Knee Injuries in a Car Crash: How Do They Happen?
Vehicle accidents can result in severe injuries for those involved, including injuries to the extremities. Depending on the type of accident, knee injuries can occur. Here, we want to look into how knee injuries occur in vehicle accidents and whether or not you can recover compensation in these situations.
Common Knee Injuries Cause by a Vehicle Crash
Vehicle accident victims typically suffer from knee injuries due to the sudden external forces placed on their body, including the knee. Below, we want to examine some of the most common types of knee injuries that occur in car accidents
- Posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) injury: This is most commonly referred to as “dashboard knee,” and this type of injury occurs when a driver or passenger strikes their knee on the dashboard of the vehicle due to an accident. This type of injury typically affects the ligament that connects the shin bone (tibia) to the thigh bone (femur).
- Medial collateral ligament (MCL) injury: like a PCL injury mentioned above, an injury to the MCL occurs when the knee strikes a solid object inside the vehicle during a vehicle accident. This ligament also connects the femur to the tibia.
- Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury: This type of injury typically happens when a person falls from a higher area and lands on their legs, causing injury to the knee. When this injury occurs, there will usually be a loud popping noise. Depending on how a person’s body is positioned when an accident occurs, this type of injury could occur as a result of the vehicle accident.
- Meniscus injury: This type of injury causes damage to the discs that prevent friction between the bones in the knee. These discs provide cushioning and stability to the knee when a person is walking.
- Shattered kneecap. Anytime a person strikes their knee on an object inside a vehicle due to the force of a collision, this could lead to the kneecap becoming fractured or shattered altogether.
- Dislocated kneecap. The force of a vehicle collision could cause the kneecap to become dislocated and completely relocate to the backside of the leg.
Recovering Compensation for a Knee Injury
If you have sustained an injury caused by the negligent actions of another driver in Georgia, we encourage you to reach out to an Atlanta car accident attorney immediately. A skilled lawyer will work diligently to gather the evidence needed to prove liability and help ensure that you recover full compensation for your losses.
Individuals will likely be able to recover the compensation necessary to treat their knee injuries if the crash was caused by another driver. This includes, but is not limited to, the following:
- All medical bills associated with knee injury treatment
- Lost wages if an individual cannot work while recovering
- Property damage expenses for the vehicle
- Various out-of-pocket expenses
- Pain and suffering damages
- Loss of quality of life damages
The total amount of compensation available for a knee injury will depend on a variety of factors, including the overall severity of the injury, how long a person is unable to work, and whether or not there are any long-term disabilities caused by the injury.