Pelvic injuries are among the most serious types of trauma you can experience in an accident. The pelvis is a major structural component of the body, and when it’s damaged, the impact goes beyond physical pain. You’re also dealing with mounting medical bills, time away from work, and a long-term recovery. Depending on the severity of the injury, you may also be looking at weeks of immobility and attendant care.
When you fracture your pelvis because someone else was careless or negligent, Georgia law allows you to pursue compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more. In this guide, we’ll outline how you can pursue a claim after a pelvic injury, the costs that may be involved, and what you can expect when working with a personal injury lawyer.
When Do You Have a Pelvis Injury Claim?
To have a valid personal injury claim for a pelvic fracture, another party must be legally responsible for the accident. In legal terms, this means proving:
- The other party had duty of care to you.
- They failed to meet that obligation.
- That failure directly led to your injury.
- You suffered financial or physical harm as a result.
For example, if a distracted driver ran a red light and T-boned your car, leading to a fractured pelvis, that driver may be held liable. The same principle applies if a property owner failed to fix a known hazard, resulting in a serious fall. A Georgia pelvic injury lawyer can review your case and determine whether you have a claim for financial compensation. If you do, they can send a demand letter to the appropriate insurance company and start negotiating a fair settlement.
Cost of Treating a Pelvic Injury
Medical care for a pelvic ring injury can be expensive. If complicated surgery is required, hospital bills can easily climb into the tens of thousands of dollars. For example, open reduction and internal fixation surgery for a fractured pelvis may cost between $30,000 and $50,000 without insurance. That doesn’t include ambulance transportation, imaging scans, follow-up visits, ongoing pain management, or physical therapy.
Recovery can also take a toll on employment. Many injured victims miss weeks or even months of work. Depending on your job, returning to full duty may not be possible right away. Some people face permanent limitations that force a career change or early retirement. These financial challenges make it even more important to pursue compensation when someone else caused the injury.
What Compensation Covers in a Pelvis Injury Claim
When you’re seeking financial compensation for a pelvic fracture, you need to demonstrate what you’ve lost and how the accident caused those damages. Below is a list of the most common types of compensation sought in similar personal injury claims.
Medical Bills
This category includes more than just the initial trip to the emergency room. A serious pelvic injury can result in:
- Surgery (which may involve metal hardware or bone grafts)
- Overnight or extended hospital stays
- Diagnostic imaging like CT scans or MRIs
- Pain medications
- Follow-up medical care with specialists
- Physical or occupational therapy
- Medical devices such as walkers, canes, or braces
Even with insurance, the out-of-pocket portion of these costs adds up fast. Your legal claim can seek full repayment for past, current, and projected future medical care related to your injury.
Lost Income
If a pelvic fracture keeps you out of work, that’s income you’re missing and, in many cases, it’s substantial. You can pursue compensation for:
- Missed paychecks during your recovery
- Lost bonuses, commissions, or benefits
- Sick or vacation days you had to use because of the injury
In more serious cases, pelvic trauma can permanently limit your ability to perform certain tasks. For example, if your job involves physical labor and you’re no longer able to lift or stand for long periods, your earning capacity may be reduced. A personal injury lawyer can help you factor in projected financial losses, including the cost of retraining or switching careers. If you suffer a permanent disability, your claim value can be even higher.
Pain and Suffering
This category addresses the physical and emotional impact of your injury. Common examples include:
- Intense pain or discomfort
- Emotional trauma
- Loss of mobility or independence
- Sleep disruption
- Anxiety, depression, or PTSD symptoms
- Struggles with basic tasks like bathing, driving, or walking
- Loss of enjoyment of life
Pain and suffering damages aren’t calculated with a formula. They’re based on how deeply the injury has affected your life. The more severe and long-lasting the trauma, the stronger the claim for this type of compensation.
Out-of-Pocket Costs
Pelvic injuries often come with a wide range of secondary expenses that can be added to your claim if they’re tied to your recovery. Examples include:
- Travel to and from medical treatment appointments
- Parking or transportation fees for hospital visits
- Home modifications like stair lifts or grab bars
- Childcare or eldercare needed while you’re recovering
- Rental equipment such as wheelchairs or shower benches
Even small expenses count if they’re documented and tied to the injury. Keeping receipts and tracking these costs in real time will help ensure you’re not paying out of pocket for someone else’s negligent actions.
Loss of Consortium
This category applies when your injury affects your relationship with your spouse. A pelvis fracture can interfere with physical intimacy, shared responsibilities, emotional connection, and overall quality of the marital relationship. Georgia law allows spouses to file separate claims for these damages, known as loss of consortium.
These claims require careful handling, as they’re often more personal. But when documented appropriately by a personal injury attorney, they highlight how far-reaching an injury’s impact can be.
How Pelvic Injuries Happen in Accidents
Pelvis injuries usually result from sudden, forceful impacts. The pelvis is a strong, stable structure, but when it's exposed to severe trauma, fractured bones and soft tissue damage are common. These severe injuries often result from violent incidents where the body absorbs extreme force or pressure. Below is an overview of the scenarios where these orthopedic injuries most frequently occur.
Motor Vehicle Collisions
Car, truck, and motorcycle crashes are among the top causes of pelvic trauma and internal organ damage. In a car accident, the lower half of the body can be pinned between the dashboard and seat, especially in head-on or side-impact collisions. Seat belts, while life-saving, can also put pressure on the pelvic area in a high-speed crash.
Motorcyclists are especially vulnerable. Because they have little protection, any direct contact with the ground, another vehicle, or a roadside barrier can lead to pelvic fractures. A broken pelvis is even more common in truck accidents, where the force of impact is much greater.
Pedestrian and Bicycle Accidents
When a pedestrian or cyclist is hit by a vehicle, the pelvis is often one of the first points of contact. A bumper striking the hip or side can easily cause a fracture. In many cases, the individual is then thrown to the ground, compounding the damage. Unlike vehicle occupants, pedestrians and cyclists don’t have the protection of a steel frame or safety features, making the injuries more severe.
Falls from Heights
Falls from ladders, scaffolding, rooftops, or other elevated surfaces frequently lead to pelvic injuries. When someone lands on their feet or hips from a significant height, the force travels directly through the legs and into the pelvis. The bones can’t always withstand the compression, especially if the fall is more than a few feet.
This scenario is particularly common in construction and industrial settings, where working at elevation is part of the job. Safety harnesses and fall protection systems are meant to prevent injuries like a broken pelvis, but when protocols are ignored or equipment fails, serious consequences follow.
Workplace Accidents
Beyond falls, the workplace itself can be a source of risk. Heavy equipment, forklifts, or collapsing structures can crush or trap the lower body. Workers in warehouses, loading docks, and construction sites face higher risks of blunt trauma that can lead to pelvic fractures.
Even improper lifting or slips on slick surfaces can cause hard falls that impact the hips and pelvis. If an employer fails to maintain a safe working environment, they may be held liable for the injury.
Premises Liability Incidents
Slip and fall accidents might not sound severe, but when they happen on hard surfaces or stairs, they can easily result in pelvic or hip fractures, especially among older adults. Property owners have a legal responsibility to maintain safe conditions. If wet floors, uneven pavement, poor lighting, or missing handrails contribute to a fall, the owner may be responsible. These injuries often occur in stores, apartment complexes, hotels, or public venues where foot traffic is high and maintenance may be inconsistent.
Common Types of Pelvic Injuries
With pelvic trauma, even moderate injuries can disrupt your daily activities. Because the pelvis forms the foundation for movement, any damage in this area can affect your ability to sit, stand, walk, or lift. Here are the most common types of accident-related pelvic injuries and how they impact a personal injury claim.
Fractures
Pelvic fractures can range from hairline cracks to complex, multi-point breaks. They typically fall into two categories:
- Stable Fractures: The pelvic bones are broken but remain aligned. These injuries often heal with rest and limited mobility but can still involve severe pain and time away from work.
- Unstable Fractures: These injuries involve multiple breaks and misalignment in the pelvic ring. They often require surgical intervention and carry a higher risk of internal bleeding or organ damage.
The severity of a fracture often depends on the force of the impact. For example, a side-impact crash or a fall from height may crush part of the pelvic region or shatter it entirely. Recovery time can range from several weeks to several months, and in some cases, patients may face permanent mobility issues. Medical imaging, surgical records, and testimony from orthopedic specialists all help establish the seriousness of the injury and its long-term effects.
Dislocations
A dislocation happens when one of the joints in the pelvic area is forced out of place. These injuries usually result from high-energy trauma, such as a car crash or a fall. The most commonly affected joint is the sacroiliac joint, where the spine connects to the pelvis.
Dislocations are often accompanied by fractures or soft tissue damage, which complicates treatment. A dislocated pelvis can affect nerve function, cause instability in walking, and require physical therapy after realignment.
Soft Tissue Damage
Not all pelvic injuries involve broken bones. Damage to muscles, tendons, ligaments, or nerves around the pelvic area can cause lasting problems. Examples include:
- Torn ligaments or strained muscles that reduce mobility
- Nerve impingement or damage, which can cause numbness, tingling, or chronic pain in the lower back and legs
- Internal bleeding or hematomas that require monitoring or surgical drainage
Soft tissue injuries can be harder to prove because they don't always appear on X-rays. However, MRIs, clinical notes, and ongoing treatment records can help establish the seriousness of these injuries in a legal claim.
Get a Free Consultation From a Georgia Pelvic Injury Attorney
A pelvic injury can have a long-term impact on your life, but if someone else’s negligence caused it, you can demand fair compensation for your medical costs, loss of income, and more. The key is to work with a personal injury law firm that’s experienced, assertive, and dedicated to your well-being.
At The Champion Firm, our personal injury lawyers fight hard for the full value of your personal injury claim and won’t hesitate to go to court if that’s what it takes. Don’t leave your future to chance: schedule an initial consultation today by calling 404-800-4635.