Broken Bone Injury Lawyer in Dallas

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A broken bone from a car accident is not just a painful inconvenience. It can mean weeks in a cast, months of physical therapy, missed work, and medical bills that pile up faster than you can manage. If another driver’s negligence caused your fracture, Texas law gives you the right to pursue full compensation for every dollar of harm you’ve suffered. At Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys, our personal injury lawyers serve clients in Denton, Dallas, and the surrounding North Texas area, and we are ready to fight for what you deserve.

Table of Contents

How Car Accidents Cause Broken Bones

The human body was not built to absorb the force of a two-ton vehicle striking it at highway speed. When a crash happens on I-35E near Denton or at a busy intersection like Loop 288 and US-380, the collision energy transfers directly into the body, snapping bones that cannot flex far enough to absorb the impact. The result is fractures that range from hairline cracks to compound breaks where bone punctures skin.

Frontal crashes are particularly brutal for the lower extremities. NHTSA’s Crash Injury Research and Engineering Network (CIREN) data shows that frontal motor vehicle crashes produce significant rates of pelvic, hip, and lower extremity fractures, with pelvic fractures alone occurring in roughly 25 percent of seriously injured occupants studied. T-bone collisions, which are common at Denton’s busy cross-streets, drive the door frame directly into the occupant, fracturing ribs, hips, and arms. Rollover crashes produce a different pattern, often fracturing the spine, collarbone, and skull as the occupant tumbles inside the vehicle.

The most common broken bones seen in car accident cases include:

  • Femur (thigh bone) fractures from dashboard impact
  • Rib fractures from seatbelt loading or steering wheel impact
  • Wrist and forearm fractures from bracing against impact
  • Clavicle fractures from shoulder harness force
  • Spinal vertebrae fractures from compression loads
  • Pelvic fractures in high-speed side impacts
  • Facial bone fractures from airbag deployment or windshield contact

Many fractures do not appear on initial X-rays. Stress fractures and small bone breaks sometimes only show up on CT scans or MRIs taken days after the crash. This is one reason why getting a full medical evaluation immediately after any accident, no matter how minor it seems, is so important. Do not let an insurance adjuster convince you that a “soft” diagnosis means your injury is minor.

Texas Law and Your Right to Compensation

Texas is an at-fault state. That means the driver who caused the crash bears financial responsibility for the injuries that result. Under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 33.001, the state follows a modified comparative fault system, also called proportionate responsibility. You can recover damages as long as your share of fault is 50 percent or less. If a jury finds you 51 percent or more responsible, you recover nothing.

This rule matters in broken bone cases because insurance adjusters routinely argue that you contributed to your own injury, perhaps by speeding slightly or failing to brake in time. Even a modest increase in your fault percentage reduces your payout. For example, if you suffered $150,000 in damages but a jury finds you 20 percent at fault, you collect $120,000. That same 20 percent assignment on a $500,000 fracture case costs you $100,000. Every percentage point has real dollar value, which is why having a skilled legal team on your side from day one makes such a difference.

Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 16.003 sets the statute of limitations for personal injury claims at two years from the date of the accident. Missing that deadline means losing your right to sue, period. There are narrow exceptions for minors and for defendants who leave the state, but counting on those exceptions is risky. The clock starts ticking the day of the crash, so do not wait.

Compensation in a broken bone case can include medical bills (past and future), lost wages, reduced earning capacity, pain and suffering, and costs of physical therapy and rehabilitation. Texas law does not cap these damages in standard car accident cases, which means a severe femur fracture requiring surgery and months of recovery can justify a very substantial claim. Talk to a car accident lawyer as soon as possible after your injury to protect your rights under Texas law.

What a Broken Bone Injury Claim Actually Involves

Filing a broken bone injury claim is more involved than submitting a few medical bills to the at-fault driver’s insurance company. Insurers have trained adjusters whose job is to pay you as little as possible. They will review your medical records looking for pre-existing conditions, question whether your fracture truly required surgery, and push back on future medical costs. Understanding what goes into building a strong claim helps you see why professional legal help matters.

A well-built broken bone claim starts with thorough documentation. This means the police report from the crash scene, all emergency room and hospital records, imaging results (X-rays, CT scans, MRIs), surgical reports if applicable, physical therapy notes, and records of any follow-up appointments. It also means documenting the impact on your daily life: how long you were off work, what activities you can no longer do, and how the injury has affected your family and relationships.

Medical expert testimony often plays a role in more serious cases. An orthopedic surgeon can testify about the long-term consequences of a complex fracture, including the risk of arthritis, chronic pain, and the need for future surgeries such as hardware removal or joint replacement. This kind of forward-looking evidence is critical for recovering future damages, not just the bills you have already paid.

Fault evidence is equally important. Accident reconstruction, traffic camera footage, witness statements, cell phone records in distracted driving cases, and data from the at-fault vehicle’s event data recorder (black box) can all establish that the other driver caused the crash. If the accident happened on a stretch of US-380 near the University of North Texas or on I-35 through downtown Denton, there may be traffic cameras or nearby business footage that captured the collision. A car accident attorney who knows how to gather and preserve this evidence quickly can make the difference between a strong claim and a weak one.

Dealing with Insurance Companies After a Fracture

Insurance companies know that broken bone victims are often in pain, financially stressed, and eager to resolve their claims quickly. They take advantage of that. Adjusters may call you within days of the crash, offer a fast settlement that sounds significant, and ask you to sign a release. Once you sign, you give up your right to any further compensation, even if your fracture requires additional surgery six months later.

Never accept a settlement offer without first understanding the full extent of your injury. Broken bones can have complications that are not apparent in the early weeks. A femur fracture may heal improperly, requiring a second surgery. A pelvic fracture can lead to chronic nerve pain. Spinal fractures can cause long-term mobility issues. Settling before you reach maximum medical improvement, the point at which your condition has stabilized, means you may be giving up money you will desperately need later.

Insurance adjusters will also try to use your recorded statement against you. They may ask you to describe the accident in a way that assigns you more fault, or ask about pre-existing conditions in hopes of reducing your claim. You are not required to give a recorded statement to the other driver’s insurance company. Politely decline and refer them to your attorney instead.

Texas law requires drivers to carry minimum liability insurance, but minimum coverage is often not enough for a serious fracture case. If the at-fault driver carries only the state minimum, you may need to look at your own underinsured motorist coverage to fill the gap. A car accident lawyer can review all available insurance policies and identify every source of compensation available to you, including any employer liability if the at-fault driver was on the job at the time of the crash.

Why Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys Handles Broken Bone Cases in Denton and Dallas

Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys is based in Denton, Texas, and serves clients throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth area, including communities near TWU, the Denton County Courthouse on West Hickory Street, and neighborhoods along US-377 and FM 2181. Our firm handles car accident and personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you. There are no upfront costs and no hourly fees.

Broken bone cases require attention to detail that general practice firms may not provide. The value of a fracture claim depends heavily on the specific bone involved, the treatment required, the recovery timeline, and the long-term impact on your ability to work and live your life. A femur fracture requiring intramedullary nailing and months of non-weight-bearing recovery is a fundamentally different case from a simple wrist fracture that heals in six weeks. We treat each case as the individual situation it is, not as a formula to be plugged into a settlement calculator.

We work with medical providers, accident reconstruction professionals, and economic experts to build claims that reflect the true cost of your injury. We communicate with insurance companies so you do not have to, and we are prepared to take your case to trial if the insurer refuses to offer fair compensation. If your accident happened on a road like the Dallas North Tollway or near a high-traffic area in downtown Dallas, we know how to investigate those scenes and build a case that holds the right parties accountable.

If you or a family member suffered a broken bone in a car accident anywhere in the Dallas or Denton area, call Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys at (940) 800-2500 for a free consultation. You can also connect with a car accident attorney through our website. There is no obligation to hire us after the consultation, and everything you share is confidential. The sooner you call, the sooner we can start protecting your rights.

Compensation You Can Recover for a Broken Bone Injury in Texas

Texas law allows injury victims to recover two broad categories of damages: economic and non-economic. Economic damages are the measurable financial losses tied directly to your injury. Non-economic damages compensate for the human cost of what you have been through. Both categories apply fully in broken bone cases, and neither is capped in a standard car accident claim against a private driver.

Economic damages in a fracture case typically include emergency room and hospital charges, surgical fees, anesthesia costs, imaging and diagnostic testing, prescription medications, physical therapy and rehabilitation, medical equipment such as crutches or wheelchairs, home health care, and future medical expenses for ongoing treatment or anticipated surgeries. Lost wages cover the income you missed while recovering. If your fracture permanently limits your ability to work in your previous field, you can also claim reduced earning capacity going forward.

Non-economic damages address the pain, suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life that come with a serious fracture. A broken pelvis that keeps you bedridden for months, or a femur fracture that ends your ability to coach your child’s soccer team at Denia Rec Center, carries real human cost that deserves real compensation. Texas law recognizes this, and juries in Dallas and Denton County courts have returned significant verdicts in cases where the evidence clearly showed the depth of a victim’s suffering.

If the at-fault driver was drunk, street racing, or texting behind the wheel, Texas courts may also award exemplary (punitive) damages under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Chapter 41. These damages go beyond compensating you and are designed to punish particularly reckless conduct. They are not available in every case, but when the facts support them, they can substantially increase the total recovery.

Wrongful death claims are also relevant when a fracture or associated injury proves fatal. Under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 71.004, the surviving spouse, children, and parents of the deceased may bring a wrongful death action. Under the survival statute at Section 71.021, the claim the deceased person could have brought also survives to the estate. These provisions ensure that a negligent driver cannot escape accountability simply because their victim did not survive. Contact a car accident lawyer at Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys to discuss all available options if your family is facing this situation.

FAQs About Broken Bone Injury Lawyers in Dallas and Denton

How long do I have to file a broken bone injury claim in Texas?

Under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 16.003, you generally have two years from the date of the car accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. If you miss this deadline, the court will almost certainly dismiss your case and you will lose your right to any compensation. Some narrow exceptions exist, such as for injured minors, but relying on exceptions is risky. Contact Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys at (940) 800-2500 as soon as possible after your accident to protect your right to file.

What if the other driver says I was partly at fault for the crash?

Texas follows a modified comparative fault rule under Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 33.001. You can still recover damages as long as your share of fault is 50 percent or less. Your compensation is reduced by your fault percentage, so if you are 20 percent at fault on a $200,000 claim, you collect $160,000. If a jury finds you 51 percent or more at fault, you recover nothing. Insurance companies routinely try to inflate your fault percentage to reduce their payout, which is exactly why having legal representation matters from the start.

How much is a broken bone car accident case worth in Texas?

The value of your case depends on the specific bone fractured, the severity of the break, the treatment required, how long you were unable to work, and the long-term impact on your health and daily life. A simple wrist fracture that heals in six weeks is worth far less than a femur fracture requiring surgery and a year of rehabilitation. There is no average settlement figure that applies to every case, and any estimate you receive without a full review of your medical records and accident facts should be viewed with skepticism. Past results in other cases do not guarantee any particular outcome in yours.

Do I have to go to court to resolve a broken bone injury claim?

Most personal injury cases, including broken bone claims, settle before trial. Insurance companies often prefer to settle rather than risk a jury verdict, especially when the evidence of fault is strong and the injuries are well-documented. That said, some insurers refuse to offer fair compensation, and in those situations, filing a lawsuit and taking the case to trial becomes necessary. Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys prepares every case as if it will go to trial, because that preparation is what produces better settlement outcomes and stronger trial results when needed.

What should I do immediately after a car accident that broke my bone?

Call 911 and get emergency medical care right away, even if you think the injury might be minor. Fractures are not always obvious at the scene, and adrenaline can mask pain. Let paramedics and emergency room doctors examine you thoroughly and follow all their instructions. Ask for a copy of the police report. Take photos of the scene, your injuries, and the vehicles if you are able. Do not give a recorded statement to the other driver’s insurance company before speaking with an attorney. Call Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys at (940) 800-2500 as soon as you are medically stable so we can begin protecting your claim.

This content was prepared by Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys, whose principal office is located in Denton, Texas. The attorneys at Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys are licensed to practice law in Texas. Results in any particular case depend on the specific facts and law applicable to that case. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome in any future matter.

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