Kibbey Wagner Injury & Car Accident Lawyers | December 18, 2025 | Personal Injury
The tailbone, also known as the coccyx, is a small triangular bone located at the base of the spine. It’s made up of anywhere from three to five fused vertebrae, and it assists you in keeping your balance and supporting your weight when you’re sitting, standing, and moving.
Like any other bone in the body, it can break as a result of trauma, such as in a car accident or a slip and fall. If you’ve been in any type of traumatic accident and suspect that you’ve suffered a broken tailbone, it’s vital that you get immediate medical assistance.
Learn more about the symptoms you might experience and whether you can file a personal injury claim to recover your losses.
Recognizing the Signs of a Broken Tailbone
One of the most challenging aspects of identifying a broken tailbone is that this condition often shares many of the same symptoms as a bruised tailbone.
A fractured tailbone can present with:
- Constant pain in the lower back, just above the buttocks
- Swelling in the area
- Numbness or tingling in the legs
- Pain that worsens when sitting or standing from a sitting position
- Pain that worsens during sex
- Pain that worsens during bowel movements
- Irregular bowel movements
If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms after a fall or other accident, it is crucial that you seek medical attention as soon as possible. An accurate diagnosis will clarify the best treatment options for your specific injury and create a record of the injury that could be helpful in any future injury claims you may file.
Broken Tailbone Treatments
Treating a broken tailbone comes with certain challenges. Because of the bone’s location, you can’t place it in a cast, and you can’t fully keep weight off of it, meaning it will likely take longer to heal.
You might need to use special cushions that help you to sit without putting pressure on the fractured bone. Hot and cold packs can also be helpful, along with medications to ease the pain and inflammation. If your pain is particularly severe, your doctor might recommend steroids or nerve blocks.
A broken tailbone can take anywhere from several weeks to several months to heal, significantly impacting your daily life in the meantime.
Filing a Personal Injury Claim After a Tailbone Fracture
If another party’s negligent or wrongful conduct caused you to break your tailbone, one of the options you may have is to file a personal injury claim. For your claim to succeed, you’ll typically need to demonstrate the four elements of negligence.
For example, drivers have a duty of care toward other road users to operate their vehicles safely and in accordance with the law. If you suffered a tailbone fracture because a driver ran a red light and hit you, you could be entitled to compensation for your medical bills and other expenses.
You stand to receive both economic and non-economic damages as part of your claim. Economic damages can cover losses like medical costs and income lost during recovery. Non-economic damages are intended to compensate for less tangible losses, like pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, loss of consortium, and other non-financial impacts.
Contact Our Stuart Personal Injury Lawyers at Kibbey Wagner Injury & Car Accident Lawyers for a Free Consultation
To give your claim the best possible chance of succeeding, it’s essential to work with a qualified attorney. The right lawyer will be able to investigate your accident, gather pertinent evidence, and calculate the damages to which you’re entitled.
You should never pursue a case like this alone, as you risk walking away with a smaller settlement than you deserve. Call Kibbey Wagner Injury & Car Accident Lawyers to schedule a free consultation with our Stuart personal injury lawyers about your case.
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