Common injuries that can occur in car and motorcycle accidents.

by Emily Mapp Brannon ebrannon@hsinjurylaw.com

Connect with Emily

• Facebook
• Twitter
• LinkedIn
• Google+
• YouTube

Emily is a Virginia injury attorney who handles car accidents, medical malpractice, FELA, wrongful death, etc.

Common injuries that can occur from car or motorcycle accidents are broken or fractured legs. A broken Tibia or Fibula usually results in severe pain in the leg, deformity due to protruding bones, or swelling and bruising of the leg you may have. The lower leg is especially susceptible to injuries from motorcycle falls, because the leg can be pinned under the bike.

The lower leg consists of two bones, the Tibia and the Fibula. The Tibia is the stout bone, that does the load-carrying work, where the Fibula is a thin, long bone, which attaches at the knee and ankle to the outside of the Tibia. Most commonly both bones are injured at the same time. A broken Tibia typically does not end with normal healing, despite various treatment techniques. This type of injury typically requires hospitalization. Conditions associated with a Tibia fracture often include a torn artery, increased pressure, and the inability to lift the toes of the foot. The pressure can lead to severe restriction of oxygen to the muscles and nerves below the fracture, and may result in amputation.

Types of treatment for the leg depend on the type of fracture. An X-ray will be taken to determine the type of fracture. Initially the leg is immobilized with a splint. If you have a displaced fracture, the doctor may need to put the pieces back into proper positioning before applying the splint. After removing the splint, a patient will likely require physical therapy to reduce stiffness and restore movement.

If the fracture or break is especially bad, surgical procedures may have to take place. Surgery involves implanting internal fixation devices, such as plates, rods or screws, to maintain the proper position of the bones during the healing process. Despite a successful procedure, immobilization and bed rest for a lengthy amount of time can be expected. The usual amount of healing time for Tibia and Fibula fractures treated with cast immobilization is about 12 to 16 weeks and is followed by rehabilitation.

If you have suffered a broken leg, resulting from a car or motorcycle accident, due to the negligence of another person, please contact our Virginia personal injury law firm, and we may be able to help you.

MC

    

About the Editors: Shapiro, Lewis & Appleton is a Virginia (VA) injury law firm whose attorneys focus exclusively on personal injury and accident law. We have a proven track record in the court room, and you can review our case results to see for yourself. We have offices in Virginia Beach and Hampton, but we're ready to come to you anywhere in VA if you've been seriously hurt by the carelessness of another person or company.

Virginia injury lawyers Rick Shapiro and James Lewis have been recognized as among the Best Lawyers in America since 2008. Shapiro and Lewis have also been selected by the National Million Dollar Advocates Forum since 2009. Rick, Jim and Randy have been named Virginia Super Lawyers for Personal Injury Law (Jim since '06, Rick since '10, and Randy since '12). This is a prestigious recognition that only 5 percent of lawyers receive.

We were the first injury law firm in Virginia to join Primerus, a select group of highly ethical and respected law firms. Our Virginia Beach accident injury firm has the highest rating of AV from Martindale-Hubbell, a national lawyer ranking organization, which means we have a reputation for preeminent legal skill. 

We also offer free special reports and edit the Virginia Beach Injuryboard and Norfolk Injuryboard blog sites as a public information service.

Our attorneys have deep roots in Virginia and handle cases throughout the commonwealth including Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Portsmouth, Newport News, Hampton and Suffolk, VA. 

While not every injury case meets our criteria, we offer free initial confidential consultations, so call us toll free at (800) 752-0042. If you cannot get through due to the high call volume, please leave a voicemail and we will get back to you shortly.