Skip to content

Hip and pelvis fractures

Michael Agruss

Written and Reviewed by Michael Agruss

  • Managing Partner and Personal Injury Lawyer at Mike Agruss Law.
  • Over 20 years of experience in Personal Injury.
  • Over 8000+ consumer rights cases settled.
  • Graduated from the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law: Juris Doctor, 2004.


Hip and pelvis fractures are usually the result of a high-energy trauma directed towards the midsection. Those older than the age of 60 are more likely to sustain these injuries, and they can be debilitating to live with. In any case, you can recover the costs for your damages with an insurance claim if someone else caused your injury. If you or a loved one has fractured your hip or pelvis from an accident, contact Mike Agruss Law for a free consultation so we can help you recover from this experience and get fairly compensated.

Hip and pelvic fractures occur in the same area but have some distinctions. A pelvic fracture is a break in one of the pelvic bones: the sacrum, the coccyx (tailbone), and the hip bones. A hip fracture is a break in the femur in two common locations: the femoral neck which is the upper femur close to the hip joint, or the intertrochanteric region which is still high on the femur but further from the hip joint. These fractures cause similar symptoms such as pain when attempting to walk, swelling, bruising, and redness in the area. Most of the time, this injury is caused by a harsh fall, a crushing accident, or a motor vehicle collision. People over 65 who experience osteoporosis are even more likely to fracture this area due to the brittle nature of their bones.

These fractures can be either displaced or non-displaced. A displaced fracture occurs when the bone is separated into two or more pieces that may shift from their original, normal position. A non-displaced fracture is when the bone does not separate, but more commonly cracks in some way. These fractures are diagnosed with a physical examination, X-ray, and perhaps a CT or MRI scan also. There are several primary types of these fractures that a person may experience:

  • Greenstick fracture – This occurs when the bone is not completely separated, but rather cracked.
  • Transverse fracture – This fracture consists of a single break in the form of a line that runs perpendicular to the bone. There may be displacement.
  • Oblique fracture – This occurs when there is a diagonal and complete (the bone is in two pieces) break across the bone.
  • Comminuted fracture – This occurs when a force is strong enough to shatter the bone into three or more pieces.

Overall, the most common type of hip fracture is a femoral neck fracture. This is when the femoral neck, the area of the femur closest to the ball-and-socket hip joint, breaks or cracks in some way. The most common type of pelvic fracture is a lateral compression injury. This occurs when a direct force hits the side of the body, leading to a compression of the sacroiliac joint and rotation of the corresponding side of the hip bone.

Most commonly, a hip or pelvic fracture is treated with crutches, a walker, and/or physical therapy. Your doctor will prescribe you the proper treatment to follow while you are healing. Treatment depends on the location, severity, and type of fracture that occurred. Sometimes, a minor fracture can be treated with rest and painkillers. Other times, a more severe fracture may require surgery. This surgery may consist of stabilizing the bone in its original place, reassembling any shattered bone fragments, or even a hip replacement surgery. These injuries generally take about two to three months to heal. This is why it is imperative that you seek treatment immediately following an accident. Especially if you are wondering whether or not to pursue a claim against the party that caused your injury, you should get checked as soon as possible as proof of your injuries.

If you do not get treated right away or leave the fracture untreated, there are countless dangerous outcomes that could result. Your bones could be left to heal on their own, which is very unwise as they could heal to an abnormal arrangement and cause even more pain and complications. If you are not getting the proper nutrition with a healthy diet during the healing process, your bones may be too weak to heal on their own. Other possibilities include nerve damage, tissue damage, and even deep vein thrombosis which is when a blood clot (from the impact of the accident) forms inside your body and could result in a pulmonary embolism.

If another person caused your injuries, you can file a claim against them for monetary damages. Medical care for a bone fracture is not cheap, and it certainly is not cheap when it involves surgery or potential complications that you may have had to deal with. With our help, we can help you recover the costs of your medical bills, lost wages, and other damages that resulted from another person’s actions.

Helping our clients is about counseling, advocating, and ultimately solving problems. With years of experience successfully representing the people, not the powerful, we will take care of the insurance adjusters, your medical bills, your property damage, and your lost wages, and monitor your treatment so you can focus on healing and getting your life back to normal. Our unique formula has earned us over 1,000 outstanding client reviews on our website, an A+ BBB rating, and over 135 five-star reviews on Google. Call 888-572-0176, e-mail us at [email protected], or schedule a meeting with us here. We’re here 24/7.

Submitted Comments

No Comments submitted yet. Sharing your story will help others!

We are listening

We will respond to you at lightning speed. All of your information will be kept confidential.

Form successfully submitted!