The femur, which runs from the hip to the knee, is the strongest bone in your body, so it takes a lot of force to fracture it. If you suffered this type of injury in Ohio, chances are you were in a car accident. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons says that auto accidents are the leading cause of femur fractures, followed by falls from an elevated surface.
The effects of a high-impact crash
The accidents that give rise to femur fractures are high-impact crashes. Besides fracturing the bone, such a crash may rupture blood vessels and tear the muscles and ligaments. In fact, these injuries could be more deadly than the fracture itself. Then there’s the risk for infection if the bone protrudes from the skin.
Different types of femur fractures
The femur could fracture at the neck, also known as the thigh bone, in which case it’s called a hip fracture. This usually happens in older people, whose bones are more fragile. High-impact crashes normally lead to a fracture along the length of the femur or at the distal end, which is where the knee lies.
While most drivers are protected from femur fractures, the same cannot be said for motorcyclists and pedestrians. Unfortunately, they have nothing surrounding them that could absorb some of the shock.
What to do after a serious car crash
If you incurred a personal injury in a crash due to another party’s negligence, you could file a claim against that party’s insurance company. A successful accident claim could cover losses like medical bills, vehicle damage, lost wages and pain and suffering, but you may want a lawyer to increase the chances of success.