When someone injures their knee, the resulting emotional, physical, and financial toll can be stressful, even overwhelming. Regardless of how it happens, the aftermath often involves hefty medical bills, lost time at work, and lots of time spent in rehab.
If you’ve hurt your knee in an accident that wasn’t your fault, it may help to know what legal steps you can take to pursue compensation for your losses.
Common Causes of Knee Injuries
Knee injuries can happen in just about any type of situation, and being able to identify the cause is important for determining liability in a personal injury case. Here are some of the most common causes of knee injuries:
Vehicle Crashes
Car, truck, and motorcycle accidents often lead to injuries, especially after sudden jolts or impacts with the dashboard. Victims are frequently left dealing with fractures, tears in the ligaments of the knee, or joint dislocations.
Workplace Accidents
Certain jobs require repetitive motions of the knees, such as heavy lifting or standing for long periods. These movements can lead to overuse injuries over time. Workers at construction sites and warehouses are particularly vulnerable to such strain.
Slips and Falls
Uneven surfaces, wet floors, and poor lighting make injuries more likely. If you slip and fall, there’s a good chance you could hurt yourself, especially if you land on your knees. Property owners who don’t keep their premises safe for visitors can be held accountable if they ignore hazards that contribute to accidents.
Sports Injuries
Athletes often deal with severe knee injuries like ACL tears, meniscus damage, and sprains. These can occur during recreational play, but negligence from coaches or equipment manufacturers and maliciousness from other players can also play a part.
Faulty Products
Poorly designed protective gear, malfunctioning vehicles, and defective machinery are just a few unsafe products that can give rise to knee injuries. In these types of cases, product liability laws might apply.
Types of Knee Injuries
Like most physical trauma, injuries to the knee can differ in nature and severity depending on what happened during the accident. That said, even seemingly minor damage can require extensive medical attention and a lengthy recovery time.
Ligament Tears
Ligament tears like ACL, PCL, or MCL injuries often necessitate surgery and long periods of rehab. Even then, the victim may be left with lifelong difficulties. When that happens, they may suffer from limited mobility and chronic pain.
Fractures
Fractures to the patella (kneecap) or other parts of the knee can easily happen in high-impact accidents. Depending on how bad the damage is and where it’s located, treatment might involve surgery, joint immobilization, or physical therapy.
Meniscus Tears
The meniscus is the thick band of cartilage that cushions the knee within the joint. Tears can occur during forceful impacts or twisting motions, leading to pain, swelling, instability, and long-term mobility issues.
Dislocations
A dislocated knee occurs when the bones of the joint are somehow forced out of their normal alignment. It might not sound like a big deal, but it’s a serious injury that can also damage the surrounding blood vessels, nerves, and ligaments.
Chronic Conditions
In some cases, acute injuries can turn into chronic conditions like arthritis. Victims might require ongoing care in the aftermath, and the pain can disrupt their overall quality of life.
What To Do After a Knee Injury
As with any accident, your health and safety take priority. Even if you don’t think you’re hurt, or the injury seems minor, it’s best to get checked out at the hospital right away. Doing so will not only protect your health but also provide documentation of your injury through medical records.
If you’re able, take photos and videos at the accident scene; if not, ask someone to do it for you. Make sure to capture images of any hazards that contributed to your injury and collect contact info from witnesses on the scene.
If the accident took place at work, don’t forget to let your employer know what happened and initiate the process for a workers’ compensation claim. In other situations, you may need to inform the property owner or manager. You might even need to file a police report (such as for car accidents).
Save every medical bill, receipt, and letter from your insurance company, as these records will help strengthen your case. A skilled personal injury attorney can look through the documents you’ve compiled to figure out who was responsible and guide you through the legal process.
Compensation Available After a Knee Injury
The type of compensation you can file for after suffering a knee injury will depend on the specific circumstances of your case.
You might be able to recover payment for:
- Medical costs (surgeries, physical therapy, medications, assistive devices, long-term care, etc.)
- Lost wages (time missed from work or the inability to return to work at all)
- Pain and suffering (physical and emotional distress)
Depending on your exact needs, you may also be able to obtain expected rehab costs. This might include occupational therapy or home modifications to account for a change in mobility.
Tennessee’s Personal Injury Laws
Tennessee follows a modified comparative negligence law. Under this rule, you can recover compensation if you’re less than 50% responsible for your accidents. However, your payout will be reduced by the percentage of your fault.
There’s also a legal deadline by which you must have started the process of filing your claim. In Tennessee, the statute of limitations for personal injury claims is generally one year from the date of the injury. Some exceptions apply, though, so it’s important to act as soon as possible.
For workers’ compensation cases, the state provides benefits regardless of who caused the accident. However, these benefits don’t always cover the victim’s full needs, and they typically limit their ability to sue their employers directly.
How a Knee Injury Lawyer Can Help
An experienced personal injury attorney knows how to navigate the legal system. They can help their clients file for compensation and address legal difficulties so they can focus on recovering.
After reviewing the relevant details, your lawyer will determine whether your claim is valid and estimate its value. Once they’ve put together a strong case, they’ll communicate with the insurance companies on your behalf so adjusters can’t try to convince you to take a lowball offer. If they can’t reach a fair settlement, they’ll take your case to court.
Protect Your Rights and Enhance Your Recovery
Recovering from a knee injury can be challenging. Luckily, you don’t have to do it alone. If you’ve been hurt in an accident, Labrum Law Firm Personal Injury Lawyers is here to help. Contact us today to set up a free consultation with a skilled attorney.
The personal injury attorneys at Labrum Law Firm offer a free consultation to assess your case and will fight for your right to a just and proper verdict in your case.
