Even with health insurance, the average cost of a broken bone can be pretty expensive. When you add up all of the necessary fees, you could be looking at thousands of dollars worth of treatment. Before you become overwhelmed, though, remember that you do have options available to you. If another party was at fault for your broken bone, they may be legally liable for the cost of any damages or losses that ensue from that. Regardless of what your insurance does (or doesn’t) cover, you have the right to recover damages from the responsible party and/or their insurance carrier.
If someone else’s negligence resulted in your broken bone, there’s no reason for you to bear that financial responsibility alone. Medical expenses add up quickly, and there are limitations for how long you have to file a claim. That is why it is so important that you seek the help of a skilled Chicago personal injury attorney such as those at Curcio & Casciato immediately.
Broken Bones are a Common Result of Accidents
Broken bones are one of the most common types of orthopedic injuries. Every year, nearly 7 million people in the United States will experience a bone break or fracture. These injuries can result from an endless number of accidents. Motor vehicle crashes, slips and falls, construction site injuries, and many more kinds of accidents can potentially lead to a broken bone. This includes nursing home falls.
Very often do children and teenagers fall victim to broken bones, as they are normally more active and reckless. Luckily, fractures generally pose no real threat to this age group. This is because their bodies are still developing and have the ability to heal quickly. However, when an adult breaks a bone, it can be a much more serious situation.
Broken bone injuries in adults have the potential to put them out of work for long periods of time and limit their ability to complete everyday tasks. Things like cleaning, driving, and taking care of children or pets can become increasingly difficult for someone dealing with a broken bone. In addition, treatment of the injury can end up costing victims thousands of dollars in medical care and lost wages.
It’s also important to remember how serious a broken bone can be for elderly adults. If an older adult suffers a hard fall in which they break a bone, it could very well be life-threatening. If your loved one suffered a nursing home fall due to negligence, you need the Chicago nursing home lawyers at Curcio & Casciato.
What are the Symptoms of a Broken Bone?
You may assume that it would be very obvious to a person if they were to break a bone, but that is not always the case. While some breaks might be obvious, others might be so subtle that only an x-ray could identify them. Broken bones encompass anything from stress fractures (small cracks in the bone) to bones that have seemingly snapped in half.
One of the worst types of bone breaks is the compound fracture. A compound fracture essentially means the bone broke into two or more pieces, with one or more of the pieces protruding through the skin. This break will be significantly more obvious than that of a stress or hairline fracture.
If there is not a significant deformity where the broken limb appears to be out of place or puncturing the skin, there are other symptoms that might indicate a broken bone. These include the following:
- Severe pain
- Swelling and/or bruising
- Tenderness, numbness, or tingling around the injured area
- Difficulty (and likely serious pain) when moving a limb
Regardless of the type of fracture, any broken bone will require immediate medical attention.
What is the Average Cost of a Broken Arm?
The average cost of a broken bone in the arm depends on several different factors. When estimating a cost, you should first consider the type of break you are dealing with. Because the bone punctures the skin and is left exposed in a compound fracture, it poses a higher risk of infection. It also poses potential problems for the reconstruction and setting of the broken bone.
Oftentimes, breaks of this magnitude require surgery. Instruments such as pins and screws may also be necessary in the reconstructing of the bone. The severity of a compound or other complex fracture and the treatment required to fix it will likely result in it costing significantly more than that of a lesser break.
Aside from the severity of the break, you must also consider a plethora of other factors, including fees for:
- Emergency room care
- Labs and x-rays
- Doctor’s visits and follow-up care
- Surgical procedures, if needed
- Medical materials and equipment
- Braces, splints, slings, bandages, casts, etc.
- Physical therapy, if needed
Your health insurance policy, if any, should cover the costs associated with a broken arm. However, depending on the type of insurance you have, your policy may not cover every single one of these costs. Even if they do, you may still need to pay a deductible for your treatment, which can sometimes end up costing over $5,000.
How Much Does Broken Leg Surgery Cost?
It is no surprise that surgical treatment will drastically increase the price for any type of injury as opposed to other nonsurgical treatment methods. If you suffer from a broken leg that requires surgery, you can expect to pay much more than you might for a break that only requires a cast or boot. But just how much does broken leg surgery cost?
Once again, the answer to that is that it depends on several factors. The extent of your break and the surgical measures necessary to repair it play a huge factor in the total cost. Other contributing factors include the area in which you live, the healthcare costs in your region, and the number of days you spent in the hospital.
You also need to consider the cost of medical equipment necessary for your recovery. This may include things like crutches, a wheelchair, or any other mobility equipment that you may need to safely get around.
If the injury was enough to cause nerve damage, muscle damage, or other types of serious complications, the price will increase. While health insurance generally covers some or all of the costs of a broken leg surgery, there remains the possibility of deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance. These costs alone can amount to thousands of dollars.
What Happens if I Break a Bone and Don’t Have Insurance?
If you suffer a broken bone without having insurance to cover the costs, you may end up spending a pretty penny on your recovery. For instance, the average cost of a broken bone treatment without insurance may be anywhere around $2,500 or more out-of-pocket. This is only for the diagnosis and treatment of the injury and doesn’t take into account potential surgery.
If your injury does require surgery and you do not have health insurance to cover the cost, you should expect to pay a lot more out-of-pocket. For a broken arm, you may be looking at around $16,000 or more pricewise for surgery. For a broken leg that requires surgery, you may be spending anywhere from $17,000-$35,000 on treatment. However, the price varies significantly depending on where you live and the average cost of healthcare in your region.
Contact the Experienced Chicago Personal Injury Attorneys at Curcio & Casciato
If you learned anything from this post, it’s that broken bones can be extremely common, but also extremely expensive. That’s the bad news. The good news, however, is that you could be eligible to receive a personal injury settlement to pay for the treatment of your broken bone. If your injury was due to the negligence of another person or entity, you may be entitled to financial compensation.
At Curcio & Casciato, our personal injury attorneys dedicate themselves to representing those who have been injured at the hands of another. For over 60 years, we’ve recovered compensation for individuals who have broken bones from car accidents, hazardous premises, and more. If you believe you have a case and wish to speak to a personal injury lawyer, contact Curcio & Casciato today. You can schedule your completely free consultation by calling 312-321-1111 or visiting our website.
