If you’ve sprained or broken a bone while playing sports, or on the job, or by way of an accident, you may be eligible for compensation for your injuries. But first things first — you need to figure out the extent of your injury before you proceed. Determining the difference between a minor injury, sprain, or broken bone isn’t always easy when you’re any sort of pain. And a medical doctor should always have a look to provide necessary treatment. But to help you distinguish between a sprain and a broken bone, here’s what to look out for.
The Difference Between a Sprain and a Broken Bone
A sprain only impacts the ligaments and joints and is often treated with a brace. Only rarely is surgery required for a sprain. A fracture, on the other hand, causes your bone to break, requiring a cast and/or an operation. For this distinct reason, the healing process is quite different. A sprain will likely only place a person out of work for a few days, whereas multiple fractures could put you out of work for an undetermined amount of time — impacting your earnings and your quality of life.
How to Distinguish Between the Two
Was there Noise?
A sprain is normally silent. In some cases, you may hear a popping sound at the point of impact, but with a broken bone you can often hear a distinct cracking sound.
Does It Feel Numb?
If your bone is broken, you will feel pain in addition to potential numbness and tingling directly over the bone. If it’s sprained, the pain will be moderate or minor and in the immediate area.
Is it bent at an unnatural angle?
If your foot or arm is suddenly facing the wrong way, it’s highly likely you’ve broken the bone. Visible bone coming through the skin is, of course, a tell-tale sign that you’ve either split or fractured the bone in half.
How This Impacts Your Settlement
A personal injury case may be viable if you’ve sprained or broken a bone at no fault of your own. The factor in valuing the case will rely on how bad the injury is and if the defendant is liable. Damages like medical bills, lost wages, loss of quality of life, and pain and suffering may be owed to you if it can be proven that your injuries were caused by an act of negligence or intent. It is not uncommon for settlements to reach into the hundreds of thousands of dollars for cases that involve negligent and intentional acts. So it’s important to seek medical advice immediately to document your injuries and to contact a personal injury lawyer to represent your interests.
If you’ve suffered an injury that caused broken bones or serious harm because of someone else’s negligence or intent, you may be eligible for compensation. Contact us at Zuber Brioux — we’ll fight for your rights. Call for a free consultation today.