Numerous types of injuries can occur in a car accident, including broken ribs. Suffering trauma to the chest region increases the likelihood that you might sustain fractured ribs.
If you or someone you love was injured due to another driver’s negligence, you might be wondering what to do after a car accident.
A broken ribs settlement is possible, but you may need an experienced Tampa auto accident attorney on your side who can help you fight for the compensation you deserve.
How to Know If Your Rib(s) Are Broken?
To properly determine whether your ribs are broken, you need to seek immediate medical treatment. Broken ribs can be dangerous as they could damage other organs, such as puncturing a lung.
When you have a broken rib, you cannot take deep breaths easily. In fact, it’s usually very painful to breathe deeply. Some of the most notable symptoms of a broken rib include:
- Tightness in your chest;
- Pain and tenderness in the general area, especially if you touch it;
- Bruising and swelling in the area of fracture;
- Pain when you twist or bend your body;
- Internal bleeding; and
- Pain when you cough.
Doctors can usually diagnose a fractured rib by doing an x-ray. Not all fractures will show up on a negative x-ray, so it’s important to communicate your symptoms to your doctor. They may need to order CT scans or other diagnostic tests to confirm whether you have a broken rib.
How Much is the Average Payout for Broken Ribs in Florida?
Understandably, car accident victims want to know what they might receive in compensation after an accident. Based on the car accident settlement for fractured ribs examples listed on this page, the typical Florida car accident broken ribs settlement is anywhere from $50,000 to $300,000. Settlements depend greatly on the unique circumstances of each case which is why there is no accurate average settlement amount for car accidents in Florida. Every client’s case is evaluated based on its circumstances and associated factors when determining compensation for injuries such as broken ribs sustained in a car accident.
Recent Broken Rib Settlement Amount and Payout Examples
$300,000/Car Accident/Fractured Ribs/2022
Our client was walking his dog in Pinellas County, when he approached a crosswalk to walk toward the beach. Our client pressed the button to activate the rapid flashing beacons, to warn approaching vehicles. When the beacons activated, our client entered the crosswalk and began to walk across the street. Unfortunately, the defendant driver, who was clearly distracted, failed to see the flashing beacons and the pedestrian crossing sign and struck our client going approximately 30 miles per hour.
As a result of the impact, our client rolled up on the hood of the defendant’s vehicle and was jettisoned into the other lane of traffic. Fortunately, the vehicles in the other lane had properly stopped. Our client was knocked unconscious and did not regain consciousness until he was seen in the emergency room.
At the emergency room, our client received emergent care to treat his dislocated left shoulder, broken left collarbone, fractured ribs, multiple lacerations, and a concussion. Following his discharge from the hospital, our client was referred to an orthopedic surgeon who diagnosed our client with a left shoulder rotator cuff tear. The orthopedic surgeon prescribed our client a regiment of physical therapy, aimed at restoring the range of motion in the left shoulder. Due to his dedication to the therapy, our client was able to regain full use of his left shoulder without the need for surgery.
After the conclusion of the medical treatment, we sent a demand for settlement to the defendant’s insurance company and to our client’s underinsured motorist insurance carrier. The plaintiff’s insurance refused to give our client a fair settlement offer, but through continuous negotiations were able to convince them to pay significantly more. In the end, we were able to obtain a combined $300,000 settlement for our client.
$50,000/Car Accident/Broken Ribs/2014
In this case, our client’s 15-year-old son was crossing 66th Street in Pinellas Park, Florida on his skateboard when the defendant struck him. Unfortunately, he was crossing outside a crosswalk, and the police found that our client’s son was at fault for the accident.
He was rushed to the hospital with serious injuries including a badly broken leg, a closed head injury, and multiple lacerations and road rash. Due to the severity of his leg fracture, surgery was required to repair it.
Despite our client’s son’s actions, we felt that the defendant should have had time to avoid the collision if he had been paying close attention to his surroundings. Since Florida law at the time allowed an injured person to recover damages where they were partially or even substantially at fault, we took the case. The insurance company for the defendant quickly recognized that the injuries warranted payment of their $50,000.00 policy limits, and they offered to tender that amount.
Our client’s health insurer had paid out over $80,000.00 for treatment her son required after the accident. Under the law, the health insurer was entitled to assert a lien against the potential settlement and be repaid from it. Through negotiation, we were able to convince the insurer to reduce its lien by approximately 80% thereby netting our client’s son a fair recovery.
It should be noted that the law that allowed an injured person to recover even where they were partially at fault, known as the comparative fault rule, has since been modified by the Florida Legislature. Under the modified rule, if the injured person is over 50% responsible for an accident, he or she is completely barred from any recovery. This harsh new law prevents people with serious injuries from obtaining needed compensation even where a defendant may be substantially to blame.
What Factors Most Impact Florida Settlements for Fractured Ribs?
Several elements can play a crucial role in the possible settlement you might receive. Factors that can most impact your settlement include:
- The severity of the car accident and your injuries;
- The types of treatment you received and how long you needed to treat;
- The amount of time you missed from work and whether you can return to work; and
- Whether there’s any future treatment required.
If you develop complications from broken ribs, your settlement amount might be higher. One possible complication includes pneumonia. Pneumonia is a risk because victims cannot breathe deeply due to severe pain.
Some other cases may also require surgery if your rib cage detaches from the chest wall or a rib punctures an organ.
Will I Need to Go to Court?
If your case isn’t resolved during the negotiations phase, you may need to go to court at some point. We will file a lawsuit on your behalf and start preparing your case for trial if the other party is not willing to engage in meaningful settlement negotiations.
There may be hearings, a deposition, arbitration, mediation, etc. If your case still does not resolve, you will need to be present in court for the trial.
Will a Lawyer Help Me Get a Favorable Settlement?
There is no guarantee that you will get a favorable settlement, but an experienced Florida car accident attorney can usually help you get a higher settlement amount than you would if you pursued a claim independently.
At Abrahamson & Uiterwyk, our experienced Tampa & Pinellas Park car accident attorneys have helped over 20,000 injured victims to date fight for the compensation they deserve. We’ve collected over $300,000,000 on behalf of our clients.
If you suffered broken ribs or other injuries in a Florida car accident, let us help. Contact Abrahamson & Uiterwyk today to schedule an initial consultation.
Get Your Accident Questions Answered
Prospective clients typically have numerous questions about the general claims process and how a personal injury claim works. We’ve compiled answers to some of the most common questions we receive to help you prepare for your upcoming consultation with our office.
What Types of Compensation Can I Receive in Florida?
Depending on the specifics of your accident, you might be eligible to receive compensation for your medical expenses to date, time off work, property damage, future medical expenses, pain and suffering, and more.
Can I Get a Settlement If I’m at Fault for the Accident?
Florida is a modified comparative negligence state. This means that if you are found to be no more than 50% at fault for the accident, your recovery is reduced by the same proportion as your percentage of fault. As an example, if you are found to be 20% at fault in an accident, you may still recover 80% of your damages in a lawsuit. If, however, your percentage of fault is found to be more than 50%, you are barred from any recovery under the law.