Knee injuries are not uncommon when it comes to injuries sustained in car accidents. A driver’s or passenger’s knee may sustain direct, blunt impact from hitting the dashboard, steering column, or door with force.
These injuries are often painful and debilitating. Below, we discuss some common knee injuries related to car accidents and long-term outcomes.
Symptoms of Knee Injuries
Knee injuries are notorious for having delayed symptoms. This means that you may not realize you have a knee injury or know the full severity of this injury until you start regularly walking on it and performing your day-to-day activities.
Some symptoms, which can range from mild to severe, may include:
- Redness and swelling
- A ripping or popping sensation
- Tenderness or tingling
- Locking or grinding
- Weakness and instability
- Bruising or temperature (cold or fever)
- Pain while resting or doing activity
- Deformity or protruding bones from fractures
- Change in range of motion (inability to extend the knee or walk
Injury Types
ACL Injury
The ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) stabilizes the knee and prevents a forward motion of the tibia on the femur.
PCL Injury
The PCL (posterior cruciate ligament) is less commonly torn due to its strength. It usually requires strong, blunt force trauma, such as a dashboard strike in the event of a car accident.
MCL Injury
The MCL (medial collateral ligament) is the most commonly damaged ligament in the knee. It can be torn or sprained and typically causes bruising and swelling.
Knee Sprains and Strains
Knee sprains are characterized by the stretching, tearing, or rupturing of ligaments or the joint capsule of the knee. A strain refers to the stretching or severing or muscles or tendons.
Dislocation of the Knee
While rare, a dislocation of the knee can result from force to the proximal tibia, such as a dashboard crash injury. If left untreated, it can actually result in loss of blood supply to the limb and may require amputation.
Fracture
Like any other bones in the body, fractures to any bones in the knee can be traumatic and are usually caused by moderate to high forces, such as a car accident.
Treatments and Long-Term Outcomes
While knee injuries aren’t as common as neck or back injuries, they can be quite serious. They often require surgery, physical therapy, and rehabilitation to ensure the knee heals properly, all of which can be costly and time-consuming.
If you or a loved one sustained a knee injury in an accident caused by another person, Kornfeld Law is here to protect your rights to compensation. With over 38 years of legal experience, we are the team of advocates you want on your side. Our team is available days, evenings, and weekends to discuss your legal options. If you are not able to meet at our firm, we are able to meet you at your home or in the hospital.
Remember Rob Kornfeld has also suffered a serious right knee injury in a collision. After 5 knee surgeries, he understands what it takes to recover, both financially and physically. Rob knows what it is like to be left with permanent disabilities, wage loss and medical bills that are not paid. As a veteran trial lawyer of nearly forty (40) years, put Rob’s legal expertise and personal knowledge to work for you to help you to maximize your financial recovery for your injury claim.
Contact Kornfeld Law at (425) 657-5255 to schedule your free case review!