Broken Hand Car Accident Settlement

Broken Hand Car Accident Settlement

When a car accident occurs, drivers often react to the impending collision by firmly gripping the steering wheel. The impact along with airbag deployment often leads to hand and wrist injuries. A serious and/or permanent hand or wrist injury can significantly affect a person’s quality of life. An experienced car accident lawyer can convince an insurance company that the cost of a hand or wrist injury is quite high in terms of both physical disability and pain and suffering. Here’s what you should know if you’ve suffered a hand or wrist injury in a car accident and how to go about getting a broken hand car accident settlement. 

The Complexities of the Human Hand

The human hand is intricately composed of bones, tendons, muscles, tissues, and ligaments. It’s easy to take the fine motor skills allowed to us by our hands for granted. From simple actions like typing on a keyboard or holding a pen to more complex activities such as buttoning a shirt or combing our hair, the dexterity of our hands is essential for daily life.

Whether it’s a hand or wrist injury, the impact of a hand injury can be significant, leaving us reliant on others for even the most basic tasks. Some injuries may heal with time, but others like tendinitis, broken fingers, distal radius fractures, torn ligaments, or even amputation can have long-lasting effects and require ongoing treatment and rehabilitation.

Common Wrist and Hand Injuries Following a Car Accident

Hand injuries can seem minor and many do not take them as seriously as other more severe injuries. But hand injuries can significantly affect someone’s quality of life as well as their ability to work.

Common hand injuries after a car accident include: 

• Finger fractures
• Metacarpal fractures
• Finger dislocation
• Overextended ligaments or tendons
• Extensor tendon injury in hand 
  • Extensor tendons lie next to the bone on the back of the hands and fingers. In a traumatic accident like a car crash, the tendons may rip from their attachment to the bone.
• Carpal bone fractures
• Wrist sprains

Long-Term Effects of Hand Injuries & Future Medical Costs

A broken hand or wrist injury can have lasting consequences beyond the initial healing period. Some potential long-term effects include:

• Chronic Pain: Some victims experience persistent discomfort or nerve damage.
• Limited Mobility: Stiffness or reduced range of motion can make daily tasks difficult.
• Arthritis Risk: Injuries can increase the likelihood of developing arthritis in the affected joint.
• Need for Future Surgeries: Severe cases may require additional medical procedures.
• Work Limitations: Those in labor-intensive jobs may need to switch careers or stop working entirely.

Considering these long-term effects is crucial when calculating a settlement, as future medical expenses and lost earning potential should be factored in.

How Much Is a Broken Hand Settlement Worth?

Car accident settlements for hand and wrist injuries vary widely. The average jury award for such cases is $630,000, while the median settlement is $70,000. However, each case is unique, and factors such as medical costs, lost income, and long-term impairment play a role in determining your compensation.

Factors That Affect Your Settlement Value

No two settlements are identical, even for the same injury. The following factors can influence how much you receive:

Factors That Increase Settlement Value:

• Lengthy recovery time
• Permanent disability or impairment
• Impact on your job and daily activities
• High medical expenses (surgery, therapy, medication)
• Lost wages due to missed work
• Reduced quality of life
• Additional household assistance costs

Factors That Can Lower Compensation:

• If you were partially at fault for the accident
• Lack of medical documentation
• Insufficient evidence of the injury’s impact
• Limited insurance coverage
• Quick recovery with no lasting effects

How Long Does It Take to Settle a Broken Hand Injury Claim?

One of the most common questions accident victims ask is how long their settlement will take. The timeline varies depending on several factors, including:

• Medical Recovery: Your case will likely remain open until you reach maximum medical improvement (MMI), which can take weeks or months.
• Insurance Negotiations: Insurers often delay settlements by making lowball offers or requiring additional documentation.
• Legal Proceedings: If a lawsuit is necessary, your case could take longer, especially if it goes to trial.
• Evidence Collection: Gathering medical records, expert opinions, and accident reports can also extend the process.

On average, personal injury claims can take anywhere from a few months to over a year to settle, depending on the complexity of the case.

Common Insurance Tactics That Lower Settlement Offers

Insurance companies aim to minimize payouts, and they use several tactics to achieve this:

• Downplaying the Injury: Insurers may argue that your injury is not severe or pre-existing.
• Delaying the Process: Some companies stall negotiations, hoping you will settle for less.
• Offering Quick Lowball Settlements: Early offers are often much lower than what your claim is truly worth.
• Blaming the Victim: Adjusters may attempt to shift some fault onto you, reducing your compensation.
• Questioning Medical Treatment: They may argue that certain treatments are unnecessary to avoid covering costs.

Having a skilled personal injury lawyer on your side can help counter these tactics and ensure you receive fair compensation.

Why Legal Representation Matters

Insurance companies often undervalue claims, especially for injuries that don’t seem immediately life-threatening. An experienced personal injury lawyer can negotiate on your behalf to ensure you receive maximum compensation. A lawyer will also:

• Gather medical records and expert testimony

• Calculate future expenses and losses

• Handle negotiations with insurers

• File a lawsuit if necessary

Contact Sally Morin Personal Injury Lawyers – Car Accident Law Firm

Sally Morin personal injury lawyers help accident victims achieve full and fair settlements for their injuries and have been doing so for many years. We have extensive experience representing people who were injured, sometimes severely or permanently, through no fault of their own. If you have sustained a broken hand in a car accident or other type of injury from a car collision that wasn’t your fault, contact the personal injury lawyers at Sally Morin 24/7 at 877-380-8852. We will make sure you are awarded every penny of compensation that you are entitled to. Request your free consultation today.