Bone fractures are common with auto accident victims. As an auto accident victim, the cost of your treatment is one of the things that determine your overall damages. Since different fractures call for different treatments, the fractures attract different compensations too. Here are some of the factors that determine fracture treatment, and hence compensation.

Type of Fracture

Fractures are different. In some cases, you may be lucky enough to walk away from an auto accident with hairline fractures while, in other cases, your bones may split and actually separate. The latter example requires more extensive treatment and extended healing times. In some cases, you may even require surgical intervention for proper healing. The defendant should compensate you for your entire medical damages as long as the treatments you get are necessary.

Location of Fracture

Bones that get adequate blood supply heal faster than those with limited blood supply. Blood supply matters because the blood nourishes the injury site with oxygen and nutrients and also carts away the waste, thus encouraging healing. The small wrist bone, for example, doesn't get adequate blood supply and typically takes a long time to heal. Thus, the defendant should compensate you for the actual healing time and not the average healing time that fractures take.

Age of Victim

Children generally heal faster than adults, and this includes the healing rate of fractures. A child's bones are still growing, which allows them to fuse and overcome injuries faster than adult bones that have stopped growing. Also, an adult is more likely than a child to have health conditions that complicate the healing process. Thus, you may be entitled to a high compensation for your bone fractures than a child would get under the same circumstances.

Overall Health

Your overall health also determines your rate of healing. Some health conditions, for example, complicate your bone's ability to fuse. Osteoporosis, for example, is a health condition that is characterized by weak and porous bones. If you have osteoporosis, your fracture might take longer than usual to heal because your bones don't have adequate minerals to help them fuse.

However, that shouldn't concern you when it comes to compensation. According to the eggshell skull doctrine, the defendant should compensate your damages irrespective of any pre-existing conditions that might have worsened your injuries.

Note that treatment is just one among several factors that determine auto accident damages. Consult an auto accident attorney to help you figure out the overall worth of your case.