According to an analysis from Diederich Healthcare, 2013 marked the first time since 2003 that there was a significant spike in the total number of payouts as well as the total amount for medical malpractice payouts. Compared to 2013, in the most recent fiscal year, there was a significant increase in the number of medical malpractice claims in Health and Hospitals Corporation-operated hospitals in New York.
In medical terms, regardless of its severity, any type of crushed, broken, or cracked bone is referred to as a fracture.
Serving close to 1.5 million patients, HHC is the largest municipal health care system in the US. There were 876 medical malpractice claims in the fiscal year of 2014 and in fiscal year 2015, that number increased to over 900.
Broken Bone or Fractured Bone
A common misconception among people is that fractured bones are a minor injury which involves a small crack and that broken bones are a far more serious injury as it involves a bone that is completely snapped in two. However, this is far from the truth.
In medical terms, regardless of its severity, any type of crushed, broken or cracked bone is referred to as a fracture.
Any bone in the body can be broken, but the most common ones include broken arm, broken leg, broken finger, broken nose, broken ribs, broken wrist and broken toe. A fractured skull would be a more serious fracture. This type of fracture could result in a brain injury or a broken back which in turn could lead to a spinal cord injury.
If you have been in an accident caused by someone’s carelessness or negligence and fractured a bone, you may be able to bring a personal injury claim against that person. With the help of an experienced personal injury lawyer, you can make sure that you get the compensation you are entitled to for medical bills, loss of income, etc.
Importance of Medical Evidence in Broken or Fractured Bone Cases
No matter what type of personal injury case, one of the most important factors is the availability and nature of medical evidence of the injuries. When a person suffers a broken or fractured bone, or even multiple fractured bones, x-ray images will most certainly be taken by a radiologist to determine the extent of the injury.
The black and white x-ray image of a fractured bone is crystal clear proof that the person has suffered injury due to incident, whether it is a motor vehicle or workplace accident. It is difficult to prove soft-tissue injuries and unlike these, bone fractures, or “hard” injuries, are nearly indisputable.
Filing a Personal Injury Claim for Broken or Fractured Bone
Strict time limits to make any compensation claim are put in place by state and federal laws. This includes claims that are related to broken bones and fractured bones. It is important to find out the statute of limitations in your state for personal injury claims.
If you or a loved one has suffered broken or fractured bones, due to someone’s negligence, carelessness or even intentional act, you should seek the help of an experienced New York personal injury attorney at Rosenberg, Minc, Falloff, & Wolff of RMFW Law at 212 697 9280.
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