Knee Injuries After a Car Accident
Most people think of whiplash, traumatic brain injuries, or internal organ damage after a serious car accident. However, one of the more common types of serious injuries that occurs after a car accident is damage to the knee. Victims often hit their knees on the dashboard or other areas of their vehicle during a car crash. If you experienced any kind of knee pain after a car accident, you are not alone. In fact, according to the National Library of Medicine, severe knee injuries following a car accident are a common occurrence. If you suffered any injuries, including knee injuries after a car accident, consider visiting with an experienced Tennessee car accident attorney at Labrum Law Firm at (615) 338-9500 to help you understand how to receive compensation for your knee injuries and other losses.
Types of Knee Injuries Related to Car Crashes
Every car accident will have a different set of facts and circumstances. Some car accidents are head-on collisions, while others involve sideswiping or rear-end collisions. The manner in which a victim experiences a car accident will directly relate to whether or not they suffer any knee injuries, and the severity of the knee injury. Some of the types of knee injuries that often occur as a result of car accidents include the following:
- Fractured knees (or legs)
- Dislocation of the knee
- Ligament or tendon tears
- Injuries to the ACL (anterior cruciate ligament injury)
- Injuries to the MCL (medial collateral ligament injury)
- Injuries to the meniscus
- “Dashboard knee” - Injuries to the PCL (posterior cruciate ligament)
Additionally, many victims of car accidents do not simply suffer knee injuries. Victims that experience knee injuries also typically have other serious injuries as well. If you experienced any type of injury, including a knee injury, after a car accident, contact the experienced attorneys at Labrum Law Firm to help you better understand all of your legal options.
Symptoms of Knee Injuries
The adrenaline that many victims feel after a car accident often masks the seriousness of their injuries. In some cases, victims simply feel sore all over their entire bodies, and it may take several hours or days for the full extent of their injuries to truly present themselves. It is important to note that a victim of a car accident should always seek immediate medical evaluation and attention. Many medical professionals can examine a victim of a car accident and make determinations regarding their health and injuries that the victim themselves can not immediately feel as a result of their state of shock. Some of the symptoms of knee injuries after a car accident may include the following:
- Mild or severe pain near or around the knee
- Inability to walk or place any kind of weight on the injured leg
- Swelling on or near the knee (inflammation, fluid build-up, or internal bleeding)
- Discoloration resulting from an internal infection or bleeding
- The knee area feels either hot or cold to the touch
- The knee continues to pop or make noises when the victim walks or moves it
- The victim simply feels an overall loss of strength or mobility
If you failed to seek immediate medical treatment after your car accident, you should do so right away for your own health, as well as ensure the ability for you to receive compensation for your injuries at a later time.
Prognosis of Knee Injuries After a Car Accident
While excruciatingly painful, many knee injuries often resolve themselves and heal over time with simple rest, ice, compression, and elevation (known as “RICE” therapy). However, there are other instances where a knee injury is so severe that it requires hospitalization, surgery, continued medical treatments, physical therapy, prescription medications, and even results in a life of disability. Some of these more serious cases, unfortunately, have victims that not only have substantial medical bills, but also are unable to return to work as a result of their injuries resulting in a loss of wages. The pain and suffering of knee injuries are often significant and can be permanent. If you experienced a car accident with significant knee injuries, you have the right to receive compensation for all of your injuries and losses related to someone else's negligence.
Compensation for Knee Injury Victims
Victims that experience knee injuries in car accidents, typically have other issues and medical challenges as well. No amount of compensation will ever restore your health, however, you have a right to receive a monetary recovery for your out-of-pocket expenses as well as your pain and suffering. Every victim's case will be different, however, some of the types of compensation you may have a legal right to pursue include the following:
- Medical costs and expenses
- Lost wages or income
- Future medical costs and expenses
- Loss of future income (due to a temporary or permanent disability)
- Property damage to the vehicle
- Pain and suffering
- Punitive damages (in some cases if the actions of the negligent party exhibited extreme recklessness and the disregard for human life)
Calculating these types of compensation amounts can prove legally challenging and complex. Visiting with an experienced personal injury attorney familiar with car accidents at Labrum Law Firm can help ensure that you receive the compensation you deserve under the law.
Learn More About Your Legal Right to Receive Compensation and Justice After Your Car Accident
You only have a limited amount of time (statutes of limitations) in the state of Tennessee to bring a claim for compensation for your knee injuries and other losses suffered in your car accident. If you are experiencing knee injuries after a car accident or any other types of injuries or losses, contact an experienced Tennessee car accident attorney at Labrum Law Firm at (615) 338-9500 to explain how you have the legal right to receive both compensation and justice from the negligent driver after your car crash. We look forward to visiting with you during this difficult time, and helping you understand all of your legal options.
