How Does This Happen?

Ok, my leg brace broke.. for the 3rd time since mid-April... um, not good and not normal! I didn't do anything to it, didn't do anything out of the ordinary either.

The last 2 times something broke, it was just a screw/nail that broke off, this time the metal rod that goes down the side broke in half along with a screw/nail on the other side! I was walking at the time, and thank goodness I was at home. Had I been out I am not sure what I would've done. I am getting it fixed tomorrow, I think it's time they made a brand new one as this one seems to be jinxed.