit if I have a Sinus Fracture?
The average value of a lawsuit for a sinus fracture is around $30,000 to $1,500,000. Obviously, there is a significant different in these numbers, and this is to be expected when you consider the variations that exist from one case to another. The degree of injury is different for each accident victim, and so are the ways that the injury affects their lives. You must also keep in mind that the sinus fracture or broken nose may be a secondary condition to a brain injury. Traumatic brain injury cases are often settled for $1,000,000 and above, and this is another factor that can impact your case value.
How Long Does It Take to Reach a Settlement?
The timeline to settle a lawsuit based on negligence can vary from just a few weeks to over 3 years. Realistically, most cases take at least 6 months to settle, though claims involving serious, long-term injuries will take between 12 and 24 months. Thus, if you have a sinus fracture that is secondary to traumatic brain injury, 2 years is not an unreasonable timeframe to reach a settlement. Though it’s unlikely, there is a small possibility of your lawsuit progressing to a trial, meaning that we are unable to reach a settlement with the other side. In that case, obtaining the compensation you are owed can take more than 3 years.
Is There a Time Limit to File a Lawsuit?
Yes, there is a deadline of 2 years to file a personal injury claim, whether you slipped and fell down or sustained injuries from a car accident. It’s very difficult to get an extension beyond the statute of limitations, so please don’t wait to initiate a sinus fracture injury claim with a member of our legal team.
There is, however, a shorter deadline if the party that’s liable for your accident is a public entity. Specifically, we are referring to government entities and public school districts, which are protected under the California Tort Claims Act. You can sue these entities, but there is firm deadline of months to file a compensation claim. Based on what happens with your claim, you will have a certain amount of time to file a lawsuit for monetary damages like medical expenses and pain and suffering.
Please note that lawsuits are complex legal actions with plenty of room for error, regardless of who you are suing. To maximize your chance for a successful outcome, seek help from the accident injury lawyers of Normandie.
Contact Our Law Firm
No matter what type of injury you have, it’s essential to obtain legal advice from an experienced personal injury attorney. Our law firm has decades of experience with slip and falls, motor vehicle crashes, and other accidents that can result in a sinus fracture.
We are ready to take immediate action on your case and fight for the settlement you deserve, while charging you $0 in legal fees. This is possible through the Zero Fee Guarantee, where the cost of hiring us paid by the party at fault for the accident. Our payment is a part of your settlement award, so the only way we get paid is by winning your case.
To schedule a free case evaluation and learn about your rights and legal options, please reach out to us at your earliest convenience.
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