A hip fracture is one of the most serious orthopedic injuries a person can suffer. These injuries often require emergency surgery, prolonged hospitalization, months of rehabilitation, and extensive physical therapy. For older adults, a broken hip can permanently affect mobility and independence, while younger victims may face chronic pain, reduced earning capacity, and lifelong physical limitations. Regardless of age, a hip fracture can dramatically alter every aspect of a person’s life.
At Flynn Law, our experienced hip fracture lawyers represent injury victims throughout New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and New York who have suffered broken hips because of another person’s negligence. Whether your injury resulted from a motor vehicle accident, slip and fall, workplace accident, nursing home negligence, or another preventable event, our legal team is committed to helping you pursue the compensation you deserve.
Flynn Law proudly represents clients throughout Philadelphia, Camden, Wilmington, Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, The Bronx, and Staten Island, providing skilled representation in catastrophic injury and workers’ compensation cases.
What Is a Hip Fracture?
A hip fracture is a break involving the upper portion of the femur where it joins the pelvis at the hip joint. Because the hip supports the body’s weight during standing and walking, fractures often leave victims unable to bear weight on the injured leg.
Depending on the location and severity of the break, treatment may require surgical repair with screws, rods, or plates, or even a partial or total hip replacement.
Our hip fracture lawyers understand that these injuries often result in significant medical expenses, lengthy recovery periods, and permanent physical limitations.
Common Causes of Hip Fractures
Hip fractures frequently result from traumatic accidents involving significant force.
Common causes include:
- Car accidents
- Commercial truck accidents
- Motorcycle crashes
- Pedestrian accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Slip and fall accidents
- Construction accidents
- Workplace accidents
- Falls from heights
- Nursing home falls
- Defective property conditions
- Heavy equipment accidents
While older adults often sustain hip fractures during falls, younger individuals commonly suffer these injuries in high-impact collisions.
Symptoms of a Hip Fracture
Most victims experience immediate symptoms following the injury.
Common signs include:
- Severe hip pain
- Groin pain
- Inability to stand
- Difficulty walking
- Inability to bear weight
- Swelling
- Bruising
- Leg appearing shorter
- Outward rotation of the injured leg
- Limited range of motion
- Pain radiating into the thigh or knee
Prompt medical evaluation is critical because delaying treatment can increase the risk of complications.
Types of Hip Fractures
Hip fractures are generally classified based on the location of the break.
Common types include:
- Femoral neck fractures
- Intertrochanteric fractures
- Subtrochanteric fractures
- Displaced fractures
- Non-displaced fractures
- Open fractures
- Stress fractures
Each type presents unique treatment challenges and recovery timelines.
Serious Complications
Hip fractures may lead to numerous complications, particularly in older adults.
Potential complications include:
- Blood clots
- Infection
- Avascular necrosis
- Arthritis
- Chronic pain
- Reduced mobility
- Leg length differences
- Hardware failure
- Permanent disability
- Loss of independence
Many individuals require assistive devices or long-term rehabilitation before regaining mobility.
Hip Fractures Following Motor Vehicle Accidents
Motor vehicle accidents are among the leading causes of traumatic hip fractures.
Victims frequently sustain hip injuries during:
- Head-on collisions
- Side-impact crashes
- Commercial truck accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Rollover collisions
The tremendous forces involved in these crashes can fracture the hip while also causing spinal injuries, pelvic fractures, traumatic brain injuries, and internal organ damage.
Flynn Law aggressively pursues compensation for injured motorists throughout New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and New York.
Slip and Fall Accidents
Slip and fall accidents frequently cause hip fractures, especially among older adults.
These accidents may result from:
- Wet floors
- Uneven sidewalks
- Broken stairs
- Inadequate lighting
- Snow and ice
- Unsafe parking lots
- Poor property maintenance
Property owners have a legal responsibility to maintain reasonably safe premises for visitors. When they fail to do so, they may be held financially responsible for resulting injuries.
Workplace Hip Injuries
Construction workers, warehouse employees, delivery drivers, healthcare workers, and manufacturing employees face increased risks of hip fractures.
Common workplace accidents include:
- Falls from ladders
- Scaffold collapses
- Forklift accidents
- Falling materials
- Machinery accidents
- Crush injuries
Workers’ compensation benefits may provide medical care and wage replacement. In many cases, third-party personal injury claims may also exist against negligent contractors, equipment manufacturers, or property owners.
Medical Treatment
Treatment depends on the type and severity of the fracture.
Medical care may include:
- Emergency stabilization
- X-rays and CT scans
- Open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF)
- Partial hip replacement
- Total hip replacement
- Pain management
- Physical therapy
- Occupational therapy
- Rehabilitation
Many victims require several months of therapy before returning to work or normal daily activities.
Compensation Available
Victims of hip fractures often face substantial financial losses.
Compensation may include:
- Emergency medical treatment
- Hospital expenses
- Surgical costs
- Rehabilitation
- Physical therapy
- Prescription medications
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Permanent disability
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Future medical care
Flynn Law works closely with orthopedic surgeons, rehabilitation specialists, economists, life-care planners, and vocational experts to calculate the full value of every claim.
Why Choose Flynn Law?
Hip fracture cases often involve lifelong consequences that insurance companies attempt to minimize.
Our attorneys understand how chronic pain, reduced mobility, permanent work restrictions, and future medical needs can dramatically increase the value of a claim.
Flynn Law works with:
- Orthopedic trauma surgeons
- Rehabilitation physicians
- Physical therapists
- Life-care planners
- Vocational experts
- Economists
- Accident reconstruction specialists
Our goal is to obtain the maximum compensation available while helping clients focus on their recovery.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will I need surgery for a hip fracture?
Most hip fractures require surgery, although the specific procedure depends upon the location and severity of the injury.
How long does recovery take?
Recovery varies considerably. Some individuals recover within several months, while others require a year or longer of rehabilitation.
Can a hip fracture cause permanent disability?
Yes. Many victims experience chronic pain, arthritis, reduced mobility, or permanent work restrictions following a serious hip fracture.
How long do I have to file a claim?
Filing deadlines vary under the laws of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and New York. Consulting an experienced attorney promptly helps preserve evidence and protect your legal rights.
Contact Flynn Law’s Hip Fracture Lawyers
A hip fracture can affect your health, career, independence, and quality of life for years to come. If you or someone you love suffered a broken hip because of another person’s negligence, Flynn Law is prepared to help.
Our hip fracture lawyers proudly represent clients throughout New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and New York, including Philadelphia, Camden, Wilmington, Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, The Bronx, and Staten Island. Contact Flynn Law today for a free consultation and learn how our experienced legal team can help you pursue the compensation you deserve after a serious hip injury.