If someone’s negligence caused your clavicle fracture, you may be entitled to compensation.
A clavicle fracture is also called a broken collarbone. It is a common fracture. Insurance companies are used to dealing with clavicle fractures.
Where is the Clavicle Located?
The clavicle (collarbone) is found between the scapula (shoulder blade) and the breastbone (sternum). The clavicle joins the arm to the body.
When the clavicle breaks, the necessary blood vessels and nerves that are above aren’t usually injured. This is true even if the end of the bones move when they break.
Common Causes of Clavicle Fractures in Accident Cases
Clavicle fractures are frequently the result of a direct impact to the shoulder. It can occur from a:
- car accidents and motorcycle accidents
- fall on you shoulder
- fall onto your outstretched arm
Pain and Suffering Compensation
Clavicle fractures can be extremely painful. They can make it difficult for you to move your arm.
You should argue to the insurance company that it is medically accepted that clavicle fractures may be extremely painful. You want to increase the pain and suffering component of your case.
Other signs of a broken collarbone are:
- Tenderness, swelling and bruises above the clavicle
- A bump or deformed area above the fracture
- A grinding feeling if you try to raise your arm
- Being unable to raise your arm because its hurts
- A hanging shoulder (forward and downwards)
Tip: Visible signs of a clavicle fracture often go away. If you have a visible clavicle fracture, immediately take pictures of the injury that can been.
You don’t want to lose this evidence. It can decrease the full value of your claim.
Quickly send the photos to the liable party’s insurance company.
Medical Treatment
When the doctor examines you, he or she is going to ask questions about what caused your collarbone fracture. Assume that everything that you say to the doctor will later appear in your medical records.
Choose your words very carefully. Insurance companies often use your medical records to try to show that you have given different versions of how your clavicle fracture happened.
They do this to lower the full value of your case. They want to pay as little as possible. This is true no matter how nice the adjuster is.
X-rays
X-rays show the seriousness and area of the fracture. The X-ray of your whole shoulder is frequently performed to look for other injuries.
Tip: If your x-ray shows a clavicle fracture, you should request your x-ray from the doctor or hospital. Then quickly send it to the insurance adjuster.
You can add an arrow to the fracture to point it out to the insurance adjuster. This will help you seem more organized and serious about your case, which can increase its value.
Nonsurgical Care
If the fractured ends of the bones haven’t moved out of place and meet up properly, you may not need to be operated on.
If you don’t need surgery, the full value of your case is lower. This is because your medical bills are lower. It is also because you will have less pain and suffering without surgery.
Fractured clavicles can recover without surgery.
Sling
A doctor generally gives you a basic arm sling to make you comfortable after the fracture. It will keep your arm in position while the collarbone gets better.
Take a picture of the sling, including your face, and send it to the claims representative.
Prescription Medication
The doctor may give you painkillers to help ease your pain while the break gets better.
Tip: Keep the prescription bottles. Then take a photo of all the bottles together. Include a photo of the bottles in your demand package to the insurance company.
Motorcyclist Gets $78,000 for Clavicle Fracture
A motorcyclist was riding in the street. He rode over debris that was left in the road by a construction company.
The motorcyclist fractured his clavicle. He had surgery to fix it. We settled for $78,000. We were co-counsel.
$50,000 Settlement for Broken Collarbone; Car Pulled In Front of Motorcycle Rider
See a $50,000 settlement where a motorcyclist was forced to lay his motorcycle down when a car turned into his direct path. He broke his collarbone.
Surgery wasn’t needed. The accident happened in Land O Lakes, Pasco County, Florida. Travelers Insurance Company paid this settlement.
I represented the motorcyclist.
Driver Gets $10,000 for Clavicle Fracture from Car Crash
See a $10,000 settlement for a driver who had a collarbone fracture. Another driver reversed into the side of his car.
It happened near Cutler Bay, South Miami Heights and Richmond West in Miami-Dade County, Florida.
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