If you are involved in a car accident, there’s the possibility you will experience several different types of injuries. While TBIs (traumatic brain injuries) and spinal cord injuries are some of the most severe, other injuries can also have a huge impact on your life.
One such injury is to the knee. You can experience cuts, scrapes, burns, fractures, and more to your knee, which is made of bone, ligaments, and other soft tissues. If another party caused your accident, it might be possible to recover compensation for your injuries and damages. Working with a personal injury attorney Chicago will help you know your rights and ensure you receive a fair settlement amount.
Here you can learn more about knee injuries that occur in car accidents and how to get the compensation you deserve to help you fully recover.
Common Types of Accident-Caused Knee Injuries
Your knee is made up of several components. The patella, femur, fibula, and tibia are the bones that come together at your knee. Also, ligaments, muscles, and tendons offer balance and allow the knee joint to move.
Inside your knee, you will find two menisci (cartilage) that sit over the tibia. They are your knee’s “shock absorbers.” Bursas, which are fluid-filled sacs, are around the knee and cushion it as it moves.
Each of the parts is important and ensures the proper function of the knee. Acute injuries or trauma to your knee can result in serious damage that may affect you for the rest of your life.
Usually, car accident victims experience a knee injury due to some sudden external force on the bone. Some of the most common types of knee injuries a car accident victim may experience include:
- ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) injury: While this type of injury commonly occurs when you fall from a height, it can also occur in car accidents. Most people with this injury hear a loud popping sound. Depending on how severe the injury is, surgery may be required.
- Meniscus injury: With this injury, the discs that help prevent friction between your knee bones are damaged. The job of this disc is to offer stability and cushioning to the knee while you walk. This injury’s symptoms include locking the knee, instability, severe pain, and swelling.
- PCL (posterior cruciate ligament) injury: “dashboard knee” is a common injury if your knee impacts the dashboard in the vehicle. Symptoms of this include swelling and pain. If you experience this injury, it can impact the ligament that attaches your shinbone to your thighbone.
- MCL (medial collateral ligament) injury: Similar to the PCL, an MCL injury will happen if your knee hits something solid inside your vehicle. The medial collateral ligament connects your shinbone to your thigh bone, too.
Understanding the Potential Outcomes of a Knee Injury
The potential consequences of a knee injury will vary based on how severe it is, your age, and your current physical condition. Sometimes, an injury like this will heal as time passes and after you receive medical treatment. However, others result in more long-term consequences. Having a medical professional evaluate your condition and suggest the best treatment for your injury is best.
Usually, doctors will use a more conservative treatment method called RICE for minor injuries. RICE stands for:
- Rest
- Ice
- Compression (very gentle)
- Elevation
As mentioned, this is considered a conservative treatment. If it is ineffective, your doctor may recommend physical therapy for several weeks or months, depending on the type of injury you sustained and how severe it is. In some situations, your doctor may recommend surgery to treat your knee injury.
The recovery time depends on the treatment and severity of your injury. Minor injuries will usually heal on their own within a few days, while more serious ones can take weeks, months, or even years to heal fully. Other serious injuries may not ever heal completely.
Long-Term Issues Related to Car Accident Caused Knee Injuries
A common joint disease that results from the breakdown of joint cartilage or bone fractures is osteoarthritis. Some treatment options can help reduce pain and other symptoms of this disease. Unfortunately, there is no cure for osteoarthritis.
Damage to the Knee Can be Serious
If you are involved in a car accident, it may cause several different types of injuries. Even though knee injuries are not as common as back and neck injuries, they are still serious. Many require surgery and ongoing rehabilitation, which is usually time-consuming and expensive.
How Can You Receive Compensation for Accident-Caused Knee Injuries?
When you are involved in an accident, you must have any injuries you sustain documented immediately. The best way to do this is by going to the hospital or your doctor after the accident. Medical treatment documentation shows what injuries you sustained, their severity, and their prognosis.
If you plan to file a personal injury lawsuit, your personal injury attorney, Chicago, can use the medical documents to prove you were injured and determine a value for it. This is important when determining the total value of your case, especially in the case of severe knee injuries, which may require treatment and cause pain and suffering for the rest of your life.
Contact a Personal Injury Attorney in Chicago for Help with Your Knee Injury Claim
If you suffered a knee injury in a car accident, you could file a claim against the at-fault party to recover compensation. However, because these cases can be difficult, it is recommended that you hire a personal injury attorney in Chicago. They can review the facts of your case and help you recover the compensation you deserve.
Remember, you may not think your injury is too bad but later discover it is. If you accept a settlement offer too early, it may cause you to pay out of pocket for an injury someone else caused. An attorney can help ensure this doesn’t happen and fight on your behalf against the insurance company to secure a fair settlement amount for your injuries and damages.