VA Injury Lawyer: Wrist Injury Settlement/Award from Virginia (VA) Car Accident | Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp

When a car wreck occurs in Virginia (VA), many people suffer broken, fractured, or sprained wrists as a result, especially when reflexively trying to brace for impact or avoid worse injuries. The severity of the wrist, arm, or elbow injury usually depends on the severity of the car crash. If it’s a fender-bender, a sprain may occur. If it’s a major wreck where one or both cars are totaled, a broken/fractured wrist (also known as a distal radial fracture) is much more likely.

If a broken wrist is the only injury you sustained in the accident, you may be wondering if you’re able to obtain compensation in a personal injury claim. The answer depends on many factors. First and foremost, liability has to be assessed. If you were the at-fault driver, you probably don’t have a case that can brought against the other driver. But if you were hit by another car and the other driver was distracted or drunk, you may have grounds for a potential car accident wrist injury settlement or jury award.

The amount of compensation you could conceivably pursue depends on how bad the wrist injury is, the “permanency” of injury and how it effects your quality of life. For example, if you are a professional writer who is left handed and your left wrist is seriously injured, you may be able to pursue damages for lost wages since the injury is affecting your ability to generate income/wages. The same logic applies if you are a construction worker or perform a job that relies heavily on using your hand and wrist muscles.   Lost wages are a big factor in serious injury cases, and the insurance companies fight these claims big time, and many times unfairly.

We also need to assess the potential permanent affects from your wrist injury, and this may involve a telephone conference with your treating doctor/surgeon, or obtaining a detailed medical report. If the range of motion in your wrist is permanently affected, or if you have loss of grip strength in your hand, this needs to be addressed in the injury claims process since your quality of life may be impacted as a result. If you suffered a clean break and you’ll be back to normal in a couple months, this may also come into play when determining damages.

I hope this article highlights the fact that even if you suffer just a wrist injury, you may be entitled to recovery for your losses and damages in a personal injury claim. But the only way you’ll know for sure is if you speak with an injury lawyer and allow us to assess the accident and your losses.