Finite element models can be used to evaluate thoracic injury mitigation strategies during a motor vehicle collision;​ however, matched structural and material properties for ribs are needed to validate these models. While it is possible to obtain material properties from ribs that have already undergone structural testing, it is unknown to what degree the material properties may be altered. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to quantify the tensile material properties of previously fractured ribs and compare them to the material properties of unloaded ribs from the same individuals. The sixth rib from 18 subjects underwent a whole rib bending test, resulting in fracture. Cortical bone from both the fractured and contralateral (control) ribs underwent tension coupon tests to quantify the material properties. Only yield stress and yield strain were significantly different between the fractured and control ribs. Consequently, it may be possible to estimate the pre‐failure modulus, failure strain, failure stress, and strain energy density of the cortical bone from a rib after a structural test. However, due to the limited sample size and variance within an individual, additional testing is needed to more thoroughly evaluate how injurious loading affects material properties along the length of a rib.