Los Angeles Orthopedic Injury & Fracture Attorney

A broken bone is rarely “just” a broken bone. Fractures and other orthopedic injuries frequently mean surgery, permanent hardware, weeks or months in a cast or brace, painful physical therapy, lost income, and — in the most serious cases — a permanent loss of strength, mobility, or function. The financial and personal toll can stretch on long after the bone itself has healed. For more than 30 years, Steven M. Sweat, Personal Injury Lawyers, APC has helped accident victims across Los Angeles and throughout California recover full and fair compensation for orthopedic injuries caused by another party’s negligence.

Insurance companies routinely undervalue fracture claims by treating them as simple, predictable injuries that heal on a fixed timeline. They are not. Our firm builds the medical and financial record — imaging, surgical reports, treating-physician opinions, and life-care projections — that demonstrates the true severity of an orthopedic injury and drives real settlement value. Many of the injuries we handle arise from motor vehicle collisions; if a crash caused your fracture, start with our Los Angeles Car Accident Lawyer page, then use the resources below to understand your specific injury and what your claim may be worth.

Common Orthopedic Injuries and Fractures We Handle

Orthopedic trauma covers any injury to the musculoskeletal system — the bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, and muscles. The pages below explain the most common injuries we see in California accident claims, how they are diagnosed and treated, and how each affects the value of a personal injury case:

• Clavicle (collarbone) fractures – one of the most frequent results of bicycle, motorcycle, and auto collisions, sometimes requiring plating when the bone is badly displaced.
• Facial fractures – including orbital, nasal, cheekbone, and jaw fractures that often require surgical reconstruction and can leave permanent disfigurement.
• Wrist fractures from falling – extremely common in slip, trip, and fall accidents when a victim instinctively breaks the fall with an outstretched hand.
• Shoulder trauma and shoulder impingement syndrome – rotator cuff tears, labral (SLAP) tears, dislocations, and impingement that can require arthroscopic surgery.
• Knee injuries caused by trauma – the anatomy of ligament (ACL/PCL/MCL), meniscus, and cartilage damage, and why these injuries so often become permanent.
• Hip fractures from accidents and hip fractures related to trauma – high-energy fractures in younger crash victims and fragility fractures in older adults.
• Amputation injuries – traumatic or surgical loss of a limb, among the most life-altering orthopedic injuries a person can suffer.

How Orthopedic Injuries Are Diagnosed and Treated

Diagnosis usually begins with X-rays, but a plain film does not always tell the full story. Hairline fractures, joint surface damage, and soft-tissue injuries such as torn ligaments or rotator cuffs frequently require a CT scan or MRI to reveal. This is one reason prompt, thorough medical care matters so much — both for your recovery and for your claim. Our article on whether you need to consult an orthopedist after a California car accident explains why a specialist referral protects you on both fronts.

Not all fractures are equal in the eyes of a treating surgeon or an insurance adjuster. Several distinctions drive both treatment and case value:

• Displaced vs. non-displaced – a displaced fracture, where the bone fragments are no longer aligned, often requires surgery, while a non-displaced fracture may heal with immobilization alone.
• Closed vs. open (compound) – an open fracture that breaks through the skin carries a far higher risk of infection and typically means a longer, more complicated recovery.
• Simple vs. comminuted – a comminuted fracture, in which the bone shatters into several pieces, is more difficult to repair and more likely to leave lasting impairment.

Surgical repair frequently involves open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF), in which the surgeon realigns the bone and secures it with plates, screws, rods, or pins. That hardware is sometimes permanent and sometimes removed in a second operation months later. Recovery commonly continues through weeks of immobilization followed by physical therapy. Our overview of the most common types of orthopedic surgeries walks through these procedures in detail. Even after the bone unites, complications such as nonunion, malunion, chronic pain, reduced range of motion, and post-traumatic arthritis can persist for life — and those long-term consequences are central to valuing a claim correctly.

What Are Orthopedic Injuries and Fractures Worth in California?

There is no single “average” fracture settlement. Value depends on which bone or joint is involved, whether surgery was required, recovery time, any permanent limitation, lost income, and the insurance coverage available. Our most-requested resource is the average settlement value of broken bones in California guide, which breaks down realistic ranges by fracture type and severity. The table below summarizes typical ranges drawn from our injury-specific settlement guides:

For detailed, injury-specific valuation — including the factors that move a case up or down within its range — see our dedicated 2026 guides:

• Average Settlement for Broken Bone Injury in California (2026 Guide)
• Average Hip Fracture Settlement in California (2026 Guide)
• Average Knee Injury Settlement in California (2026 Guide)
• Average Shoulder Injury Settlement in California (2026 Guide)
• Average Amputation Settlement in California (2026 Guide)

How Fracture and Orthopedic Claims Are Valued

A complete orthopedic injury claim is built from two categories of damages. Economic damages cover measurable losses: emergency care, surgery, hardware, physical therapy, future medical needs such as hardware removal or a likely future joint replacement, and lost wages or lost earning capacity if the injury limits the work you can do. Non-economic damages compensate for pain, suffering, loss of mobility, and the disruption to your daily life and activities.

Permanency is the single most important driver of value. A fracture that heals cleanly in six weeks is worth far less than one that leaves you with chronic pain, a permanent limp, reduced grip strength, or arthritis that will require future treatment. A serious orthopedic injury can also accompany other catastrophic harm; where a violent collision also injures the spine or skull, see our Los Angeles spinal cord injury attorney and Los Angeles brain injury attorney pages.

Insurers often run injuries through automated claims software that anchors offers low on fractures it treats as “routine,” especially before you have reached maximum medical improvement. We counter that by documenting the full clinical picture and the permanent consequences with treating-physician and expert support, so the offer reflects the injury’s true long-term impact rather than a software estimate. For a complete overview of how we handle injury claims statewide, visit our California personal injury practice area.

How Orthopedic Injuries Happen

Fractures and joint injuries occur across nearly every type of accident our firm handles. The mechanism of injury and the type of insurance available both shape how a claim is valued and pursued:

• Car accidents – side-impact (T-bone) and rear-end collisions commonly cause leg, hip, wrist, and clavicle fractures.
• Motorcycle accidents – riders often suffer ankle, leg, and shoulder fractures and torn knee ligaments after being ejected.
• Pedestrian accidents – a struck pedestrian absorbs the full force of impact, frequently resulting in multiple fractures.
• Bicycle accidents – thrown riders commonly fracture the hip, pelvis, wrist, and collarbone.
• Premises liability and slip-and-fall accidents – falls on negligently maintained property are a leading cause of wrist and hip fractures, especially in older victims.

Mistakes That Can Hurt Your Orthopedic Injury Claim

Even a strong fracture case can be undermined by avoidable missteps. The most damaging include:

• Gaps in treatment. Skipping appointments or stopping physical therapy early lets an adjuster argue your injury was minor or had resolved.
• Ignoring an orthopedist referral. Failing to follow up with a specialist can leave a serious injury under-documented — and undervalued.
• Giving a recorded statement. Early recorded statements to the at-fault insurer are often used to minimize your injuries or shift blame. Speak with an attorney first.
• Posting on social media. A single photo of you smiling or active can be taken out of context to dispute the severity of your injury.
• Settling before maximum medical improvement. Accepting an early offer before the full extent of your injury is known almost always means settling for less than your case is worth.

Verified Results in Orthopedic Injury Cases

Past results do not guarantee future outcomes, and every case is evaluated on its own merits. The following are actual verified recoveries our firm has obtained in cases involving fractures and orthopedic trauma:

• $500,000 (policy limits) – Motorcycle collision when a vehicle turned left in front of our client, who was ejected and suffered a fractured ankle requiring surgical internal fixation.
• $500,000 (full policy limits) – Auto-versus-bicycle collision on Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles; our client sustained a hip fracture requiring surgery.
• $385,000 – Motorcycle accident in Los Angeles in which our client suffered a torn knee ligament after a driver turned left in front of the rider.
• $250,000 (full policy limits) – T-bone car accident in San Diego caused by a negligent entry onto the roadway, resulting in a leg fracture.
• $100,000 (homeowner’s policy limit) – Trip and fall on a raised concrete slab in a residential driveway requiring surgical repair of a broken wrist.

See our full case results for additional verdicts and settlements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Speak With a Los Angeles Orthopedic Injury Lawyer

If you or a loved one suffered a fracture or other orthopedic injury because of someone else’s negligence, our firm can help you understand your rights and pursue the full value of your claim. With more than three decades of experience and a record of substantial recoveries, attorney Steven M. Sweat and our team handle the insurance company so you can focus on healing. Call 866-966-5240 or request a free consultation. Se habla español. There is no fee unless we win your case.