Broken Bones Accident Lawyer — Coral Springs, Florida

A fracture sustained in a car accident is not just a short-term injury — it can mean surgeries, hardware implants, extended time off work, physical therapy, and lasting changes to how you move, work, and live. Broken bones are among the clearest evidence of trauma in a car accident, yet insurance companies still find ways to dispute the full value of these claims — arguing that surgery was not necessary, that recovery should have been faster, or that your lost income does not match what they calculate.

When the nature and extent of your damages are clear, you need an attorney who pursues full compensation — not a settlement that covers your immediate bills while leaving your future unaddressed.

Eric A. Hernandez is a personal injury trial attorney based in Coral Springs with more than 25 years of litigation experience. As a former Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida and former clerk to Chief Justice Charles T. Wells of the Florida Supreme Court, Eric brings a level of legal sophistication to fracture cases that ensures insurance companies take your claim seriously.

Call HLM Injury Lawyers at (305) 842-2100. The consultation is free, and there are no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you.

How Broken Bones Happen in Florida Car Accidents

The forces generated in a car crash — even at moderate speeds — can exceed the load-bearing capacity of human bone. Fractures are among the most common serious injuries in vehicle collisions:

• Rib fractures: The chest wall absorbs significant force in frontal and side-impact collisions. Even with a seatbelt, rib fractures are common — and deeply painful, restricting breathing, sleep, and movement.
• Arm and wrist fractures: Occupants instinctively brace against the dashboard or steering wheel during impact, placing enormous force on the forearm and wrist. These injuries often require casting, immobilization, or surgical fixation.
• Leg and knee fractures: Dashboard impacts frequently cause femur, tibia, patella, and ankle fractures. Hip and pelvis fractures are common in severe crashes and can require prolonged surgical intervention.
• Facial fractures: Impacts with airbags, windows, or the steering wheel can fracture the orbital bones, nose, jaw, or cheekbones. These injuries may involve complex reconstructive surgery.
• Clavicle (collarbone) fractures: The clavicle bears the force of the seatbelt in a frontal crash and fractures readily. While most heal with immobilization, comminuted (shattered) fractures may require surgical repair.
• Spinal fractures: Compression or burst fractures of the vertebrae can occur in high-energy impacts, with potential consequences for spinal cord function.

Symptoms and Long-Term Impact of Fractures

The immediate symptoms of fractures — intense pain at the injury site, swelling, visible deformity, and inability to bear weight or use the injured limb — are typically evident. But the long-term impact extends well beyond the acute phase:

• Surgical intervention: Many fractures require open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) — a surgical procedure that repositions bone fragments and stabilizes them with plates, screws, or rods. These procedures involve anesthesia, hospital stays, and significant recovery periods.
• Permanent hardware: Metal plates and screws inserted during fracture repair may remain in the body permanently, or require a second surgery for removal. They can cause ongoing discomfort, especially in cold weather or with physical activity.
• Loss of function: Some fractures result in permanent stiffness, reduced range of motion, or loss of strength in the affected limb — with lasting effects on work capacity and quality of life.
• Complications: Fractures can lead to complications including malunion (improper healing), nonunion (failure to heal), infection, nerve damage, and post-traumatic arthritis.
• Lost wages and earning capacity: Extended recovery periods, surgical restrictions, and permanent limitations can result in substantial lost earnings — both immediately and over the long term.

Proving Broken Bones in a Personal Injury Claim

Fractures are among the most documentable injuries in a personal injury case, but building a claim that captures their full value requires careful attention:

• Imaging documentation: X-rays, CT scans, and MRI images establish the fracture type, location, and severity. Post-surgical imaging documents the correction and hardware placement.
• Surgical records: Operative reports, anesthesia records, and post-operative notes form a detailed record of the intervention and its scope.
• Physical therapy and rehabilitation records: Documentation of your recovery trajectory — including setbacks and limitations — supports the argument for full compensation of ongoing treatment costs.
• Expert testimony on long-term impact: Orthopedic surgeons and vocational rehabilitation experts can testify about your long-term functional limitations and their impact on your earning capacity.
• Economic loss documentation: Pay stubs, employer statements, and tax records establish your pre-accident earnings and document the financial impact of time away from work.

Florida Law and Your Fracture Claim

• PIP coverage: Florida requires $10,000 in Personal Injury Protection coverage. Your PIP is the first-tier source for medical expenses and a portion of lost wages after any accident — provided you sought medical treatment within 14 days of the crash.
• Serious injury threshold: Fractures — especially those requiring surgery, resulting in permanent hardware, or causing lasting functional limitation — typically meet Florida’s serious injury threshold for significant or permanent injury, allowing you to pursue pain and suffering damages against the at-fault driver.
• Statute of limitations: Florida’s HB 837 (2023) sets a two-year deadline to file a personal injury lawsuit from the date of the accident.
• Comparative negligence — 51% rule: If you bear 51% or more of the fault for the accident, you cannot recover any compensation. Below that threshold, your recovery is reduced proportionally.

Why Hire Eric Hernandez

A broken bone case with surgical intervention and extended lost wages is a substantial claim. It deserves serious legal representation:

• Federal prosecution background: Eric spent years as an Assistant U.S. Attorney building complex cases — skills directly applicable to building a thorough injury claim.
• Florida Supreme Court clerkship: Deep knowledge of Florida law and strategy at every level of litigation.
• 25-plus years of trial experience: When settlement negotiations do not produce fair results, Eric takes fracture cases to trial.
• Bilingual: Direct representation in English and Spanish.
• Contingency basis: No fees unless HLM Injury Lawyers obtains compensation for you.

Contact HLM Injury Lawyers — Free Consultation

A broken bone from a car accident can reshape your life. Make sure the compensation you receive reflects the full impact — not just what the insurance company is willing to offer without resistance.

Call Eric Hernandez at (305) 842-2100 or visit HLM Injury Lawyers at 3301 N. University Dr., Suite 100, Coral Springs, FL 33065. Free consultation — no fees unless you recover.