Compensation for a Fractured Femur After a Motorcycle Accident in California
We see many common motorcycle accident injuries in clients filing personal injury claims. However, one specific type of injury that often results from motorcycle accidents that can be severe and incredibly painful is a fractured femur.
If you’re injured in a San Francisco motorcycle accident and need help filing your personal injury claim, the team at Sally Morin Personal Injury Lawyers can help. We understand how difficult it can be to navigate the claims process while dealing with an injury and are dedicated to helping our clients resolve their cases as quickly and efficiently as possible.
What Is a Fractured Femur?
A fractured femur is a type of leg injury that often occurs in motorcycle accidents. Specifically, a fractured femur is a broken thighbone, and it is considered one of the most serious and painful leg injuries a person can endure.
The femur is the leg bone between your hip and your knee, and it is the strongest bone in the body. So if the femur is broken, it is usually the result of a very serious accident. It takes a lot of force to break a femur, and when this injury does occur, it can be excruciatingly painful.
People that suffer a fractured femur will need emergency medical treatment—usually surgery—and they will likely be unable to walk for months until the injury heals. And even after the injury has healed, they will need to endure many more months of physical therapy until they can walk normally again.
Types of Fractured Femur Injuries From Motorcycle Accidents
High-impact crashes like motorcycle accidents are notorious for causing severe debilitating injuries like a fractured femur. Not only are motorcycle riders more susceptible to high-impact injuries because they have very little to protect themselves when they get into an accident, but they can also sustain injuries from being crushed under their own bike—which is often how the femur gets injured.
Technically, there are three different types of femur fractures that you can sustain:
- Proximal fractured femur: A break in the upper portion of the femur bone, right next to the hip joint.
- Femoral shaft fracture: A fracture right in the middle of the femur bone—very severe.
- Supracondylar fractured femur: A break in the femur bone just above the knee—uncommon.
Fractured femur injuries from motorcycle accidents can also often be compound fractures. This means that fragments of the bone are sticking out and have punctured through the surrounding muscle, tendons, and skin—which is incredibly painful and can result in severe blood loss.
Treatment for Fractured Femurs
Treatment for fractured femurs is often expensive as it requires surgery, potentially an extended hospital stay, and then months of physical therapy. Most people will have to have their leg cut open so the doctor can set the bones, and they will need to have some sort of splint or cast to immobilize the area while it heals.
The most severe cases may involve the use of metal rods or pins to hold the bones in place or other internal fixation devices, such as metal plates and screws. The recovery process is then long and often painful and will most likely require physical therapy to walk normally again.
Recovering Compensation for Fractured Femur Motorcycle Accident Injuries
A fractured femur is not something to take lightly. Motorcycle accident victims who sustain this kind of injury are often burdened by costly medical bills, lost income while they recover, pain & suffering, and even emotional trauma. They will also likely need help to do even the most basic of tasks while they heal, and thus, their life can be turned entirely upside down.
For this reason, victims of fractured femurs deserve to recover a higher settlement amount than what might traditionally be awarded for other less severe injuries. Unfortunately, though a person might deserve a high settlement, there is no guarantee they will actually recover what they deserve.
This is where a personal injury attorney can be extremely beneficial. An attorney can handle the case for you while you focus on getting the treatment you need and recovering from your injury. They can protect your rights, help gather evidence to build a strong case, handle negotiations with the other parties involved, and ensure you are awarded the full and fair settlement you deserve.
Damages you can recover compensation for after a fractured femur injury include:
- Medical bills
- Future medical expenses
- Rehabilitation and therapy costs
- Lost income
- Reduced earning capacity
- Physical pain and suffering
- Disability or impairment
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Emotional distress or trauma
- Reduced quality of life
- Loss of consortium
- Other out-of-pocket expenses
California Laws That Impact Your Motorcycle Injury Compensation
Motorcycle accident injury claims in California are subject to state-specific personal injury laws that can significantly impact how much compensation you receive. Here are the most important legal factors to understand:
Comparative Fault Rule
California follows a pure comparative negligence system under California Civil Code §1714. This means your compensation may be reduced based on your percentage of fault. For example, if you’re found 20% at fault for the crash, your total settlement will be reduced by 20%.
Helmet Law Compliance
California law (Vehicle Code §27803) requires all motorcycle riders and passengers to wear a DOT-compliant helmet. Failing to do so can complicate your injury claim, especially if you suffered a head or facial injury.
Statute of Limitations
You generally have two years from the date of your motorcycle accident to file a personal injury lawsuit in California. If you miss this deadline, you may lose your right to seek compensation.
Why Motorcycle Riders Are Prone to Femur Fractures
Motorcyclists are far more exposed than drivers in enclosed vehicles, which makes lower body injuries—especially femur fractures—alarmingly common in motorcycle crashes.
Lack of Structural Protection
Unlike cars, motorcycles don’t have doors, airbags, or seat belts. This means riders often absorb the full force of impact during a collision, especially in side-impact or head-on crashes.
Bike Toppling and Crushing
In many motorcycle accidents, the bike falls on the rider’s leg or traps them underneath. This crushing weight is a leading cause of femoral shaft fractures, one of the most severe types of bone injuries.
Ejection From the Bike
High-speed crashes can cause the rider to be thrown onto the road or into another vehicle, resulting in catastrophic injuries to the legs and hips—including compound femur fractures with severe soft tissue damage.
Common Crash Types Leading to Femur Injuries
- Left-turn accidents where cars turn in front of motorcyclists
- T-bone collisions at intersections
- Rear-end crashes when riders are stopped at lights
- Lane-splitting accidents in heavy traffic
Why You Need a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer After a Femur Fracture
Even when the facts seem clear, insurance companies often undervalue or deny claims. An experienced California motorcycle accident attorney can:
- Investigate the accident
- Collect and present medical evidence
- Handle negotiations with the insurance company
- Maximize your settlement value
- File a lawsuit if necessary
California Motorcycle Accident Injury Attorney: We Handle Your Accident Claim So You Can Focus On Your Life
If you are seriously injured in a motorcycle accident in California and need help filing your claim, our team can help.
At Sally Morin Personal Injury Lawyers our motorcycle accident injury attorneys have years of experience handling cases that involve severe injuries, like fractured femurs. As such, we understand how devastating these accidents can be and know what it takes to fight for our clients’ rights to ensure they get the full and fair settlement they deserve.
If you’ve suffered a fractured femur motorcycle accident injury, call us at 877-380-8852 or contact us online today for a free case evaluation.
