Broken Bone Injury Lawyer in Portsmouth, VA

A broken bone can mean weeks in a cast, months of physical therapy, or in more severe cases, surgery and permanent hardware to hold the bone together. Levin & Levin, P.C. represents people throughout Portsmouth and the Hampton Roads area whose fractures were caused by someone else’s negligence, whether in a car accident, a fall, or another type of incident.

Fractures vary widely in severity and treatment, and the type of break you have affects both your recovery and the value of your claim:

• Simple (closed) fracture — a clean break where the skin remains intact.
• Compound (open) fracture — the bone breaks through the skin, carrying a higher risk of infection and typically requiring more involved treatment.
• Comminuted fracture — the bone breaks into three or more pieces, often from significant trauma, and generally requires surgical repair.
• Hairline (stress) fracture — a thin crack that may not be immediately obvious on an X-ray.
• Displaced fracture — the broken pieces of bone shift out of alignment, often requiring the bone to be reset before it can heal properly.

Fractures near a joint can also affect long-term range of motion, even after the bone itself has healed.

Fractures show up across nearly every type of accident we handle, though some causes are especially common:

• Auto Accidents and Truck Accidents — a significant share of the serious fractures we see, often to the arms, legs, ribs, or collarbone from the force of impact or from bracing against the vehicle
• Premises Liability & Slip and Fall — particularly wrist, hip, and ankle fractures
• Pedestrian Accidents and Bicycle Accidents — fractures to the legs and pelvis given the direct impact involved
• Motorcycle Accidents — fractures from being thrown from the bike
• Sports Injuries — fractures from falls or contact during athletic activity

Treatment ranges from casting and immobilization for simpler fractures to surgical repair involving plates, screws, or rods for more complex or displaced breaks. Recovery time depends heavily on the location and severity of the fracture, a person’s age and overall health, and whether complications like infection or improper healing develop. Some fractures, particularly those involving joints, can result in permanent stiffness, reduced range of motion, or early-onset arthritis in the affected area.

Age plays a significant role in how a fracture heals and what it means for a person’s future. Children’s bones generally heal faster and with a lower risk of long-term complications, though a fracture near a growth plate requires careful monitoring to ensure it doesn’t affect future bone development. Older adults, by contrast, often face longer recovery times and a higher risk of complications, and a fracture, particularly a hip fracture, can sometimes trigger a broader decline in mobility and independence that goes well beyond the bone itself.

A broken bone claim can pursue compensation for emergency treatment, surgery, physical therapy, lost wages during your recovery, and pain and suffering. For fractures resulting in permanent hardware, ongoing pain, or reduced function, compensation should also reflect that lasting impact rather than just the initial treatment costs.

Most fractures are diagnosed with an X-ray, though hairline fractures and certain breaks near joints sometimes require a CT scan or MRI to see clearly. A prompt, thorough diagnosis matters not just for proper treatment, but for the strength of your claim, since a delayed diagnosis can give an insurance company room to question whether the fracture was actually caused by the accident in question.

Get emergency treatment right away for any suspected fracture, and follow your treatment plan closely, including any restrictions on weight-bearing or activity while the bone heals. Attend all follow-up appointments so any healing problems can be caught early, and keep records of how the injury has affected your ability to work.

Surgical repair of a serious fracture sometimes leaves visible scarring or permanent internal hardware, such as plates, screws, or rods, that remain in your body indefinitely. These lasting changes are relevant to a fracture claim beyond just the immediate medical bills, and they should be factored into any assessment of your pain and suffering, particularly if the hardware causes ongoing discomfort, sets off metal detectors, or limits certain future medical procedures like MRI imaging in the affected area.

Our attorneys bring more than 60 years of combined courtroom experience to fracture claims, and we work with your treating providers to fully document your injury, your treatment, and any lasting effects on your strength, mobility, or ability to work.

Levin & Levin, P.C. has served the Portsmouth and Hampton Roads community since 1968. We make sure a broken bone claim accounts for the full recovery process, not just the initial emergency room visit.

Levin & Levin, P.C. represents clients with fractures and broken bones throughout Portsmouth, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Suffolk, and the wider Hampton Roads region. If you suffered a broken bone because of someone else’s negligence, contact our office today for a free case evaluation.