Forearm Fracture Resulting in CRPS or Permanent Nerve Damage

Bone fractures happen to many people throughout the course of their lives, whether they play sports or failed to watch where they are going. In fact, about 6,000,000 people end up in the hospital every year due to a fracture in some part of their body. Of all these injuries, forearm fractures are especially common, followed by broken bones in the legs. Most of the time, the bone (or bones) will fuse back on their own as long as the patient receives appropriate medical care. Unfortunately, there are instances where an accident victim ends up with a forearm fracture resulting in permanent nerve damage or CRPS.

The forearm can be fractured from many different accidents, including:

• Car crashes – auto accidents often cause broken bones in the hands and arms due to the blunt force trauma to this area, especially if you are the driver or front side passenger
• Unexpected fall – trip and fall and slip and fall accidents can easily result in sprains and fractures, as the victim is likely to extend their hand or fall on their arm.
• Direct impact – a forceful impact to the arm, like being hit with a falling object, is a common cause of forearm fractures

When you sustain a fracture in the forearm, the break may be in the radius, ulna, or both. More likely than not, it’s the radius that will be fractured, as it’s meant to be the weight supporting structure for the lower arm. The location of the fracture can be in the middle of the bone, or closer to the wrist or elbow joint.

Ending up with lifelong complications from a fracture is devastating news, but there are treatments to help manage your symptoms on a day to day basis. You may also have the option of suing the negligent party for monetary damages, which we are happy to discuss with you during a free consultation.

Nerve Injury Caused by a Forearm Fracture

Though it’s not something most people think about, there may be damage to the surrounding nerves when you sustain a bone fracture. Permanent nerve damage is uncommon, but it is possible, whether you have a closed or open fracture (bone is exposed through the skin).

With immediate medical treatment, there’s a good chance that the injury to your nerves will heal, just like the fracture in your forearm. To maximize your recovery, please keep your doctor informed of any unusual symptoms, such as:

• Significant and persistent pain after the fracture has fully healed
• Chronic tingling or burning sensations in place of or along with persistent pain
• Numbness in the forearm or a part of the forearm
• Muscle weakness or difficulty moving the affected limb
• Frequent and unusual headaches
• Inability to do basis tasks (motor coordination problems)

Though treatments are available, nerve damage is a very complex injury that can get worse with little to no warning. And if you end up with permanent nerve damage, there are negative effects on your life that will be difficult to live with. Many of these patients have to scale back in many areas of their lives, like reducing their work hours and discontinuing certain activities they enjoyed before the accident.

Forearm Fracture Resulting in Complex Regional Pain Syndrome

In this section, we will talk about CRPS, or complex regional pain syndrome that can occur after a forearm fracture. Sometimes referred to as chronic pain, this is a health disorder where you experience continuous and intense pain in the injury site, even if the area has fully healed. CPRS is very common among those with broken bones, especially in the arms and legs.

Keep in mind that complex regional pain syndrome and other damaged nerve conditions may not happen as a direct result of a forearm fracture. Sometimes, these injuries are the result of surgery to correct the fracture if the bones cannot be fused back together on their own. This is why it’s so important to stay on top of your symptoms and recognize when something feels “off.”

As we mentioned before, pain that doesn’t go away after an injury has healed is the primary indicator that you may have complex regional pain syndrome. But you should also talk to your doctor if you have these other symptoms:

• Problems moving the limb (joint stiffness)
• Changes in skin texture (swollen skin, thinning of the skin, shininess, etc).
• Blotchy red, purple, or pale patches on the skin
• Changes in hair nail or hair growth
• Temperature of the skin being warmer or colder than usual

Filing a Lawsuit for Complications from a Forearm Fracture

As an injury victim, you must establish that another party’s negligence is the reason you ended up with permanent complications from a bone fracture. In essence, negligence is a failure to exercise reasonable care for the sake of keeping others safe. A common example has to do with people that fail to obey traffic laws or choose to drive while they are intoxicated. If there is an accident where such an individual causes injury of property damage to someone else, they can be sued for the victim’s monetary losses.

Aside from accidents, your forearm may be fractured from a physical assault, like being forcibly restrained or thrown to the ground by a security guard. In many of these cases, there was poor judgment by the security guard or willful misconduct, meaning they made a choice to use excessive violence without probable cause. An assault and battery lawyer at our office can advise you of your rights and legal options if you have a forearm fracture from being physically attacked.

The justice system is undeniably complex, and obtaining the funds you are entitled to can take considerable time and effort. But having an attorney can help you achieve the best possible results if you are suffering from a forearm fracture resulting in permanent nerve damage and CRPS.

Filing a Personal Injury Claim – How Long Do I have?

The standard deadline for an accident injury claim in California is 2 years from the incident date or when the victim discovers an injury stemming from the accident / assault. There are a few exceptions to the rule, like compensation claims against government workers or entities. For example, if you were assaulted by a police officer or fell down on property owned by a school district, you have 6 months to file a claim for medical expenses, pain and suffering, and other monetary damages. No matter what type of accident you had, make sure to protect your right to compensation by contacting our law firm as soon as possible.

Deadline for a Workers’ Compensation Claim in California

Did you fracture your forearm due to an accident that occurred at your job? Most people with a work-related injury can seek payment for replacement wages and medical costs by filing a workers’ compensation claim. However, it’s important to note that you only have 1 year starting from the incident date to file a WC claim through your employer. Furthermore, you also have a duty to notify your employer of the accident within 30 days.

In spite of these deadlines, the key is to submit your claim as fast as possible, thereby preventing any significant lapse in payments while you are out of work. If you run into any problems or have questions about your rights as an injured worker, please give us a call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Contac the Offices of Kenmore Law Group

As personal injury attorneys with decades of experience, we are ready to hear your story and formulate the best plan of action to recover your damages. Our sole mission is to secure the highest settlement you deserve by law and ensure that you can move forward with life in a positive direction.

Until you are compensated by the defendant, we don’t want to cause any more stress when it comes to your finances. That’s why we charge clients $0 for the cost of legal fees and wait until the end of your case to receive payment directly from the party you are suing. Since our payment is part of your settlement award, we make $0 if we fail to win your lawsuit. That’s our promise to you under the Zero Fee Guarantee, so you have nothing to lose by taking this opportunity to contact us.

Please schedule a free case evaluation to learn about your rights and legal options if you were diagnosed with nerve damage or chronic pain related to a forearm fracture.