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Joliet Broken Bones Injury Lawyer

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This page was written, edited, and reviewed for accuracy in accordance with Conboy Law’s editorial guidelines. Joseph M. Conboy, Founding Attorney of Conboy Law, reviews our legal content to help ensure it reflects current Illinois law and provides clear, useful information for injured individuals and their families. The Last Updated date shows when this page was most recently reviewed.

A fracture can disrupt nearly every part of daily life, from driving and working to sleeping, walking, and caring for your family. In more serious cases, treatment may involve surgery, implanted hardware, or months of rehabilitation.

If someone else’s negligence caused your injury, you need a local claim focused on what happened in Joliet, who was responsible, and how the fracture has affected your life.

Conboy Law represents injured people throughout Joliet and Illinois. Call 312-726-9000 for a free consultation.

How Conboy Law Can Help After a Broken Bones Injury in Joliet

A fracture may appear straightforward on an X-ray, but the legal claim can involve much more than proving that a bone broke.

The insurer may dispute whether surgery was necessary, how long you should have been unable to work, whether future treatment is related to the accident, or whether you will actually experience permanent limitations.

Conboy Law can develop evidence addressing each part of the claim.

Our team may:

  • Investigate how the accident happened
  • Preserve photographs, video, and witness statements
  • Obtain X-rays, CT scans, MRIs, and orthopedic records
  • Document surgeries and implanted hardware
  • Review work restrictions and lost income
  • Evaluate future treatment recommendations
  • Identify every potentially responsible party
  • Locate applicable insurance policies
  • Negotiate with insurers
  • Prepare the claim for trial when necessary

Conboy Law reports a $2.6 million recovery in a motor vehicle case involving fractured ribs and a clavicle among other serious injuries, an $800,000 premises-liability settlement involving a broken clavicle and humerus, and a $250,000 automobile settlement involving a compression fracture.

How Common Are Broken Bone Injuries in Joliet, IL?

There is no official database that counts every fracture occurring within Joliet, so it would be misleading to give a citywide broken-bone total. However, accidents capable of causing fractures occur regularly throughout the area.

According to IDOT data cited from its 2024 crash statistics, Will County recorded 13,570 motor vehicle crashes in 2024, including 2,972 injury crashes and 56 fatal crashes.

Joliet itself also continues to experience serious traffic collisions. Data obtained from the Joliet Police Department showed 14 traffic deaths in the city in 2024.

Traffic crashes are only one source of fractures. Falls, construction accidents, unsafe properties, motorcycle crashes, pedestrian collisions, and defective products can also cause serious bone injuries.

What Is My Joliet Broken Bones Injury Case Worth?

There is no average amount that accurately predicts the value of a fracture claim. Case value depends on how seriously the broken bone affects your health, income, mobility, and future.

Important factors include:

  • The location of the fracture
  • Whether the bone was displaced
  • Whether multiple bones were broken
  • Whether surgery was required
  • Whether plates, screws, rods, or pins were implanted
  • Length of hospitalization
  • Rehabilitation requirements
  • Time missed from work
  • Permanent loss of motion
  • Scarring
  • Future treatment
  • Strength of the evidence
  • Your percentage of fault
  • Available insurance coverage

A fracture requiring a cast and several weeks of recovery is very different from a shattered joint requiring multiple operations and leaving permanent limitations.

Why Surgery and Hardware Can Affect a Broken Bone Claim

Some fractures cannot heal properly with a cast or brace alone. Orthopedic surgeons may use open reduction and internal fixation, placing plates, screws, rods, or other hardware to restore and stabilize the bone.

That can increase the medical and financial impact of an injury because the person may face:

  • Surgery and hospitalization
  • Surgical scars
  • Longer rehabilitation
  • Work restrictions
  • Reduced range of motion
  • Hardware irritation
  • Additional medical monitoring
  • Possible future procedures

The legal claim should document these consequences rather than simply listing “broken bone” as the injury.

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What Types of Damages Are Available to Broken Bones Injury Victims?

Illinois permits injured people to seek compensation for both financial and non-financial losses when another party is legally responsible.

Economic damages may include:

  • Ambulance care
  • Emergency treatment
  • Hospital bills
  • Orthopedic care
  • Surgery
  • Physical therapy
  • Prescription medications
  • Medical equipment
  • Future treatment
  • Lost income
  • Reduced earning capacity

Non-economic damages may address losses such as pain and suffering, disability, disfigurement, loss of consortium, and loss of society. The amount available depends on the evidence in the individual case.

Can I Recover Damages If I’m Being Blamed for a Broken Bones Injury in Illinois?

Yes, depending on your percentage of fault. Illinois uses modified comparative negligence.

If you are 50% or less responsible, you may still recover damages, but your compensation is reduced according to your share of fault.

If you are more than 50% responsible, you are generally barred from recovering.

Suppose your damages total $150,000, and you are found 10% responsible. Your recovery could be reduced to $135,000.

Insurers may try to place more responsibility on you, so evidence showing how the accident occurred can directly affect the amount you recover.

We’ll Fight to Recover Compensation for All of Your Broken Bone Injuries

Fractures can affect almost any part of the body.

Cases may involve:

  • Skull fractures
  • Facial fractures
  • Broken collarbones
  • Shoulder fractures
  • Arm fractures
  • Broken wrists
  • Hand and finger fractures
  • Rib fractures
  • Vertebral fractures
  • Pelvic fractures
  • Hip fractures
  • Femur fractures
  • Knee fractures
  • Broken legs
  • Ankle fractures
  • Foot fractures

Some people suffer several fractures in the same accident.

Multiple fractures can make mobility, personal care, work, and rehabilitation considerably more difficult and should be documented accordingly.

What Complications Can Follow a Serious Fracture?

The consequences of a broken bone do not always end when the bone initially heals. Depending on the injury, complications can include:

Reduced Range of Motion

Fractures involving joints may leave stiffness or difficulty moving normally even after rehabilitation.

Nerve or Blood Vessel Damage

A fracture or displaced bone fragment can injure nearby nerves or blood vessels, creating additional symptoms and treatment needs.

Infection

Open fractures and surgical treatment can create infection risks that may require further medical care.

Post-Traumatic Arthritis

Damage to a joint surface can contribute to arthritis and longer-term pain or stiffness.

Delayed or Improper Healing

Some fractures heal slowly or fail to heal correctly, potentially requiring additional intervention. These complications can significantly affect the medical expenses and long-term value of a claim.

What Causes Most Broken Bone Injuries in Joliet, IL?

A fracture claim can arise from many types of negligence.

Common causes include:

  • Car accidents
  • Commercial truck collisions
  • Motorcycle crashes
  • Bicycle accidents
  • Pedestrian accidents
  • Slip and fall accidents
  • Unsafe stairs or walkways
  • Construction accidents
  • Workplace incidents involving third parties
  • Defective products
  • Dog attacks

Joliet's location near major transportation corridors also means residents share the road with significant commercial traffic. The broader Joliet area includes the I-55/I-80 freight corridor and major intermodal operations, contributing to heavy truck traffic throughout the region.

The type of accident determines which parties and insurance policies should be investigated.

Who Could Be Liable for My Fracture?

Liability depends on how the injury occurred.

Potential defendants can include:

  • Negligent motorists
  • Commercial drivers
  • Trucking companies
  • Employers
  • Property owners
  • Retail businesses
  • Landlords
  • Contractors
  • Equipment manufacturers
  • Product manufacturers

Some accidents involve multiple responsible parties.

For example, after a commercial truck crash, the investigation may involve the driver, employer, maintenance contractors, vehicle owner, or another company involved in the operation.

Finding all available sources of compensation can be especially important when a fracture causes surgery or permanent disability.

What Evidence Can Strengthen a Broken Bone Claim?

A fracture shown on an X-ray is important evidence, but it does not prove every part of the case.

Useful evidence can include:

  • Accident photographs
  • Surveillance or dashcam footage
  • Police or incident reports
  • Witness statements
  • X-rays and other imaging
  • Orthopedic records
  • Operative reports
  • Physical therapy records
  • Photos of scars
  • Work restrictions
  • Wage statements
  • Future treatment recommendations

Keeping records of how the injury affects ordinary activities can also help explain limitations that do not appear on an X-ray.

How Do I Prove Negligence After a Broken Bones Injury in Illinois?

A typical negligence claim requires evidence showing:

  1. The defendant owed you a duty of care.
  2. The defendant breached that duty.
  3. The breach caused the accident.
  4. The accident caused your fracture.
  5. You suffered compensable damages.

The exact proof depends on the accident.

A car accident may require crash evidence and witness statements. A premises-liability case may depend on surveillance footage, inspection records, or proof that a business knew about a dangerous condition.

Medical evidence then connects the accident to the fracture and documents its consequences.

What Should I Avoid Doing After a Serious Fracture?

Several mistakes can make an injury claim harder to evaluate.

Try to avoid:

  • Ignoring follow-up medical care
  • Throwing away accident evidence
  • Posting physical activities on social media without context
  • Signing broad insurance authorizations without understanding them
  • Accepting an early settlement before future treatment is reasonably understood

You should also tell your lawyer if your doctor recommends surgery, additional imaging, or long-term restrictions because those developments can substantially affect the claim.

How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit After a Broken Bones Injury in Illinois?

Illinois generally requires personal injury actions to be filed within two years after the cause of action accrues. Different or shorter deadlines may apply in certain circumstances, particularly when government entities, medical malpractice, minors, or other special legal rules are involved. The evidence deadline can be much shorter in practice.

Surveillance footage may be overwritten, accident scenes may change, vehicles may be repaired, and witnesses may forget details. Getting the claim investigated early can help preserve evidence long before the statutory filing deadline approaches.

Get Justice for Your Case

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Contact a Joliet Broken Bones Injury Lawyer for a Free Consultation

A serious fracture can affect far more than the bone itself. Surgery, missed work, rehabilitation, and permanent physical limitations can continue long after the accident.

Conboy Law can investigate who caused your injury, document your medical and financial losses, and pursue the compensation available under Illinois law. Call Conboy Law at 312-726-9000 for a free consultation with a Joliet broken bones injury lawyer.


Written and Edited by:
Joseph Conboy
Founding Attorney of Conboy Law | (312) 726-9000

Joseph M. Conboy is the founding attorney of Conboy Law and represents victims and families in serious personal injury, medical malpractice, and wrongful death cases throughout Illinois. He has obtained numerous multi-million-dollar results and has been recognized by Super Lawyers as a Rising Star. As the firm’s primary litigator, he works closely with clients to build strategies tailored to the facts of each case.

primary Office Address:
53 W Jackson Blvd Suite 1152, Chicago, IL 60604

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