Construction Accidents and Broken Bones
A broken bone may not sound as serious as other potential injuries that can occur in construction accidents. While they are generally not life threatening, they can cause long-term damage and keep you out of work for an extended period of time. An attorney with experience and knowledge of construction accidents and broken bones can help workers in the Brooklyn, NY area recover the necessary compensation for their injuries. At Gary A. Zucker & Associates, our team understands the complex workers’ compensation rules and regulations and can help you navigate them during this difficult time.
Causes of Broken Bones
A bone can break if it is exposed to excessive force of some kind. Slip and falls and falling objects are two of the most common causes of bone fractures or breaks. In construction zones, however, there are a number of other potential causes of a broken bone, including:
- Accidents with machinery or construction vehicles such as forklifts
- Explosions and propelled objects
- Malfunctioning power tools
There are regulations in place to help prevent such accidents from occurring. Unfortunately, these accidents are still common in spite of these regulations. Accidents may occur due to an employer’s failure to follow regulations. More commonly, they are the result of an employee who has not been adequately trained. In some cases, if a power tool or other piece of equipment is defective, the fault may lie with the manufacturer.
Types of Broken Bones
There are various types of broken bones, ranging from simple and minor to complex and serious. In general, a broken bone is typically not a life-threatening injury. In some cases, however, a bone can break and puncture an internal organ, leading to internal bleeding and a life-threatening situation. Types of broken bones include:
- Simple, closed break in which the bone breaks but does not break through the skin
- Compound, open fractures in which the bone breaks and protrudes through the skin, causing additional damage
- Complete breaks mean the bone has broken into two or more pieces that are no longer connected
- Incomplete fractures occur when the bone is only partially disconnected
- Comminuted fractures are bones that are broken into several pieces
- Spiral fractures occur when one or more parts of the bone have become twisted
- Impacted fractures are fragments of bone embedded into one another
- Transverse fractures occur at right angles
- Oblique fractures are diagonal
- Avulsion fractures involve tendons or ligaments pulling away from the bone
- Hairline fractures are small cracks in the bone
Consequences of Construction Accidents and Broken Bones
A broken bone is not only painful, but more serious breaks may require surgery to properly repair the bone. Physical therapy is also typically needed to rebuild strength in the affected area. On top of all that, the injured party is out of work until the bone has sufficiently healed. This can take six to eight weeks for minor breaks and several months for more severe breaks.
Book a Consultation Today
At Gary A. Zucker and Associates, we will fight to ensure you receive compensation for your medical expenses and any wages lost while you are out of work recovering. Schedule your consultation today to learn more about how we can help you.