Ohio Knee and Joint Injury Lawyers

Knee & Joint Injuries After a Car Accident

Crucial joints, like our knees, can be especially sensitive, and severe damage can often be enough to prevent a full recuperation. If you have joint damage from a car accident, your life can be turned upside down. It may be difficult or impossible to return to work, and even walking can be challenging. At KNR, our serious injury lawyers have helped many victims during their recoveries, and we know what it takes to succeed in cases involving knee injuries in Ohio car accidents.

You have the right to seek compensation from the party responsible if you were hurt due to their careless actions. Ohio’s court process can be complex for anyone; therefore, it is always advisable to contact an experienced attorney as soon as possible.

Contact Kisling, Nestico & Redick to speak with an Ohio car accident lawyer about your injuries and how to recover financial damages. Call us at 1-800-HURT-NOW or through our online form to schedule a free, no-risk consultation.

Car Accident Knee & Joint Injuries

With thousands of auto collisions happening every day in Ohio, many victims sustain severe injuries. For instance, you can suffer from a knee or other joint injury even if your car accident happens at a relatively low speed. People in these accidents can require months or even years of medical attention and physical therapy, and costs can quickly get out of control. Additionally, a terrible car accident can keep you out of work for a long time.

Joints are the focal point for every physical movement our extremities make, but they are very sensitive when it comes to unnatural or hard-hitting movements. Numerous joints are in danger of permanent damage when your arms or legs are violently twisted or pulled.

The fact that there are so many different tissues and moving pieces in our joints makes them highly susceptible to harm in an accident.

Signs of a Knee or Join Injury

Pain and swelling are the most common signs of a knee injury. In addition, the knee may catch or lock. Some knee injuries (e.g., ACL tear) cause instability — the feeling that your knee is giving way.

Common Knee & Joint Injuries

The impact of a car wreck can cause various types of physical damage to your body. Your joints are particularly vulnerable to certain types of force. They can be damaged when struck by part of your vehicle, or when impacted by an adjacent part of your body. For example, if you’re in a head-on collision, your knee could be smashed into the dashboard and cause serious damage.

The most common knee and joint injuries include sprains and tears of soft tissues (e.g., ligaments, meniscus), fractures, and dislocation. In many cases, injuries involve more than one structure in the knee.

Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Injuries

ACL injuries are seen frequently in auto accidents and are caused by a sudden twisting or hyper-extension.

Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL) Injuries

The posterior cruciate ligament is often injured from a blow to the front of the knee, while the knee is bent. This often occurs in motor vehicle crashes.

Collateral Ligament Injuries

Injuries to the collateral ligaments (MCL and LCL) are usually caused by a force that pushes the knee sideways. These are often contact injuries.
MCL injuries are usually caused by a direct blow to the outside of the knee. Blows to the inside of the knee that push the knee outwards may injure the lateral collateral ligament (LCL). Lateral collateral ligament tears occur less frequently than other knee injuries.

Meniscal Tears

Acute meniscal tears often happen when twisting, cutting, pivoting, or because of arthritis or aging. An awkward twist in a car accident while seated may be enough to cause a tear.

Tendon Tears

The quadriceps and patellar tendons can be stretched and torn. Falls, direct force to the front of the knee, and landing awkwardly are common causes of knee tendon injuries.

Fracture Knees

The most common bone broken associated with the knee is the patella. Many fractures around the knee are caused by high-energy trauma, such as motor vehicle collisions.

Knee Dislocation

A dislocation occurs when the bones of the knee are out of place, either completely or partially. For example, the femur and tibia can be forced out of alignment, and the patella can also slip out of place due to trauma, motor vehicle crashes, and sports-related contact.

Treating Knee & Joint Injuries

At KNR, we have decades of experience helping car accident victims recover from devastating injuries. We will work with your doctors to make sure that you are receiving the proper attention to your joint injury.

You will very likely need treatment and therapy for many months or years after badly hurting a joint such as your shoulder or knee. While every case is different, the medical approach to your injuries may include one or several of the following:

• Non-invasive techniques – For less serious injuries, you may be advised to rest at home while elevating and applying ice to your damaged joint. This can be done along with prescription pain medication and close counsel with your doctor.
• Surgery – Ligament tears, broken bones, and damaged cartilage are some of the numerous joint problems that may require surgery after being in a bad car accident. Given how sensitive our joints are, you will need to closely follow up with your doctor after surgery.
• Physical therapy – Whether or not you have surgery, your medical professional may advise you to seek therapy to strengthen the muscles that surround your healing joint.

Knee Injury Compensation

Depending on the severity and other factors involved in your knee injury, you may be able to recover compensation for your economic and non-economic damages. This could be the difference in recouping the wages you lost, getting the medical care or rehab you need, and putting your life back together.

If you or a loved one suffered a knee injury because of another’s negligent or careless act, you could pursue an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit. Whether you hurt your knee in a car accident, a fall, or after a defective knee replacement was used, you may be entitled to your:

• Medical expenses
• Loss of income
• Disability
• Disfigurement
• Pain and suffering
• Mental anguish
• Loss of consortium

Knee and joint injuries often result in ongoing medical issues throughout a person’s life. This can include chronic pain and reduced mobility. If you suffered a significant knee injury in a car wreck or any other accident, you might not be able to return to work for a long time. It’s important to consider all your losses and ensure any settlement or award properly compensates you.

Who’s Liable for Knee Injury?

Determining liability for a knee injury can be complicated and a lot depends on the circumstances. For instance, if your injury happened at work, you may be able to recoup some losses through worker’s compensation. However, you may have other expenses and options when negligence caused your injuries.

For instance, if you suffered a dislocated knee because another driver was distracted, you may be able to hold the at-fault driver or their insurance liable.

Our Knee & Joint Injury Attorneys Can Help

Even simple acts like walking or standing can be very painful or impossible after a knee injury. Further, long-term knee damage can include tendonitis, osteoarthritis, bursitis, and chondromalacia patella. Your lawyer must be able to fully determine all the physical consequences stemming from your accident if you are going to recover the accurate amount of compensation you will need.

KNR has helped many accident victims, and we know that recovering damages will require us to demonstrate how the other party acted negligently, and how this caused the accident that directly resulted in your injuries. We have decades of experience reconstructing accidents and presenting complicated medical evidence.

At KNR our attorneys will:

• Answer your questions and concerns
• Keep you updated during all stages of the process
• Obtain medical records about the extent of your knee injury
• Identify the responsible party
• Determine the fair and full value of your damages
• Negotiate for maximum compensation
• Fight for everything you deserve in court if necessary

Joint damage can have a lifelong effect. Even injuries that seem to be on the mend must be closely monitored to make sure that future problems are properly addressed. For example, a dislocated knee can be quickly popped back into place. However, cartilage damage, tendonitis, or arthritis can cause serious pain and mobility issues in the future. If your injuries were the result of someone else’s careless actions, then your compensation must be calculated with all current and future needs in mind.

The insurance companies involved in your case will be looking to reduce or eliminate their level of financial liability. This includes your own insurance provider. For this reason, it is very important that you do not agree to a settlement offer for your injuries until you have consulted with a capable lawyer.

Contact KNR to Discuss Your Joint Injury

Our joints are essential for our body’s full range of movement, and injuries can take a long time to heal. Furthermore, a joint that does not properly heal can cause numerous medical problems in the future. For example, walking with a knee that never properly healed can cause damage to your back or hips. It’s important to take joint injuries very seriously. At KNR, our attorneys understand how to identify all of your recovery needs, and how to obtain the compensation that you deserve.

Ohio’s statute of limitations generally prohibits suits to be filed for injuries that happened over two years ago. While there are some exceptions to this rule, it’s important to call a skilled lawyer as soon as you can after being hurt in an accident caused by someone else. Do not take a joint injury lightly and wait to see if it will heal on its own before you call your lawyer. We have helped many families impacted by terrible car accidents, and we know how important it is for you to get the help you need as you look to move on with your life.

Contact Kisling, Nestico & Redick to speak with a lawyer if your car accident caused serious injuries to your knees or other joints. Call KNR today at 1-800-HURT-NOW or submit a request online to schedule a free, no-risk consultation.