The average settlement for a broken bone from a car accident in North Las Vegas typically ranges from $15,000 to over $150,000, depending on injury severity. Simple fractures treated with a cast settle for less, while breaks requiring surgery, extended recovery, missed work, or causing permanent impairment lead to much higher compensation. Factors like medical costs, fault, and insurance limits also affect value.
Breaking a bone in a car accident in North Las Vegas can immediately disrupt your work, mobility, and everyday life. Even a simple fracture can mean weeks in a cast, missed paychecks, and ongoing pain. More serious breaks may require surgery, metal plates or screws, and months of rehabilitation. Medical bills often arrive quickly, long before you know how complete your recovery will be. Many victims feel unsure what their injury is truly worth. That uncertainty makes dealing with insurance companies especially stressful.
The problem is that broken bone settlements vary widely, and insurance companies take advantage of that confusion. Adjusters often minimize fractures as routine injuries, ignore future medical needs, or push fast settlement offers before the long-term effects are clear. Complex fractures involving surgery or permanent limitations are frequently undervalued. Once you accept a settlement, you cannot reopen your claim if complications arise later.
In this article, you will discover the average settlement for a broken bone in a North Las Vegas car accident, the factors that most affect compensation, and how a car crash lawyer in North Las Vegas can help you protect your rights and pursue full recovery.
What Is the Average Settlement for a Broken Bone in a North Las Vegas Car Accident?
Settlement amounts for broken bones in North Las Vegas vary widely and depend on factors such as fracture severity, whether surgery was required, recovery time, and how the injury affects daily life. A settlement is the money you receive from insurance companies or at-fault parties to cover your damages. This means you get compensated for medical bills, lost wages, pain, and other losses from your injury.
The exact amount depends on how severe your fracture is, your total medical costs, and how long it takes you to recover. Catastrophic fractures requiring multiple surgeries can exceed $250,000.
Here’s what you can typically expect:
- Simple fractures (no surgery): $15,000 – $45,000
- Fractures requiring surgery: $45,000 – $100,000
- Multiple or complex fractures: $75,000 – $150,000+
- Fractures with permanent impairment: $100,000 – $500,000+
Several key factors determine whether your settlement falls on the higher or lower end of these ranges.
What Factors Increase Settlement Value for Fractures?
Insurance companies look at specific details when calculating your broken bone claim value. The most important factors are whether you needed surgery, how much work you missed, and if you have permanent limitations from your injury.
Your compensation includes two types of damages. Economic damages cover tangible costs like medical bills and lost wages. Non-economic damages compensate you for pain, suffering, and reduced quality of life.
Key factors that boost your settlement include:
- Surgical intervention: Plates, screws, or rods typically double your settlement value.
- Recovery duration: Longer healing periods mean higher pain and suffering compensation.
- Permanent impairment: Arthritis or reduced range of motion significantly increases value.
- Age and occupation: Younger victims or those in physical jobs often receive higher awards.
Pre-existing conditions don’t prevent you from getting compensation, but they might complicate your claim. The specific bone you fractured also heavily impacts your final settlement amount.
Related: Is It Worth Hiring a Personal Injury Attorney?
How Settlement Ranges Vary by Fracture Type
Not all fractures are valued equally, location and severity matter tremendously. A broken finger settles for much less than a shattered femur. Here are common fracture types from North Las Vegas car accidents and their typical settlement ranges.
Wrist and Forearm Fractures
Wrist and forearm fractures commonly settle for $20,000 to $60,000. These injuries happen when you brace for impact during a crash. If your dominant hand is fractured, expect higher compensation because it affects your daily activities more severely.
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) is a chronic pain condition that sometimes develops after these fractures. CRPS can substantially increase your claim’s value because it causes long-term disability.
Ankle and Foot Fractures
Ankle and foot fractures typically settle for $25,000 to $75,000. These injuries severely limit your mobility and ability to work, especially in jobs requiring standing or walking. Multiple metatarsal fractures or ankle surgeries command higher settlements because they involve more complex treatment and longer recovery.
Tibia, Fibula, and Femur Fractures
Leg fractures involving the tibia (shinbone), fibula (smaller leg bone), or femur (thighbone) typically settle for $50,000 to $150,000. Femur fractures are among the most severe bone injuries, often requiring major surgery and extensive rehabilitation. These injuries place victims at the higher end of settlement ranges because they’re extremely painful and disabling.
Clavicle and Shoulder Fractures
Broken clavicles (collarbones) or shoulders often result in settlements between $15,000 and $50,000. Seatbelt force during impact frequently causes these fractures. As with wrist injuries, damage to your dominant side commands higher compensation due to greater functional impact.
Rib and Sternum Fractures
Rib and sternum (breastbone) fractures generally settle for $10,000 to $40,000. While painful, they often heal without surgery, which keeps settlements lower. However, if broken ribs puncture your lung or cause internal injuries, settlement values increase dramatically due to life-threatening complications.
Pelvis and Hip Fractures
Pelvic and hip fractures are catastrophic injuries settling for $75,000 to $250,000 or more. These breaks almost always require extensive surgery and lengthy, difficult rehabilitation. Younger victims facing lifetime complications often receive even higher settlements because they’ll live with the consequences longer.
Fractures Requiring Surgery Versus Casting
Your treatment type clearly indicates your case’s value. Surgery is more invasive, costly, and involves longer recovery, leading to higher settlements.
| Treatment Type | Average Settlement Range | Typical Recovery Time |
| Cast Only | $15,000 – $35,000 | 6-8 weeks |
| ORIF Surgery | $45,000 – $100,000 | 3-6 months |
| Multiple Surgeries | $100,000 – $250,000+ | 6-12+ months |
ORIF stands for Open Reduction and Internal Fixation. This means surgeons open your skin, realign broken bones, and secure them with metal hardware. Nevada’s specific laws also affect your final settlement amount.
See also: Are Personal Injury Settlements Taxable?
How Nevada Law Affects a Broken Bone Claim
Nevada’s laws directly influence your ability to recover compensation and the final amount you receive. Understanding these rules helps you navigate the claims process more effectively.
Comparative Negligence and Fault Percentages
Nevada follows a modified comparative negligence rule. This means you can recover damages as long as you’re less than 51% at fault for the accident.
For example, if you’re awarded $100,000 but found 20% at fault, you receive $80,000. Insurance companies often try assigning you more blame than is fair to reduce their payments. Our attorneys work to minimize your fault percentage and maximize your recovery.
Insurance Policy Limits and UM/UIM Coverage
Nevada’s minimum liability insurance is only $25,000 per person for bodily injury. This amount rarely covers serious fracture costs. Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM) coverage protects you when at-fault drivers lack adequate insurance.
UM/UIM is coverage you purchase on your own policy. This coverage supplements low policy limits and ensures you get fair compensation even when the at-fault driver is underinsured.
Deadlines to File in Nevada
Nevada’s statute of limitations gives you two years to file a personal injury lawsuit. This deadline starts on your accident date, not when you discover injury extent.
Evidence disappears quickly after accidents, so acting promptly protects your claim. Witness memories fade, surveillance footage gets deleted, and vehicle damage gets repaired.
How Insurers Calculate Fracture Claims
Insurance adjusters use specific formulas to calculate claim values, not random numbers. Understanding their methods helps you recognize lowball offers and fight for fair compensation.
Economic and Non-Economic Damages
Your claim includes two damage types. Economic damages are verifiable financial losses including medical bills, surgery costs, physical therapy, lost wages, and future medical needs. These damages are easier to prove because they’re supported by bills and receipts.
Non-economic damages compensate intangible losses like physical pain, emotional suffering, loss of life enjoyment, and permanent scarring. These damages are harder to quantify but often represent the largest portion of your settlement.
Pain and Suffering Multipliers for Fractures
Adjusters often use the multiplier method to calculate non-economic damages. They multiply your total economic damages by a number between 1.5 and 5, depending on injury severity.
- Simple wrist fracture: 1.5x to 2x multiplier.
- Femur fracture with surgery: 3x to 4x multiplier.
- Multiple fractures with permanent damage: 4x to 5x multiplier.
More severe injuries with longer recoveries justify higher multipliers because they cause more pain and life disruption.
Evidence That Raises Value
Strong evidence increases your claim’s value by making it harder for insurers to dispute your injuries. The more proof you have, the stronger your negotiating position becomes.
Essential evidence includes:
- Medical imaging: X-rays, CT scans, and MRIs showing fracture severity
- Surgical reports: Detailed procedures and hardware placement documentation
- Treatment records: Physical therapy notes showing progress and limitations
- Visual documentation: Photos of injuries throughout recovery
- Pain journals: Daily documentation of pain levels and activity restrictions
- Witness statements: Testimony about how injuries affect your daily life
How Long Do Broken Bone Claims Take to Settle?
Fracture claims take longer than minor soft-tissue injuries because bones need time to heal completely. You should never settle until reaching maximum medical improvement (MMI). MMI means your doctor says you’ve healed as much as possible and your condition is stable.
Cases Without Surgery
Simple fractures healing in casts typically take 3 to 6 months to settle. These cases move faster because treatment paths and recovery times are predictable. Insurance companies can more easily estimate total costs when surgery isn’t involved.
Cases with Surgery or Complications
Fractures requiring surgery or experiencing complications take 6 to 12 months to settle. Delays occur due to infections, hardware problems, or non-union (failure to heal properly). Complex cases need more time to understand long-term impacts and future medical needs.
Cases That Go to Litigation
If insurance companies deny claims or make unreasonably low offers, filing lawsuits becomes necessary. These cases take 12 to 24 months or more to resolve. However, willingness to litigate often motivates insurers to offer much fairer settlements before trial.
Related: Will My Personal Injury Case Go to Trial?
What to Do After a Fracture Crash in North Las Vegas
Your actions immediately after a car accident are critical. Making the right moves protects your health and claim value, while mistakes can cost thousands in lost compensation.
Get Medical Care and Follow Treatment
Visit an emergency room immediately after your accident, even if you feel fine. Adrenaline masks pain, and delayed care gives insurance companies ammunition to argue you weren’t seriously hurt.
In North Las Vegas, seek care at facilities like UMC Trauma Center or Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center. Follow all doctor orders, attend every physical therapy session, and keep all follow-up appointments. Treatment gaps allow insurers to claim your injuries aren’t severe.
Document the Injury and Recovery
Thorough documentation strengthens your injury claim significantly. Take weekly photos of your injuries showing healing progression. Keep every medical bill, receipt, and explanation of benefits related to your care.
Track missed work days and lost income carefully. Maintain a daily journal documenting pain levels and activities you can no longer perform. This documentation proves how your injury affects your daily life and supports higher compensation.
Avoid Insurance Pitfalls
Insurance adjusters are trained to minimize claim values using various tactics. Never give recorded statements because they twist your words against you later. Don’t accept quick settlement offers because early offers are always too low and won’t cover future needs.
Stay off social media during your claim because photos of you smiling can be used as “proof” you’re not really hurt. Never sign documents without legal review because you might be signing away important rights.
See also: How Long After a Car Accident Can You Claim Injury in Nevada?
Act Fast. Deadlines Apply to Injury Claims
Nevada’s two-year deadline seems long, but crucial evidence disappears quickly. Witnesses move or forget details, surveillance footage gets erased, and vehicles get repaired, making it harder to prove your case.
At Ladah Injury & Car Accident Lawyers Las Vegas, we offer free consultations to North Las Vegas fracture victims. Our unique background as former insurance defense attorneys gives us insider knowledge of insurer tactics. We use this experience to fight for the maximum compensation you deserve.
We have secured substantial recoveries for our clients and handle cases on a contingency-fee basis. This means you pay nothing until we win your case. We’re available 24/7 because accidents don’t follow business hours.
Don’t let insurance companies take advantage of you during this vulnerable time. Contact us today for your free, no-obligation case evaluation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is a Good Settlement Offer for a Broken Bone?
A good settlement covers 100% of your medical bills and lost wages plus fair compensation for pain and suffering. For fractures, this typically equals two to four times your economic damages.
Do Metal Plates or Screws Increase Settlement Value?
Yes, surgical hardware significantly increases settlement value because it proves injury severity and often leads to future complications. Metal implants also indicate you’ll likely face arthritis and ongoing pain.
Should I Settle Before My Bone Fully Heals?
Never settle before reaching maximum medical improvement because you won’t know your permanent limitations or future medical needs. Settling too early often means accepting far less than your claim’s true value.
How Much Will I Get from a $25,000 Policy Limit?
With serious fractures, you’ll likely receive the full $25,000 from the at-fault driver’s insurance. You may then pursue additional compensation through your uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage or the driver’s personal assets.
What if I Was Partly at Fault for the Accident?
You can still recover damages in Nevada if you’re less than 51% responsible for the accident. Your final settlement gets reduced by your fault percentage, but you don’t lose everything.
What if the At-Fault Driver Has No Insurance?
Your Uninsured Motorist coverage protects you in this situation. We can also investigate whether the driver has personal assets or if other parties like employers share liability for the accident.