A serious bone fracture can change your life in an instant. Whether you were injured in an Alabama car crash, motorcycle crash, commercial truck accident, or a fall on unsafe property, the physical pain is just one part of the challenge. You might be facing multiple surgeries, a long recovery, missed work, and questions about how you’ll cover the costs.
In this article, we’ll explain when you can file a personal injury claim for a fracture, how compensation is typically determined in Alabama, and some of the challenges you might face.
If you’re considering your next steps and need legal support, reach out to the experienced Birmingham personal injury attorneys at Nomberg Law Firm for a free consultation.
Does a broken bone count as a serious injury?
Yes, a broken bone can count as a serious injury—especially when it leads to long-term complications or significantly disrupts your daily life. While some fractures heal with minimal intervention, others may require repeated surgeries or extensive physical therapy and result in chronic pain, limited mobility, or permanent disability.
In Alabama, a broken bone may be considered catastrophic if it:
- Leads to permanent impairment or disfigurement.
- Results in inability to use a limb or joint.
- Prevents you from returning to your previous job or performing basic tasks.
- Involves multiple fractures that impact mobility, such as those to the spine, pelvis, legs, or skull.
Catastrophic injuries often warrant higher compensation in a personal injury claim due to their long-term impact on your quality of life, earning ability, and emotional well-being.
What is the most life-threatening fracture?
The most life-threatening fractures involve areas of the body that protect vital organs or support critical bodily functions. These include:
- Skull fractures can lead to brain injuries, bleeding in the brain, or increased pressure inside the skull, all of which can be fatal without immediate treatment.
- Spinal fractures can permanently damage the spinal cord, potentially causing paralysis, nerve damage, or loss of bodily function.
- Femur (thigh bone) fractures can lead to severe blood loss, fat emboli, blood clots, and complications from surgery.
- Hip fractures often require surgery and long recovery periods. They carry a high risk of complications like blood clots, infections, and loss of mobility.
- Pelvic fractures can result in significant internal bleeding and organ damage due to the pelvis’s proximity to major blood vessels and internal organs.
Hip fractures, in particular, are especially dangerous for older adults. Aging bones are often weakened by osteoporosis or other health conditions, making them more susceptible to breaks—even from a simple fall or minor accident.
A recent article published in JBMR Plus confirmed this, finding that among people over 65, the 5-year survival rate following a hip fracture is less than one-third for men and only about half for women.
That’s worse than survival rates for breast and prostate cancers in the same age group—an alarming statistic that underscores just how life-altering and dangerous these injuries can be.
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What are the risks associated with fractures?
Fractures can have both immediate and long-term consequences that go beyond the broken bone itself. Immediately, a fracture may cause severe pain, swelling, internal bleeding, and, in some cases, nerve damage or damage to nearby organs—particularly if the break is in a high-risk area like the pelvis or spine.
Open fractures, where the bone breaks through the skin, also carry a high risk of infection and require emergency treatment.
In the long term, many fracture victims face complications such as:
- Chronic pain. Even after the bone heals, lingering pain can persist due to nerve damage, inflammation, or changes in bone structure.
- Arthritis. Fractures involving joints often increase the risk of post-traumatic arthritis, which can affect mobility and quality of life.
- Muscle atrophy. Extended periods of immobilization or limited use of a limb can cause surrounding muscles to weaken significantly.
- Delayed healing or nonunion. Some bones don’t heal properly or take much longer to mend, requiring additional surgeries or long-term immobilization.
- Reduced range of motion. Stiffness and scar tissue may develop, particularly if physical therapy isn’t started early in recovery.
These risks make it crucial not only to seek immediate medical care for a fracture but also to follow through with long-term treatment plans, including rehabilitation, to reduce the risk of lasting damage.
How much do you get for a broken bone in an Alabama personal injury lawsuit?
In Alabama, compensation for a broken bone in a personal injury lawsuit depends on a number of factors—including the severity of the fracture, the impact on your life, and whether the other party’s negligence can be clearly proven.
While there’s no fixed payout for a broken bone, here’s what’s typically considered when calculating damages:
- Medical expenses. This includes the cost of emergency treatment, hospitalization, surgery, medications, physical therapy, follow-up appointments, and any future medical care you’ll need due to complications or delayed healing.
- Lost wages. If the injury keeps you out of work—temporarily or permanently—you can pursue compensation for lost income and earning capacity if the fracture impacts your ability to work long-term.
- Pain and suffering. Alabama allows victims to recover damages for the physical pain, emotional distress, and general disruption to their quality of life. More severe or long-lasting injuries usually result in higher pain and suffering awards.
- Permanent disability or disfigurement. If the broken bone causes lasting damage—such as loss of mobility, visible scarring, or chronic pain—you may be entitled to additional damages for the long-term impact on your life.
It’s important to know that Alabama follows a pure contributory negligence rule. This means if you’re even 1% to blame for the accident, you can’t receive any compensation.
Because of this strict rule, insurance companies often try to shift blame to avoid paying.
Working with an experienced Alabama personal injury attorney can make a major difference. Your attorney can help gather evidence, work with medical experts to understand the full scope of your injury, and push back against unfair blame tactics to fight for the maximum compensation you deserve.
Did you suffer a serious fracture in an accident in Birmingham? We can help!
If you or someone you love has suffered a serious fracture that led to permanent injury or wrongful death, the attorneys at Nomberg Law Firm are here to help. With more than 50 years of combined experience handling catastrophic injury cases in Birmingham and across Alabama, we know how insurance companies operate—and we know how to push back.
From day one, our team is focused on protecting your rights, gathering the evidence you need, and anticipating the tactics insurers use to delay, deny, or minimize your claim. That means fewer setbacks, less time wasted, and a stronger chance of securing the compensation you need to move forward.
Contact Nomberg Law Firm today for a free consultation and find out how we can help maximize your personal injury claim.
References
Vincent, G., Adachi, J. D., Schemitsch, E., Jean-Eric Tarride, Ho, N., Wani, R. J., & Brown, J. P. (2024). Post-fracture survival in a population-based study of adults aged ≥ 66 years: a call to action at hospital discharge. JBMR Plus, 8(5). https://doi.org/10.1093/jbmrpl/ziae002