Fact-Checked
Key Takeaways:
Most broken bones do not happen by chance; they trace back to a preventable moment caused by someone else's carelessness. One second you are driving, walking, or working, and the next you are in an emergency room with a fracture and mounting medical bills. Suddenly, you face questions about who will pay for your treatment and how you will replace the income you are losing.
At The Law Offices of Darren T. Moore P.C., we help injured New Yorkers hold negligent parties responsible and recover the compensation they need to heal. Understanding what caused your broken bone is where a strong claim begins, and our team is ready to review yours.
Many people assume a fracture and a broken bone are two different things. They are not. A fracture is the medical term for a broken bone, whether the damage is a thin crack or a complete break through the bone.
Broken bones range widely in severity. A minor fracture in a finger may heal in a few weeks, while a shattered femur can require surgery, hardware, and months of physical therapy. The severity often depends on how the break happened.
When another party's carelessness causes that break, you may have the right to pursue a claim for your medical expenses, lost income, and more.
Most serious fractures share one thing in common: Negligence, which is the failure to use the reasonable care that one person owes to another. When a driver speeds, a property owner ignores a hazard, or a contractor skips a safety step, other people pay the price. A handful of situations cause broken bones far more often than the rest.
Car, truck, and motorcycle crashes release enormous force, and the human body absorbs much of it. That force commonly breaks wrists, ribs, hips, and legs, especially in high-speed or head-on collisions. Motorcyclists face the greatest danger because little protects their bodies from the road. Our team traces how each crash happened, from distracted driving to failure to yield, to identify every at-fault party.
A fall from standing height can fracture a wrist, hip, or ankle, especially for older adults. Property owners in New York have a duty to repair or warn about hazards like wet floors, broken stairs, and poor lighting. When they fail to do so, a preventable fall can lead to a serious break. We gather incident reports, surveillance video, and maintenance records to connect the hazard to your injury.
Construction sites carry constant fracture risks from falls, falling objects, and heavy machinery. A worker who falls from a scaffold or ladder can suffer several broken bones at once. These injuries tend to be severe because of the heights and forces involved. Beyond a workers' compensation claim, we look for third parties whose negligence contributed to the accident.
Pedestrians and cyclists have nothing to shield them when a vehicle strikes, so their fractures are often severe. A single collision can break bones in the arms, legs, pelvis, and skull. Dooring incidents, where a driver opens a door into a cyclist's path, cause many injuries on busy streets. We hold careless drivers accountable when they leave someone with life-altering fractures.
Doctors classify fractures in several ways, and the type shapes both your treatment and the value of your claim. Knowing the terms on your medical records helps you understand how serious the injury really is. Several fracture types appear again and again in accident cases:
No matter the type, some bones break more often than others in accidents, including the wrist, hip, ankle, collarbone, and ribs.
A broken bone is rarely just a broken bone. Many fractures require surgery to implant plates, screws, or rods, and recovery can stretch across many months. Some never heal correctly, leaving lasting pain or limited mobility.
Serious fractures can trigger complications that outlast the original injury. Nerve and blood vessel damage, blood clots, and arthritis in the affected joint are all real risks. Older adults who break a hip face especially long and dangerous recoveries.
These hidden costs are why insurance companies rush to settle broken-bone claims for less than they are worth. We calculate the full scope of your losses, now and in the future, before anyone signs anything.
If a preventable accident left you with a fracture, call our team at (917) 809-7014 for a free case evaluation before you accept any offer.
State law gives injured people specific rights after a fracture caused by someone else. Three rules matter most for broken bone claims.
First, the state uses a no-fault insurance system for car accidents. Under no-fault, your own insurer covers your initial medical costs no matter who caused the crash, and your right to pursue a separate claim is limited. That limitation carries one important exception.
Because a fracture qualifies as a serious injury under Insurance Law Section 5102(d), a broken bone allows you to bypass the no-fault limitation and pursue compensation for pain and suffering.
Second, in a major 2026 update to CPLR Section 1411(b), the state replaced its pure comparative negligence system with a modified comparative negligence standard for motor vehicle cases. If a jury finds you more than 50 percent at fault for the crash, you cannot recover any damages. However, if your share of fault is 50 percent or less, you can still collect compensation reduced by your exact percentage of responsibility.
Third, the statute of limitations generally gives you 3 years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. Miss that deadline, and you can lose your right to recover anything. At The Law Offices of Darren T. Moore P.C., we prepare every broken bone claim as if it is going to trial.
A broken bone injury claim can recover far more than one hospital bill. The law lets you seek compensation for the full range of harm a fracture causes, both financial and personal. We sort these losses into two categories.
Economic damages cover measurable financial losses with a clear price tag. These include medical expenses, future medical care, lost wages, reduced earning capacity, and property damage. When a fracture forces you to miss weeks of work, that lost income is recoverable. We document every current and future cost so nothing is overlooked.
Non-economic damages cover harm that does not come with a receipt. Your physical pain, emotional distress, and the loss of being able to enjoy your hobbies and daily activities all fall under this. Because a fracture meets the serious injury threshold, these damages are available in many car accident claims.
What you do after a fracture protects both your health and your claim. A few early steps can make a lasting difference:
The sooner you act, the stronger your position when it is time to negotiate.
Yes. Under Insurance Law Section 5102(d), a fracture qualifies as a serious injury, which may allow you to pursue pain-and-suffering damages after a car accident.
You generally have 3 years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. Waiting too long can bar your claim entirely.
New York now uses modified comparative negligence for motor vehicle accidents. You are legally barred from recovery if you are found to be 51% or more at fault.
You may have a claim beyond workers' compensation if a property owner, contractor, or equipment maker was negligent. We investigate every party that may share liability.
No. Even fractures that heal without surgery can support a claim, though more severe breaks often raise the value of your case.
Value depends on the severity of the fracture, your medical costs, lost income, and lasting effects. We assess each factor to pursue your full compensation.
Because New York treats a fracture as a serious injury, your broken bone may be worth more than an insurance company's first offer suggests. Medical bills, lost wages, and a long recovery can pile up fast, and you should not have to face them while you are still healing.
At The Law Offices of Darren T. Moore P.C., we build every case as if it is going to trial, and we handle broken bone claims across New York on a contingency fee basis. That means you owe nothing unless we win compensation for you. Our team investigates the cause of your injury, calculates your full losses, and pursues the maximum recovery you deserve.
Time to act is limited, so do not wait to protect your rights. Call us today at (917) 809-7014 or reach us through our contact page for a free case evaluation.
Business Name: MooreJustice New York City Accident & Injury Lawyers
Business Address: 171 Madison Avenue, Suite 305, New York, NY, USA
Business Phone Number: 917-993-5116
Darren Moore is the founder of The Law Offices of Darren T. Moore, P.C. and a dedicated New York personal injury attorney. Known for his relentless advocacy and client-focused approach, he has spent his career helping injury victims pursue justice and recover the compensation they deserve. Darren handles a wide range of personal injury matters and is committed to delivering personalized representation for every client.
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