Average Settlement for a Broken Arm in Florida

If you’ve suffered a broken arm in a car accident, you may be wondering what kind of settlement you can expect. While the settlement amount can vary significantly depending on your unique circumstances, based on our own settlement data on this page, a typical settlement for a broken arm ranges from $250,000 to $1,000,000. The injury lawyers at Abrahamson & Uiterwyk can give you a better estimate after reviewing your unique case.

Factors That Affect Settlement Value

Most victims of broken arms choose to resolve their claim through private settlement rather than through a trial.

The shadow of a trial always looms over settlement negotiations, however, because a trial is what will happen if settlement negotiations fail. The following are some of the factors that affect settlement value:

• Type of Fracture: Simple fractures may result in lower settlements, while more complex breaks, such as compound fractures or fractures requiring surgery, may increase the compensation amount.
• Medical Treatment: The cost of medical care, including surgeries, rehabilitation, and physical therapy, plays a crucial role in determining your settlement. Longer recovery times may lead to higher compensation.
• Pain and Suffering: The emotional and physical impact of the injury, including the pain associated with the break and its long-term effects, can also be factored into the settlement.
• Lost Wages: If the injury affects your ability to work and results in lost income, this will be considered in the settlement calculation.
• Insurance Policies: The type and amount of insurance coverage available, whether from the at-fault party or your own policy, will impact the compensation.

A multitude of other factors might also affect your claim, some of which may be arbitrary.

Why Do Settlements Vary?

Every case is different, and the settlement for your broken arm in a car accident will depend on the specifics of your injury, your recovery time, and other individual factors. For example, if your arm requires multiple surgeries or you experience long-term pain, your settlement could be on the higher end of the range. Conversely, a simple fracture with a quick recovery might result in a lower settlement.

Average Settlement for a Broken Arm in a Car Accident

How much compensation you get for a broken arm in a car accident settlement in Florida varies based on the unique circumstances of each situation and the severity of your injuries. Based on our own settlement data on this page, the average settlement for a broken arm in a car accident is between $250,000 to $1,000,000.

$250,000 Broken Arm Settlement After a Car Accident

Our client was walking across U.S. 19 in Citrus County, Florida around midnight. At that time, a driver heading southbound on U.S. 19 struck our client due to negligent driving. The driver did not stop after the collision. Instead, they continued down the road without offering help or notifying law enforcement. Unfortunately, the driver was never identified.

As a result of the accident, our client suffered major injuries. These included a serious broken arm, a concussion, and acute respiratory failure. He required extensive surgery on his arm due to the damage caused by the crash.

Even though the hit-and-run driver was never found, our client was not left without options. He had purchased uninsured motorist coverage to protect against accidents involving uninsured or hit-and-run drivers. Through aggressive negotiation, we were able to persuade the insurance company to pay the full policy limit of $250,000. Our client was very pleased with the outcome and with our representation.

$1,000,000 Settlement for a Broken Arm After a Car Accident

Our client was riding a motorcycle to work and approaching an intersection controlled by a traffic light. As our client proceeded through the green light, a driver made an illegal left-hand turn on a red light. This violated our client’s right of way and caused a head-on collision. Our client was ejected from the motorcycle and suffered multiple serious injuries. The defendant was cited for causing the accident.

Emergency responders transported our client to the hospital by ambulance. At the hospital, doctors diagnosed broken bones in both arms, a broken wrist, and broken fingers. Our client was placed in an arm sling and instructed to avoid movement until the fractures healed.

Soon after, our client began treatment with an orthopedic surgeon and started physical therapy. A few weeks later, our client began experiencing significant pain in both shoulders. MRIs taken a few months after the accident revealed rotator cuff injuries in both shoulders. The orthopedic surgeon confirmed that the shoulder injuries were directly caused by the accident. Our client underwent arthroscopic surgery on both shoulders to relieve the pain.

The defendant’s insurance company initially offered only $115,000. That offer was rejected. The insurer argued that the shoulder injuries were unrelated to the crash, since our client didn’t report shoulder pain until weeks later. They also tried to blame our client for the accident.

Our office filed a lawsuit and also represented our client in a related traffic court case. That hearing was conducted via Zoom due to COVID. The defendant hired a lawyer who denied fault and even denied that his client was driving the truck involved in the crash. We located an eyewitness who clearly identified the defendant at the scene and confirmed he was at fault. After several continuances, the traffic court judge found the defendant guilty of violating our client’s right of way.

In the civil case, we took the defendant’s deposition. After a long testimony, he admitted he was at fault. The eyewitness also gave a deposition to further establish liability.

Eventually, the case went to mediation. It was resolved with a settlement of one million dollars.

Special Case: Settlement for a Broken Arm in a Car Accident

Broken arms are common in serious car accidents. A broken arm is a broken arm, however, no matter what kind of accident caused it.

You might find inflated “averages” for car accident-related broken arm settlements online, but these settlements typically include more serious injuries such as traumatic brain injury (TBI).

A car accident settlement includes compensation for all injuries. But rarely does the settlement agreement break down exactly how much of the settlement applies to each part of the body.

Special Case: Settlement for Elbow Injury

Elbow injuries are also common in car accidents. Unlike much of the rest of the arm, the elbow is not protected by muscle or fatty tissue. Accordingly, it is very susceptible to fracture.

At certain angles, impact to the elbow can cause it to collide with the triceps muscle.

This is an injury that typically requires surgery to correct.

Another common elbow injury involves the radial head, the ball of the forearm that connects to the elbow. The radial head can be broken or jammed into the elbow, and tendon damage can result. These elbow injuries can be excruciatingly painful.

Why You Need a Lawyer

A lawyer can help you in more ways than it is possible to mention in a short article. An experienced Florida personal injury lawyer can negotiate a deal that is far better than what you can get on your own.

In fact, the difference often pays for the lawyer’s fees several times over. Some of the ways a lawyer can help you include:

• Determining the real value of your claim;
• Gathering and presenting the evidence in a compelling way to increase the settlement offer;
• Negotiating with the opposing party while keeping the threat of trial foremost in their minds;
• Drafting a clear, concise settlement agreement that contains no tricks;
• Thinking calmly even when you are in distress;
• Advising you against making damaging errors; and
• Representing you in court if necessary.

These are only a few of the many, many ways in which a claimant represented by experienced counsel is better off than someone who represents themselves.

How Fast Can You Get Your Money?

Typically, resolving a broken arm claim takes a few months. In some cases, however, it might take only a few weeks. If the case goes to trial, however, it can take some time to resolve the claim.

Although it is impossible to precisely predict the time frame for compensation, a good rule of thumb to remember is that the more money you ask for, the longer it will take to resolve your claim. The complexity of your claim is also a critical factor. 

Nobody Takes Advantage of Our Clients. NOBODY.

We won’t sit back and let one of our clients be stonewalled or short-changed by a stingy defendant or insurance company. And it shows. In 35 Years of practice serving over 20,000 clients, we have recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for our clients.

Contact the Tampa personal injury lawyers at Abrahamson & Uiterwyk any time of the day or night by calling (866) 201-8701 or by contacting us online.