Chicago Broken Bone Injury Lawyer

If you’ve suffered a broken bone in an accident in Chicago, you know firsthand how painful and life-disrupting a fracture can be. What might seem like a “simple” broken bone can require surgery, months of physical therapy, time off work, and leave you with lasting pain or disability.

You don’t have to face this alone. Our Chicago broken bone injury lawyers help accident victims recover full compensation for fractures caused by someone else’s negligence. We handle every aspect of your claim so you can focus on healing.

Call us today for a free consultation. We work on a contingency fee basis—you pay nothing unless we win your case.

What Is a Broken Bone Injury?

A broken bone, also called a fracture, happens when force applied to a bone is stronger than the bone can handle. Fractures range from small stress fractures to severe compound breaks where the bone pierces through the skin.

Even “minor” fractures are serious injuries. They require immediate medical treatment, often surgery, and can lead to:

• Months of recovery and rehabilitation
• Permanent loss of strength or mobility
• Chronic pain
• Inability to work or enjoy daily activities
• Emotional trauma

When your broken bone was caused by someone else’s carelessness—in a car crash, slip and fall, or workplace accident—Illinois law gives you the right to seek compensation for all your losses.

Common Causes of Broken Bones in Chicago

Fractures can happen in many types of accidents. Our Chicago broken bone lawyers have experience with cases involving:

Motor Vehicle Accidents

• Car accidents – T-bone collisions, head-on crashes, and rollover accidents frequently cause broken ribs, legs, arms, and pelvic fractures
• Truck accidents – The sheer size and weight of commercial trucks often results in multiple or compound fractures
• Motorcycle accidents – Riders are especially vulnerable to leg, arm, and hip fractures
• Pedestrian accidents – Being struck by a vehicle commonly causes serious leg, ankle, and spinal fractures
• Bicycle accidents – Cyclists often suffer wrist, collarbone, and facial fractures

Slip and Fall Accidents

Falls on icy sidewalks, wet floors, broken stairs, or poorly maintained property are a leading cause of:

• Hip fractures (especially in older adults)
• Wrist and arm fractures from catching yourself
• Ankle fractures
• Spinal compression fractures

Workplace and Construction Accidents

Workers face broken bone risks from:

• Falls from heights (scaffolding, ladders, roofs)
• Being struck by falling objects or equipment
• Crush injuries from machinery
• Scaffolding or structure collapses

Nursing Home Falls

Elderly residents are at high risk for hip fractures, pelvic fractures, and spinal fractures due to falls caused by neglect or understaffing.

Other Causes

• Sports injuries
• Assaults
• Defective products
• Premises liability incidents

No matter how your broken bone happened, if someone else was at fault, you may have a personal injury claim.

Types of Fractures We Handle

Not all broken bones are the same. The type and severity of your fracture affects your treatment, recovery time, and the compensation you deserve.

Simple (Closed) Fractures

The bone breaks but doesn’t pierce the skin. While less severe than open fractures, closed fractures still require immobilization with a cast and can take months to heal.

Compound (Open) Fractures

The broken bone breaks through the skin, creating a high risk of infection and requiring emergency surgery. These are considered catastrophic injuries.

Comminuted Fractures

The bone shatters into three or more pieces. These complex breaks often require surgery with plates, screws, or rods (open reduction internal fixation or ORIF) and extensive rehabilitation.

Displaced Fractures

Bone fragments are out of alignment and must be repositioned—often surgically—before healing can begin.

Non-Displaced Fractures

The bone cracks but stays in proper alignment. These may heal with casting alone but still require weeks of immobilization.

Stress Fractures

Small cracks from repetitive force. While less dramatic, they can become serious if not properly treated.

Common Fracture Sites

• Leg fractures (femur, tibia, fibula)
• Arm fractures (humerus, radius, ulna)
• Hip fractures (extremely serious in older adults)
• Ankle fractures
• Wrist fractures
• Pelvic fractures (often life-threatening)
• Spinal fractures (can cause paralysis)
• Facial and skull fractures
• Rib fractures

Treatment and Long-Term Effects of Broken Bones

Treating a fracture often involves much more than a simple cast. Depending on the severity and location, you may need:

• Emergency room treatment – X-rays, CT scans, or MRI to assess the damage
• Surgery – Open reduction internal fixation (ORIF) to insert pins, plates, screws, or rods
• Hospitalization – Especially for multiple fractures or complications
• Casting or bracing – Often for 6-12 weeks or longer
• Physical therapy – To regain strength, range of motion, and function
• Occupational therapy – To relearn daily tasks
• Pain management – Prescription medications, injections, or other treatments
• Follow-up care – Multiple appointments with an orthopedic surgeon

Long-Term Complications

Many fracture victims face permanent consequences:

• Chronic pain at the fracture site
• Arthritis developing in the affected joint
• Permanent impairment or disability
• Loss of range of motion
• Limb length discrepancy
• Nerve damage
• Infection (especially with compound fractures)
• Non-union or malunion (bone doesn’t heal properly)
• Emotional trauma and fear of re-injury

Reaching maximum medical improvement (MMI)—the point where you’ve healed as much as possible—can take a year or more. Your Chicago broken bone attorney will ensure your claim accounts for all these factors.

Compensation for Broken Bone Injuries in Chicago

Illinois law allows broken bone victims to recover both economic damages (financial losses) and non-economic damages (personal suffering).

Economic Damages

• Medical bills – ER visits, surgery, hospitalization, medications, medical equipment
• Future medical expenses – Additional surgeries, ongoing therapy, pain management
• Lost wages – Time off work during recovery
• Loss of earning capacity – If your injury prevents you from returning to your former job or earning potential
• Property damage – Vehicle repairs in car accident cases

Non-Economic Damages

• Pain and suffering – Physical pain from the injury and treatment
• Loss of normal life – Inability to enjoy hobbies, activities, and daily life as before
• Emotional distress – Anxiety, depression, trauma from the accident
• Disfigurement or scarring – Especially with compound fractures or surgical scars
• Loss of consortium – Impact on your relationship with your spouse

Factors That Affect Case Value

No two broken bone cases are identical. Your compensation depends on:

• Type and severity of fracture
• Whether surgery was required
• Number of fractures
• Permanent impairment or disability rating
• Your age and occupation
• Impact on your ability to work and earn income
• Amount of pain and suffering
• Strength of evidence proving fault

A Chicago broken bone injury lawyer will thoroughly document all your losses to maximize your compensation.

Illinois Legal Framework for Broken Bone Claims

Understanding your legal rights is essential to protecting your claim.

Statute of Limitations

Under 735 ILCS 5/13-202, you generally have two years from the date of injury to file a personal injury lawsuit in Illinois. Missing this deadline means losing your right to compensation forever.

Important exceptions:

• Injuries to minors have different time limits
• Discovery rule may apply if injury wasn’t immediately apparent
• Claims against government entities have much shorter notice requirements (often just 6 months to 1 year)

Don’t wait. Contact a Chicago broken bone lawyer as soon as possible to protect your rights.

Comparative Negligence

Illinois follows a comparative negligence rule. This means:

• You can still recover compensation even if you were partially at fault
• Your award is reduced by your percentage of fault
• If you’re found more than 50% at fault, you recover nothing

Insurance companies often try to shift blame to injury victims to reduce payouts. An experienced broken bone attorney will gather evidence to prove the defendant’s fault and protect you from unfair blame.

Elements of a Personal Injury Claim

To win your case, your lawyer must prove:

1. Duty of care – The defendant owed you a legal duty (e.g., to drive safely, maintain safe premises)
2. Breach of duty – They violated that duty through negligence or carelessness
3. Causation – Their breach directly caused your broken bone
4. Damages – You suffered actual harm and losses

Why You Need a Chicago Broken Bone Injury Lawyer

Broken bone claims are more complex than many people realize. Insurance companies don’t simply hand over fair settlements because you were injured.

Insurance Company Tactics

Adjusters are trained to minimize payouts. Common tactics include:

• Offering quick, lowball settlements before you know the full extent of your injuries
• Requesting recorded statements to trap you into undermining your claim
• Claiming you were partially or fully at fault
• Disputing the severity of your injuries or claiming they were pre-existing
• Delaying your claim hoping you’ll give up or accept less
• Pressuring you to settle before consulting an attorney

How a Broken Bone Lawyer Protects You

A Chicago personal injury lawyer levels the playing field by:

Investigating Your Case

• Gathering police reports, accident reports, and witness statements
• Obtaining surveillance or dash cam footage
• Hiring accident reconstruction experts when needed
• Consulting with engineers (in premises liability or workplace cases)

Building Medical Evidence

• Collecting all medical records, X-rays, MRI and CT scans
• Working with your orthopedic surgeon and treatment providers
• Retaining medical experts to testify about your injuries
• Documenting your permanent impairment and disability rating

Calculating True Damages

• Accounting for all current and future medical expenses
• Documenting lost income and diminished earning capacity
• Quantifying pain and suffering and loss of normal life
• Using life care planners and economists for serious injuries

Handling All Communications

• Dealing with insurance adjusters so you don’t have to
• Protecting you from saying anything that could hurt your claim
• Sending demand letters and negotiating settlements

Taking Your Case to Trial if Necessary

• Filing a lawsuit and complaint in Cook County Circuit Court or other Illinois courts
• Conducting discovery to gather evidence
• Deposing witnesses
• Presenting your case to a jury using Illinois pattern jury instructions

Local Courtroom Experience

Our Chicago broken bone lawyers know the local courts, judges, and procedures. We’ve successfully represented clients in Cook County Circuit Court and throughout Illinois. This local experience helps us:

• Navigate procedural requirements efficiently
• Understand how local juries tend to evaluate cases
• Build relationships with court staff
• Access local medical and accident reconstruction experts

The Legal Process: What to Expect

Every broken bone case is different, but most follow this general path:

1. Free Consultation

Meet with a Chicago broken bone attorney to discuss your accident, injuries, and legal options. There’s no cost and no obligation.

2. Investigation

Your lawyer gathers evidence: accident reports, medical records, witness statements, photos, and expert opinions.

3. Demand and Negotiation

Your attorney sends a detailed demand letter to the insurance company outlining liability and damages, then negotiates for fair settlement.

4. Filing a Lawsuit

If the insurance company won’t offer fair compensation, your lawyer files a personal injury lawsuit before the statute of limitations expires.

5. Discovery

Both sides exchange information through written questions (interrogatories), document requests, and depositions (sworn testimony).

6. Mediation

Many cases go to mediation, where a neutral third party helps both sides reach a settlement.

7. Trial

If settlement isn’t possible, your case goes to trial before a judge or jury. Your lawyer presents evidence and argues for full compensation.

8. Settlement or Verdict

Most cases settle before trial, but if your case goes to verdict, the jury decides liability and damages.

Throughout this process, you pay nothing out of pocket. Personal injury lawyers work on contingency—we only get paid if we recover compensation for you.

What to Do After a Broken Bone in Chicago

The actions you take immediately after your accident can significantly impact your claim.

1. Seek Medical Treatment Immediately

Go to the emergency room or call 911 even if you think your injury isn’t severe. Some fractures aren’t immediately obvious, and delaying treatment can:

• Worsen your injury
• Create gaps in medical records that insurance companies exploit
• Make it harder to prove your injury was caused by the accident

Chicago has several Level I trauma centers equipped to handle serious fractures.

2. Follow Your Treatment Plan

Attend all appointments with your orthopedic surgeon and physical therapist. Follow medical advice. Skipping treatment gives insurance companies ammunition to claim your injuries aren’t serious.

3. Document Everything

• Take photos of the accident scene, hazards, and your injuries
• Get contact information for witnesses
• Keep copies of all medical records, bills, and imaging (X-rays, MRI, CT scans)
• Save receipts for out-of-pocket expenses
• Keep a pain journal documenting daily symptoms and limitations

4. Preserve Evidence

Don’t repair or discard damaged property (vehicles, clothing, shoes) until your lawyer says it’s okay. This evidence may be crucial to proving your case.

5. Be Careful What You Say

Do not:

• Give a recorded statement to any insurance company without talking to a lawyer first
• Admit fault or apologize at the accident scene
• Post about your accident or injuries on social media (adjusters monitor these accounts)
• Sign any documents or accept any settlement without legal advice

6. Contact a Chicago Broken Bone Lawyer

The sooner you call, the sooner we can protect your rights, preserve evidence, and start building your case. Consultations are free, and you pay nothing unless we win.