How Much Compensation for Broken Ribs in Car Accidents

If you have sustained broken ribs from a car accident, then you may wonder how much compensation for broken ribs in a car accident you can get. At Dormer Harpring, we know this question is very important to many of our clients in Denver, CO. The amount one may get depends on the severity of your injuries, medical expenses, and the impact on your life generally.

Broken ribs can be included as quite common but serious car injuries. They usually heal by themselves without needing surgery; however, they give intensive pain, a problem in breathing, and many complications afterward. Fractured ribs can render many people incapable of performing day-to-day activities, including working, because of the discomfort and immobility involved. A fair settlement can help cover the medical costs, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

Estimating Compensation for Broken Ribs in a Car Accident

Valuation of the claim in court for a broken rib can’t be estimated to be this easy. The value of a claim for broken ribs in a car accident can range from $15,000 to over $100,000, depending on the circumstances surrounding the injury. In other cases, when there are multiple rib fractures or complications such as punctured lungs, settlement is made for an even higher value. Factors that most often determine the value of a claim include:

• Medical expenses: emergency treatment, imaging studies, pain medication, and follow-up.
• Lost wages: If your injury keeps you off work, either temporarily or permanently.
• Pain and Suffering: These damages are due to pain and emotional distress from the injury.
• Long-term effects: if the rib fractures result in chronic pain or respiratory issues.

The amount settled in each case is unique, as it heavily relies on liability, the extent of damage, and the dynamics of negotiations. Many times, insurance companies research similar prior settlements and jury verdicts to assess any claim. The thing is, with an experienced Denver Car Accident Attorney, you get a decent offer based on your unique situation.

Understanding Broken Ribs from Car Accidents

Broken ribs are among the painful types of injuries that may be caused by car accidents. The most common type of injury to the ribs is a cracked rib that can result from a fall, a hard blow from a blunt object, or a collision occurring during a car accident. The force of a collision may force the chest into a steering wheel, dashboard, or seatbelt and cause fractures. Symptoms may include:

• Severe chest pain; the pain may worsen when breathing or coughing.
• Swelling and tenderness around the injury site.
• Bruising or discoloration on the chest.
• Shortness of breath or discomfort moving.

There will be some severe cases of complicated fractured ribs-lung puncturing, pneumonia, or internal hemorrhage. Additional complications may be avoided, provided the patient receives proper medical services.

Healing of the rib fractures may take six weeks to several months. These six weeks to months are critical in pain management and avoiding strenuous activity. Victims also need physiotherapy sessions so that they will attain complete movement and prevent long-term complications. Some victims reportedly experienced additional disabilities even after recovery of the rib bones, such that their normal activities and economic capability to carry out work were affected.

Why Do Insurance Companies Undervalue Broken Ribs in Car Accidents?

The insurance companies try to downplay the severity of broken ribs by insisting that they will heal on their own and that no surgery is required. Anyone who has suffered this injury will know how crippling it can be and life-altering. You may not go to work, comfortably sleep, or even perform simple chores with no pain whatsoever.

Insurance adjusters may try to offer less in settlement since they believe a victim will settle for less, just to be over with.  An experienced Colorado car accident attorney will be able to counter such tactics in the fight for fair compensation. An insurance company may also use pre-existing conditions or comparative negligence arguments in an attempt to reduce your payout. That is why legal representation is important.

How Much Compensation Can You Expect for Broken Ribs in a Car Accident?

The value that may be awarded to you for fractured ribs in your car accident case depends on:

• The severity of the fractures (hairline crack vs. multiple displaced ribs).
• The total medical costs, including diagnostic tests, physical therapy, and pain management.
• The impact on daily life, such as the ability to work or perform household tasks.
• The presence of other injuries, like a punctured lung or internal bleeding.
• Liability and insurance coverage, due to Colorado’s modified comparative negligence rule, means that your compensation could be reduced if you are found partially at fault.

Key Factors That Affect Broken Rib Compensation in Car Accidents

The value of an automobile accident case with broken ribs can vary enormously. Some factors that will weigh the most are as follows:

• Medical Treatment Needed: Severe fractures may be treated in hospitals, pain managed, and might take months for recovery.
• Complications: Issues like punctured lungs or infections can drive up medical costs and increase pain and suffering damages.
• Impact on Employment: If you miss significant time from work or cannot return to your previous job, your compensation may be higher.
• Long-term Effects: Some rib fractures lead to chronic pain or difficulties in breathing, which affect the quality of life in later years.

According to the trauma guidelines at UCHealth, rib fracture treatment usually involves extensive pain management, supplemented by physical therapy and, when necessary, surgery. Victims of broken ribs could very well suffer from long-term chronic pain and difficulty breathing, which should also be taken into consideration during their claims. If the drivers were either reckless or drunk, settlement outcomes tend to be higher when punitive damages are awarded in court.

Contact a Car Accident Attorney in Denver Today

If you have suffered broken ribs in a car accident, you deserve fair compensation. Let us at Dormer Harpring help. Call us today at (303) 747-4404 or visit us at 3457 Ringsby Ct Unit 110, Denver, CO 80216, for a free consultation.

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