Breaking bones in an accident is not only painful, but it can also leave you unable to work or perform the activities you enjoy. Bone injuries can take a long time to heal, which means it could be weeks or months before you’re back to normal.
If the injury occurred because of another party’s conduct, you may be entitled to file a personal injury claim to recover losses. These can cover the medical expenses you incurred as well as the wages you lost during the recovery process. So, how long does a broken bone take to heal? Learn more about these injuries and what you can expect.
How Long Does It Take for Broken Bones to Heal?
There are various types of fractures that can occur in the bones of the human body. The following offers an overview of the timelines you might expect for some of the most common types of fractures.
Arm Bones
Arm bone fractures often occur in car accidents, especially if you try to brace yourself on impact. A minor fracture to an arm bone could mean about a month in a cast, but that timeline extends if you hurt your humerus. Even milder breaks to this bone can take eight to 12 weeks to heal.
Collarbone
Some of the most common airbag injuries involve collarbone breaks. Typically, the bone breaks in half. Its position makes the recovery difficult since immobilizing that part of your body isn’t simple. A collarbone break can take about six weeks to heal, though you will also need rehabilitation therapy to get full movement back.
Hip Fracture
A hip fracture means that the thigh bone at the hip joint has broken. Typically, this will require going through surgery. Bone healing steps for this type of break include remaining at the hospital for one or two weeks. You’ll then receive months of physical therapy. The entire process can take over a year.
Wrist Bones
In a slip and fall accident, your first instinct is to protect your face. You’ll likely place your hands in front of you to catch yourself, and this can easily lead to broken wrists. You have 10 bones in your wrist, so there are numerous potential breaks. Often, more than one gets fractured. You can expect to spend at least six weeks in a cast with these injuries.
Shin Bones
Your shin bone, or tibia, can break during collisions and even mild falls. You’ll need to stay off the affected leg for about eight weeks, though more severe breaks can take months to heal.
Spinal Vertebrae
The most severe breaks you can suffer involve the vertebrae in your spine. You have 33 of these separated into the cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and sacral regions. If any of these break, you can experience pain and stiffness, but there’s another potential complication: spinal cord damage.
If your spinal cord suffers an injury, you can have trouble with sensation and motor function. In cases when surgery isn’t necessary, the vertebral fracture can take up to three months to heal. You’ll have to limit your activity significantly, too. If you need surgery, the recovery can take many more months.
Contact the Jacksonville Personal Injury Attorneys at Baggett Law Personal Injury Lawyers for Help Today
If you suffered a broken bone because of another party’s negligent or wrongful conduct, you could be entitled to start a claim. That’s where Baggett Law Personal Injury Lawyers can help.
Our Jacksonville personal injury lawyers can assist you in receiving compensation for all of the losses you suffered. By hiring us, you can focus on healing while we handle all of the legalities. Contact us today for a free consultation.
To learn more, contact Baggett Law Personal Injury Lawyers to schedule a free consultation.
We serve Duval County, St. Johns County, and its surrounding areas:
Baggett Law Personal Injury Lawyers – Jacksonville
9471 Baymeadows Rd #105,
Jacksonville, FL 32256
(904) 396-1100
Baggett Law Personal Injury Lawyers – Downtown Jacksonville
121 W Forsyth St Suite 1000,
Jacksonville, FL 32202
(904) 822-4225
Baggett Law Personal Injury Lawyers – Ponte Vedra
480 Town Plaza Ave #130,
Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32081
(904) 675-1167
