The Law Offices of Matthew J. Quinlan represents traumatic injury victims in San Francisco. Accidents happen, but severe injuries like broken arms can be especially hard to deal with. If you’re going through this, we’re here to help. Our team will explain your rights and choices and help you get the help you need. Contact us today for a free consultation.

Do You Need a Lawyer?

There’s no legal requirement in California that says you need to have a lawyer represent you in an injury claim. In fact, the less serious your injury, the less you’ll probably even need to worry about filing a claim.

That said, having a skilled team like ours can be a big help, especially if you’ve suffered a broken arm.

If you choose to work with us, here’s what we can do for you:

• Looking into what happened – We’ll look into the accident and collect important documents and evidence, like pictures of the scene and contact details of witnesses, as well as any medical records that are relevant.
• Dealing with insurance – If you have the insurance details of the person responsible, we can help you submit a claim to their insurance company to start the process. Once the claim is filed and we’ve finished our investigation, the insurance company may offer you a settlement. We’ll review it and negotiate for more if we think it’s too low.
• Making things easier – More than anything else, we want to make things easier for you. We’ll handle the legal side of things, so you can focus on getting better and moving forward.

What Should You Do After the Accident?

A broken arm can happen in virtually any type of accident in San Francisco, whether it be a car accident or a simple slip and fall at a store. But that doesn’t necessarily give the whole picture. The trauma–both physical or emotional–associated with a broken arm is very real. This plays into your legal options, but it also makes the things you need to do after the accident quite difficult. Still, you have to make an attempt. Here’s what you should do after the accident:

• Get help immediately – If you believe your arm is broken, call an ambulance right away. They’ll respond and stabilize the injury. It’s also helpful because they’ll most likely take you to an emergency room for further care.
• Report the accident – Depending on where and how the accident happens, you’ll need to report it. This could mean calling the police, telling your supervisor or boss, or reporting the incident to a store or other business. This will create an official record of whatever happened and tie your broken arm to it.
• Gather evidence – If possible, take photos or videos of the scene, including any hazards and your arm injuries. This evidence will be important later on.
• Get contact information of any witnesses – If there were any witnesses, get their names and contact information. Their testimony could be valuable.
• Preserve any evidence – Keep hold of the clothing and shoes you were wearing at the time, as they may be needed as evidence. Don’t try to repair or replace any damaged items like your phone or glasses.
• Keep track of your damages – Take photos as you recover and note any pain you experience. Save all your medical records and bills.
  
  

Obviously, it’s important to get medical help quickly for a broken arm and stick to the treatment plan to avoid further issues. On the legal side, getting financial support for medical costs is crucial since the injury can affect your job and personal life. Understanding how the process works is key.

What’s the Claims Process For a Broken Arm Injury?

Legally speaking, the claims process doesn’t change when you break your arm. You still have the ability to file an injury claim to recover “damages.” That said, you still have to figure out who’s responsible for the accident to begin with.

This largely depends on the type of accident, but usually falls on:

• The driver that hit you in a car, truck, bike, or motorcycle accident.
• Your employer, if there were hazardous conditions at your workplace and they failed to tell you about them.
• Property managers or owners if you slip and fall at a house, store, or some other property because of hazardous conditions they didn’t warn you about.
  
  

With negligence established, you can proceed with actually filing your injury claim. Generally, you can either file an insurance claim outside of court or file a formal personal injury lawsuit. Both will allow you to recover damages relating to your broken arm, like:

• Medical expenses and ongoing treatment, which cover medical bills, hospital visits, medication, and future treatments.
• Lost income, which covers any wages or earnings lost due to your injuries and any future income you may miss out on.
• Pain and suffering, which covers the physical and mental pain caused by the accident. There are separate damages for the emotional distress.
• Loss of quality of life, which covers the changes to your life, like not being able to enjoy activities as before. There’s also a category for loss of companionship.
  
  

Even though it’s the same as any other injury claim, a broken arm and its potential complications could mean lifelong issues. This makes the recovery of these damages very important to your overall health. Our team can make sure you have a strong claim, giving you the best chance at getting this vital financial support.

Understanding Broken Arm Injuries in San Francisco

Calling it a broken arm is a rather simplified way to look at this injury. The reality is that there’s various injuries and other complications that go along with what you would call a broken arm. And because they can happen in virtually any type of accident, the likelihood of having to deal with one of these injuries is much more real. So, it’s important to understand what you’ll potentially have to deal with. According to the Cleveland Clinic, there’s a few different types of broken arms:

• Upper arm bone breaks (humerus fractures), which can happen near the shoulder or elbow.
• Radius/ulna fractures, involving one or both forearm bones, occurring at different locations.
• Transverse fracture, where one of your arm bones breaks across the bone shaft.
• Avulsion fracture, where a small piece of your arm bone breaks away from the main bone due to the sudden and forceful movement of a muscle attached to that bone.
• Buckle fracture, also known as a Torus fracture, where the break doesn’t go all the way through the bone.

• Spiral fracture, where the bone breaks in a twisting motion, resembling a corkscrew.
  
  

No matter what type of arm break you have, there can be short and long-term problems. Everyday tasks become harder, and some fractures can damage nerves and blood vessels, making healing more difficult. Other complications might include: 

• Healing issues, which might need surgery.
• Misalignment, causing arm function problems.
• Nerve or blood vessel damage, leading to pain or circulation issues.
• Infection if the bone pierces the skin.
• Limited movement and ongoing pain after healing.
• Chronic pain
• Emotional impact, especially if the injury affects work or hobbies.

Contact MJQ Law After a Broken Arm Injury in San Francisco

At MJQ Law, we understand the challenges posed by traumatic injuries like broken arms, and we’re committed to offering the legal support you need for recovery. We’ll outline your rights, explore available options, and guide you through the process of seeking damages. Contact us today for a free consultation if you’ve suffered a broken arm in a San Francisco accident.