A broken jaw is far more than a painful injury. Jaw fractures can interfere with speaking, eating, breathing, and even basic daily activities. Many victims require emergency surgery, their jaws wired shut, or reconstructive procedures involving plates and screws. Recovery often takes months, and some individuals are left with permanent pain, nerve damage, or facial disfigurement.
At Flynn Law, our experienced jaw fracture lawyers represent injury victims throughout New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and New York who have suffered serious facial and jaw injuries because of another party’s negligence. Whether your injury occurred in a motor vehicle accident, workplace accident, slip and fall, assault, or another preventable incident, our legal team is committed to helping you recover the compensation you deserve.
Flynn Law proudly represents clients throughout Philadelphia, Camden, Wilmington, Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, The Bronx, and Staten Island, providing aggressive legal representation in catastrophic injury cases.
What Is a Jaw Fracture?
A jaw fracture, also known as a mandibular or maxillary fracture depending on the location, occurs when one or more bones of the jaw are broken due to significant trauma. Because the jaw plays a critical role in eating, speaking, breathing, and facial alignment, these injuries often require immediate medical attention.
Some fractures are relatively stable, while others involve multiple breaks, displaced bone fragments, or damage to nearby teeth, nerves, and facial structures. Severe jaw fractures frequently require surgical repair using titanium plates, screws, or wiring to stabilize the bones during healing.
Our jaw fracture lawyers understand the significant physical, emotional, and financial impact these injuries can have on victims and their families.
Common Causes of Jaw Fractures
Jaw fractures typically result from high-impact accidents involving significant force.
Common causes include:
- Car accidents
- Truck accidents
- Motorcycle crashes
- Pedestrian accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Slip and fall accidents
- Construction accidents
- Workplace accidents
- Falling objects
- Sports injuries
- Physical assaults
- Defective property conditions
- Nursing home falls
- Defective products
Many of these injuries occur because another individual or business failed to exercise reasonable care.
Symptoms of a Broken Jaw
Symptoms vary depending on the location and severity of the fracture.
Common symptoms include:
- Severe jaw pain
- Swelling
- Bruising
- Difficulty chewing
- Difficulty speaking
- Difficulty swallowing
- Loose or broken teeth
- Misaligned bite
- Limited jaw movement
- Numbness of the chin or lips
- Bleeding inside the mouth
- Facial deformity
- Ear pain
- Headaches
Anyone experiencing these symptoms after an accident should seek immediate medical attention.
Long-Term Complications
Even after successful treatment, many jaw fracture victims experience lasting complications.
Potential long-term effects include:
- Chronic jaw pain
- Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders
- Difficulty chewing
- Permanent bite misalignment
- Nerve damage
- Facial numbness
- Speech difficulties
- Dental injuries
- Facial asymmetry
- Arthritis of the jaw joint
- Emotional distress
- Permanent facial disfigurement
Some individuals require additional surgeries months or years after the initial injury.
Jaw Fractures Following Motor Vehicle Accidents
Motor vehicle collisions remain one of the leading causes of severe jaw fractures.
These injuries frequently occur during:
- Rear-end collisions
- Head-on crashes
- Side-impact accidents
- Rollover accidents
- Commercial truck accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
Even when airbags deploy properly, the tremendous forces involved in serious collisions can fracture the jaw and surrounding facial bones.
Flynn Law represents injured motorists throughout New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and New York who have suffered serious facial injuries because of negligent drivers.
Workplace Jaw Injuries
Employees working in construction, manufacturing, transportation, warehousing, and industrial environments face elevated risks of facial trauma.
Common workplace causes include:
- Falling tools
- Falling construction materials
- Forklift accidents
- Machinery accidents
- Equipment failures
- Scaffold collapses
- Struck-by accidents
Workers’ compensation benefits may cover medical treatment and wage replacement. In many situations, injured workers may also pursue third-party claims against negligent contractors, manufacturers, or property owners.
Medical Malpractice
Medical negligence may also contribute to jaw injuries or worsen existing fractures.
Examples include:
- Failure to diagnose jaw fractures
- Delayed treatment
- Surgical errors
- Improper fracture stabilization
- Dental negligence
- Nerve injuries during surgery
- Anesthesia complications
- Post-operative infections
When healthcare providers fail to provide appropriate care, Flynn Law investigates potential medical malpractice claims to help clients recover full compensation.
Compensation Available
Jaw fractures frequently require expensive medical care and prolonged rehabilitation.
Depending upon the circumstances, compensation may include:
- Emergency medical treatment
- Hospital expenses
- Oral surgery
- Reconstructive surgery
- Dental treatment
- Orthodontic care
- Rehabilitation
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Permanent disfigurement
- Loss of enjoyment of life
Flynn Law works closely with oral surgeons, dentists, neurologists, economists, and vocational experts to fully evaluate the lifetime impact of these injuries.
Why Choose Flynn Law?
Jaw fracture cases often involve far more than broken bones. Victims may suffer permanent pain, dental complications, nerve damage, facial scarring, and emotional trauma that significantly affects their quality of life.
Insurance companies often focus only on emergency medical expenses while minimizing future surgeries, ongoing dental treatment, and permanent impairments.
Flynn Law works with:
- Oral and maxillofacial surgeons
- Plastic surgeons
- Dentists
- Neurologists
- Rehabilitation specialists
- Vocational experts
- Economists
Our comprehensive approach helps maximize compensation for every client.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will I need surgery for a broken jaw?
Many jaw fractures require surgery, especially when the bones are displaced, multiple fractures are present, or the bite has become misaligned.
How long does a jaw fracture take to heal?
Most fractures require several weeks to heal, but recovery may take several months when surgery, rehabilitation, or additional procedures are necessary.
Can a broken jaw cause permanent nerve damage?
Yes. Damage to facial nerves may result in chronic numbness, tingling, weakness, or pain affecting the lips, chin, teeth, or jaw.
How long do I have to file a claim?
The time limits for filing personal injury claims vary throughout New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and New York. Speaking with an experienced attorney promptly helps preserve important evidence and protect your legal rights.
Contact Flynn Law’s Jaw Fracture Lawyers
A jaw fracture can affect your ability to eat, speak, work, and enjoy everyday life. If you or someone you love suffered a broken jaw because of another person’s negligence, Flynn Law is prepared to help you pursue the compensation you deserve.
Our jaw 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 move forward after a serious jaw injury.