Can You Break Your Femur in a Car Accident?

If you suffered a leg injury in a Georgia crash, you may be entitled to compensation

Breaking the femur in a car accident is more common than many realize. The femur, the strongest bone in the body, can fracture under the immense forces of a collision, particularly when the lower body absorbs the impact. These severe injuries often require months of immobility, multiple surgeries, and intensive physical therapy, leaving victims unable to work or maintain their routines. The financial strain from mounting medical bills only adds to the emotional toll on victims and their families.

Understanding how these leg injuries occur, the challenges they pose, and how compensation can help victims rebuild their lives is crucial for those seeking justice. An experienced Atlanta car accident lawyer can evaluate the circumstances of the accident, determine liability, and ensure victims receive the resources they need to recover.

Common Causes of Femur Fractures in Georgia Car Accidents

Femur fractures require significant force, and the dynamics of car accidents create the perfect conditions for this injury. These fractures commonly occur in scenarios involving:

High-Impact Collisions: The femur absorbs the force in head-on collisions when dashboards or steering columns compress the lower body.
T-Bones and Side-Impact Crashes: T-bone collisions at Georgia’s busy intersections, such as those on Peachtree Street in Atlanta, often result in direct trauma to the femur.
Rollover Accidents: Vehicles overturning on sharp rural roads or high-speed curves create twisting forces that cause spiral fractures.
Seatbelt Trauma: Misplaced or improperly used seatbelts can concentrate impact forces on the femur, leading to fractures in otherwise survivable crashes.
Rear-End Collisions: A distracted or speeding driver slams into the back of another vehicle, forcing the victim’s knees into the dashboard and fracturing their femur.
Drunk Driving Accidents: An impaired driver loses control, causing a head-on collision that crushes the lower body and fractures the femur.
Commercial Vehicle Accidents: A fatigued truck driver fails to stop in time, rear-ending a smaller car and trapping the victim's legs against the dashboard.

Determining how a car accident caused a femur fracture is not just about understanding the mechanics of the crash — it also helps in identifying the type and severity of the injury. Different types of femur fractures can vary greatly in their impact on recovery time, required medical treatment, and long-term effects.

Types of Femur Fractures After a Car Accident

Femur fractures vary in type and severity, each affecting recovery time and compensation needs. Common types include:

Transverse Fractures: Straight-across breaks caused by direct impact, often requiring surgical stabilization.
Comminuted Fractures: The bone shatters into several pieces, resulting in complex surgeries and extended recovery periods.
Open (Compound) Fractures: The bone pierces through the skin, increasing infection risks and recovery complications.
Spiral Fractures: Twisting forces create helical breaks, commonly seen in rollover accidents.
Femoral Neck Fractures: Located near the hip joint, these fractures often require hip replacement or surgical fixation.

Each type of fracture demands specialized treatment, which can significantly increase medical costs. A lawyer familiar with these injuries can help ensure that the financial burden doesn’t fall entirely on the victim.

Can You Still Walk on a Fractured Femur?

Walking on a fractured femur is typically impossible due to the severe pain and the bone's inability to support weight. The femur is the strongest bone in the body, but once fractured, it loses its structural integrity. In rare cases, individuals with hairline fractures or partial stress fractures may still walk, though doing so can worsen the injury.

Most femur fractures, such as transverse or comminuted breaks, require immediate medical attention, immobilization, and often surgery to restore mobility. Attempting to walk on a fractured femur without treatment can lead to long-term damage and prolonged recovery. Rehabilitation after surgery plays a crucial role in regaining strength and mobility, and victims often require months of physical therapy to resume walking without assistance.

Why Femur Fracture Claims Are Complex

Seeking compensation for a femur fracture often involves significant legal challenges. Insurance companies and at-fault parties may attempt to minimize payouts, leaving victims with inadequate resources. Common hurdles include:

High Medical Costs: Emergency surgeries to stabilize the femur involve rods, screws, or plates. Long-term rehabilitation, physical therapy, and potential future surgeries add to the financial strain.
Proving the Full Extent of Damages: Chronic pain, reduced mobility, and the inability to work often require expert testimony to quantify. Insurers often argue for shorter recovery times to reduce settlements.
Georgia’s Comparative Negligence Rules: Under Georgia law, victims can only recover compensation if they are less than 50% at fault. Insurers often try to shift blame to the victim.

Overcoming these obstacles requires an experienced attorney who understands the complexities of Georgia personal injury law.

Compensation for Femur Fractures in Georgia

Femur fractures from car accidents are among the most expensive and challenging injuries to treat. Victims often face emergency surgeries, prolonged hospital stays, and months of physical therapy to regain mobility. Common treatments include internal fixation using rods, screws, or plates to stabilize the bone. Severe cases, such as comminuted or open fractures, may require multiple surgeries and extended rehabilitation.

Physical therapy typically spans months, focusing on rebuilding strength, improving range of motion, and restoring functionality. Some victims need specialized rehabilitation programs, including gait training and pain management, while others must adapt their homes with ramps, widened doorways, or assistive devices like walkers and wheelchairs. These medical and rehabilitation costs can easily surpass $100,000, depending on the severity of the injury.

How Much Compensation Can You Get for a Femur Fracture in a Car Accident?

The compensation for a femur fracture varies depending on the severity of the injury and the circumstances surrounding the car accident. In Georgia, settlements can range from $75,000 to $150,000, with more severe cases, such as open fractures or those requiring multiple surgeries, reaching $500,000 or more.

Factors that affect the compensation amount include medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and long-term disability. A skilled Atlanta car accident lawyer can help evaluate your claim, ensuring that all your damages — both economic and non-economic — are fully accounted for to secure the highest possible settlement.

How a Lawyer Can Help With a Femur Fracture Claim

A car accident attorney plays a critical role in maximizing compensation by presenting detailed medical evidence, consulting with experts, and thoroughly documenting the long-term costs of the injury. A lawyer can effectively counter insurance tactics designed to minimize payouts, ensuring victims receive the resources necessary to recover and rebuild their lives.

Femur fractures caused by car accidents bring devastating physical, emotional, and financial challenges. When negligence contributes to the injury, victims have the right to pursue compensation to cover their losses. Handling a femur fracture claim is a complex process that demands legal authority. A lawyer can:

Investigate the accident thoroughly, gathering critical evidence such as crash reports and witness statements.
Collaborate with orthopedic specialists to document the full extent of your injuries and recovery needs.
Counter insurance tactics designed to undervalue claims or shift fault onto the victim.
Negotiate for fair compensation or take the case to court when necessary.

Working with a knowledgeable Georgia personal injury lawyer can make the process manageable and ensure you receive the support you need to rebuild your life.

Get the Compensation You Deserve for Your Fractured Femur

At the Law Offices of Gary Martin Hays & Associates, P.C., we are committed to helping victims of severe femur fractures file strong car accident claims. Our experienced team has recovered substantial compensation for clients facing life-altering leg injuries, ensuring they have the financial resources needed for medical care, rehabilitation, and recovery. Our case results include a $1.5 million settlement for policy limits in a car wreck involving a leg injury and a $1.25 million settlement for another car accident victim requiring leg surgery.

If you suffered a femur fracture in a Georgia car accident, don’t face the challenges alone. Contact us today for a free consultation and let us fight to secure the justice and compensation you deserve.

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