Personal Injury Attorney for Collarbone Fractures in Wichita Falls
Broken bones are common injuries in accidents in Wichita Falls, and all throughout Texas and Oklahoma. Fractures and breaks can be extremely painful injuries, and the treatment for these broken bones can be expensive. Furthermore, victims of accidents with these types of injuries could experience temporary, permanent, partial, or total impairment as a result of these injuries. A fractured collarbone is a very common accident injury that we often see at our personal injury law firm in Wichita Falls, Texas.
If you or someone you know has suffered from a broken collarbone due to someone else’s negligence, there are certain steps you must take to protect your rights and ensure you receive fair and just compensation for your injuries that you are entitled to.
Call our personal injury attorney in Wichita Falls, Texas at 940-569-4000 or fill out our contact form for a free, confidential, no-obligation consultation. We handle personal injury claims all throughout Texas and Oklahoma and we are standing by ready to offer you the support and guidance you need through these sometimes-complex cases.
Understanding the Anatomy of the Collarbone
The collarbone, also called the clavicle bone, is a long rather thin and slight curved bone that connects your arm to your body. It is located just below the neck and is technically part of your front shoulder. It runs across your body and connects your shoulder blade (scapula) to your upper sternum (which is in the middle of your rib cage. Another function of your collarbone is to keep your shoulders in line. You have two collarbones, one on each side of your body.
Not only is your clavicle an important structural bone, but the clavicle is also surrounded by nerves, blood vessels, and arteries. Luckily, these important bodily functions are usually not damaged when the collarbone is fractured. However, this damage does sometimes happen.
What Can Cause a Collarbone to Break?
Because the collarbone is very thin and long, it is highly susceptible to fractures and breaks. At our personal injury law firm, we see broken collarbones from all types of accidents, including:
- Pedestrian accidents
- Slip and fall accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Car accidents
- Truck accidents
Although anyone is susceptible to a broken collarbone, these fractures are common for children and teens because their bones are not completely hardened yet as they are in adults.
Symptoms of Broken Collarbones After Accidents in Wichita Falls
Symptoms of fractured collarbones vary depending on the location of the break as well as the severity of it. Many people with these types of injuries experience the following symptoms:
- Pain
- Tenderness
- Bruising
- Swelling
- Drooping shoulder
- Grinding or cracking when moving your arm
- Difficulty or inability lifting your arm and/or shoulder
- Bump, bulge, or deformity in your collarbone
More serious collarbone fracture symptoms may include:
- Bone pushing against or through skin
- Decreased feeling in arm and/or fingers
- Tingling sensation in arm and/or fingers
In general, it is best practice to seek medical attention from a doctor as soon as you experience symptoms of a fractured clavicle. However, in the following instances, you may require emergency treatment and if you experience any of these, you should get to a hospital as soon as possible:
- Numbness in your arm
- Feeling of being pricked by needles in your arm
- Difficulty or inability to move your fingers
- Pain does not subside even with medication
- Deformity in the shoulder
- Discoloration of your fingers (white, pale, black, blue)
- Inability to warm your arm when the rest of your body is warm
The majority of those with broken collarbones recover fairly easily without any complications or serious impairments although that is not always the case. This is why it is smart to always document your injuries with prompt and adequate medication attention.
Because many symptoms such as swelling, bruising, deformities, and discoloration appear quickly after the break, you should take pictures of your injuries as soon as you can. By documenting and preserving this evidence, you are developing a key aspect of your personal injury case and giving yourself the best chance of receiving the compensation you deserve for your broken collarbone.
Treatment of Broken Collarbones in Wichita Falls
Often, doctors take x-rays to confirm a broken clavicle after an accident in Texas and Oklahoma. The doctor may also order a CT scan to be able to view the break in better detail.
The location and severity of the break will determine the course of treatment. In more mild cases, the doctor may simply prescribe a regiment of pain medication, rest, and a sling. In more sever cases, however, you may require surgery. Additionally, broken collarbones often require physical therapy to recover their strength of functionality of the shoulder.
Complication After a Broken Collarbone in a Wichita Falls Accident
Most heal without any issues, however, there are some instances where complications could arise. Possible complications from a broken collarbones and collarbones surgery include:
- Infections
- Blood clotting
- Nerve and/or blood vessel damage
- Damage to muscles
- Breaks that heal out of place
- Issues with the equipment used to repair the break (plate, pins, and screws)
- Pain medication addiction
Contact Our Wichita Falls Personal Injury Attorney for Help
If you or someone you know has suffered from a broken collarbone in an accident, contact our Wichita Falls personal injury law firm to find out how to protect and preserve your rights and how to get the compensation you deserve. We can guide you through the process and help you hold the person who is responsible accountable.
Contact us today at 940-569-4000 or fill out our contact form to set up a free, confidential, no-obligation consultation. You deserve compensation for injuries you sustained in an accident that was not your fault. If you have broken bones in an accident in Wichita Falls, or anywhere in Texas or Oklahoma, don’t wait to pursue your injury claim. Get started right away!