Some injuries are more debilitating than others. A sprained ankle may impair your walking ability, but after a few weeks, you will be back to normal. This is not always the case with pelvic injuries, such as broken pelvises and pelvic fractures. These damages may sideline you for weeks or months and can lead to other damages that are extremely severe. You could be injured in various types of accidents, from car accidents to falls, and you should always take proper precaution to stay safe. If you were hurt because of another party’s negligence, you could take legal action. Our team of expert attorneys at Normandie Law Firm can help you file your claim and win you the compensation you deserve.
What Is the Pelvis?
The pelvis is the collection of bones holding the spine to the hips; it provides structural support for the bladder, intestines, stomach, and more. In women, it provides room for the birth canal so that children can pass through. The pelvis has different areas that can be easily damaged in accidents.
Injuries to the Pelvis
The pelvis can be injured in a number of ways. Simple hip damages can occur, leading to walking inability and instability. You may also be injured in the sacrum and coccyx, or lower back and tailbone. These damages can make it hard to walk and can be extremely painful.
Pelvic fractures are breaks in the pelvis. A stable pelvic fracture consists of a single break with limited bleeding where the bones do not shift. An unstable pelvic fracture is more severe, consisting of numerous breaks with excessive bleeding.
How Pelvic Fractures Happen
Pelvic fractures often occur when there is a great deal of force or trauma to the area. The injuries can lead to further damages and numerous problems, especially during surgery. The recovery time can be many months, but it can also be lengthened if something like fluid fills the hip joint or an infection enters the body.
A few of the causes of pelvic fractures can include:
- Car accident: Car accidents are common causes of numerous injuries, but especially pelvic fractures. Because you are seated during a car crash, your pelvis may be crushed, bent, slammed against the door, and more. Many people have their femurs jammed upward into their hips when they crash into the rear of a vehicle, for example. The sheer force of impact can be enough to cause severe injuries
- Slip and fall and trip and fall accidents: You may slip and fall or trip and fall almost anywhere. The most common locations are restaurants, grocery stores, outlet malls, sidewalks, and bathrooms. Elderly individuals are most at risk of pelvic fractures and hip damage in slip and fall and trip and fall accidents.
- Workplace accident: You could be hurt at the workplace by falling or by getting injured on machinery. Your job may consist of you having to lift materials as well, and if some supporting structure breaks, you could be trapped under materials, leading to pelvic damages.
- Motorcycle accident: Motorcycles are very dangerous to ride because they do not have ample safety features like seat belts or airbags. Riders can be launched off the bike or pinned against other vehicles and objects, leading to severe pelvic injuries and fractures.
- Fall from stairs: Defective stairs with holes in them or steps with no handrails can lead to falls. The worst part about falling down the stairs is not merely the impact, but that there are numerous impacts. Falling down a flight can cause various injuries, not least of all pelvic fractures.
The different causes and locations of these accidents can determine who was liable for your injuries.
Who Is Liable For My Pelvic Fracture?
To determine liability, you must assess who owed you a duty of care and had to protect. For example, if you were driving on the road, all other drivers must take care not to injure others and must not drive recklessly. If you were at a red light and you were rear ended, the other driver would be liable. Similarly, driving along through an intersection would render you without fault if another driver sped through a stop sign.
In order to file a lawsuit for pelvic fracture injuries, you must show that you were affected by negligent action. The four points of negligence required for personal injury claims include:
- You were owed a duty of care
- The duty of care was breached
- The breach of duty led to an accident
- The incident resulted in physical injuries
All four of these points must be shown to be true or your claim will not result in any success. If you were injured while at a store or on private property, you must show that the property owner either knew about the hazard and did nothing to fix it, caused the hazard, or was unaware of the hazard when he reasonably should have been Premises liability claims are often hard to win by yourself, which is why it is always highly recommended that you reach out to a skilled attorney to handle your case.
Steps To Take After An Accident
If you suffered a pelvic fracture after an accident, you may be seriously injured and unable to move. You might need to call the paramedics to go to the emergency room at once. If possible, you should gather necessary evidence at the scene, or ask a trusted person or acquaintance o gather it for you.
Evidence at the scene of the accident can include pictures of the location or hazard, damage done to other vehicles, defects with the premises, and more. You should also have interviews, statements, and testimonies from bystanders and eyewitnesses. Security camera footage can also come in handy.
If you were in a car accident and the police showed up, you should request a copy of the police report. If the incident happened at a business, you can file an incident report with the company.
Perhaps most importantly, you should contact a qualified lawyer with experience in pelvic fracture injuries from accidents. You might not have any legal experience at all, which could negatively impact your claim. If you are too injured or unaware of how to proceed the insurance agent can easily throw your claim away and reject it. With a lawyer on your side, you can refrain from worrying about what will happen with your case while we take care of all the legal needs.
Compensation from an Accident Lawsuit
Individuals who suffered pelvic fractures in accidents should be fairly compensated for the damages. The value of your claim will vary depending on the extent of your injury and how much of an effect it had on your life and job. If you were left permanently disabled, for example, your case would be worth a lot more. However, if you were partially at fault for the incident, your case value would likely decrease. Some of the forms of compensation you can win include:
- Medical bills from the past and future for hospitalization, surgery, medication, rehabilitation, and more
- Lost wages for time spent away from work from the past and future
- Property damage for lost belongings and broken goods
- Pain and suffering damages for PTS, anxiety, fear, emotional trauma, and more
Additionally, if the pelvic fracture occurred to a family member or loved one, and the complications from it caused the individual to pass away, you could sue for wrongful death damages. These expenses cover the funeral and burial fees, pre-death medical bills and pain and suffering, loss of relations and consortium, loss of expected inheritance and savings, and more.
Deadline to File a Claim for an Accident
The statute of limitations in California is 2 years from the date of the injury. If you wish to file a personal injury claim, premises liability lawsuit, or other negligence-based tort, you can only do so in the acceptable time frame. If you miss the deadline, you will not be able to file in the future, and you will not be able to collect any compensation. The sooner you file, the better it is for your claim, as all evidence will be preserved and there will be a higher chance of earning the maximum compensation.
There are situations in which the statute f limitations can be extended, though. This is common in situations where the individual is a minor; the statute would be suspended until he turns 18 years old. Further, anyone left mentally or physically incapacitated after an accident can wait until returning to functioning health to sue. Additionally, if the defendant has left the state, the statute will be suspended until he returns.
Choosing Our Firm
Normandie Law Firm is the best choice for lawsuits centered on pelvic fractures. We have handled numerous cases involving individuals who have suffered injured pelvises in accidents. Our aggressive lawyers will fight tooth and nail for your rightful restitution and we will not give up until we are satisfied with the result.
Call our law offices today to set up a free legal consultation with an expert attorney. All consultations are confidential and you are invited to ask us whatever you wish. We will tell you about the legal process and what you can expect out of the lawsuit. We will also inform you of what your case might be worth. If you want us to handle your claim, we will give you our zero fee guarantee, which says that you won’t pay any out of pocket fees for our services. We will get paid if we win, and the money will be taken as a portion of the settlement we bring you. If we lose, we take nothing at all, and you can walk away debt-free to our firm.
Let or experienced attorneys win you the compensation you need after you suffered a pelvic fracture in an accident. Contact Normandie Law Firm today.
