Knee Injuries From Car Accidents

Knee injuries during auto accidents are more common after side, T-bone, and front-end collisions. Often the knee injury stems from the vehicle impact and pinning the knee or the force of the crash, shoving the knee against an object within the car.

Knee injuries are often severe and are likely going to put you out of work for quite some time. It’s very reasonable that during this time, you’ll need surgery and physical therapy. Don’t hesitate to involve an automobile accident attorney in Virginia Beach as you move forward with your car accident claim.

Common Car Accident Knee Injuries

Ruptured Patellar Tendons

This particular tendon attaches the shinbone to the kneecap. But what happens when it ruptures is that it pulls away, and now the shinbone and kneecap no longer have that connection—resulting in a painful and serious injury.

Most people with a ruptured patellar tendon know right away that something is wrong. They often cannot straighten their leg and may have difficulty moving their foot. Common symptoms of a ruptured patellar tendon include swelling, bruising, and extreme pain. Additionally there is a visible change in the shape of the shin and kneecap. It’s a rather unsettling indentation in what usually is a very smooth surface.

Most tendon ruptures will lead to a disability, and a ruptured patellar tendon requires surgery. In addition to having surgery to correct the tendon tear or rupture, you’ll need months of physical therapy.

Ligament Sprains

Ligament sprains are common sports injuries, and they are so common that doctors have different scales to describe the extent of the damage. For example, a Grade 1 sprain is some slight stretching. Whereas a Grade 2 sprain is a partial tear and a Grade 3 tear is a complete detachment. A Grade 3 tear likely requires surgery.

Ligament sprains can get the simple RICE treatment where all you need is rest and ice. Or they can be torn so badly that you need surgery to correct the damage. Either way, ligament sprains are extremely painful, except in rare Grade 3 tears. It leaves people looking for ways to resolve that pain as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, ligament sprains also take weeks or months to heal. There is no quick-fix solution to the pain that comes with a ligament sprain.

Fractures and Dislocations

Knee fractures and dislocations are a little different than other knee injuries. Instead of looking at the tendon or the ligaments, you’re dealing with the actual bone structure.

A fracture can undoubtedly take a long time to heal, especially when you have a joint that flexes as often as the knee. Typically you’ll have to undergo surgery. You may need pins or rods to keep your knee into place, and then you won’t be able to use that leg for weeks or months.

With the dislocation, it’s a little easier in that they put it back into place and then review for tendon nerve or muscle damage.

Can You Settle for a Car Crash Knee Injury?

You absolutely can, and probably should, settle with a car crash knee injury. What happens during settlement negotiations is that you reach a figure that should cover your medical costs and hopefully, all other damages associated with the injury. Your Virginia Beach car accident attorney will handle these negotiations to fight for what is fair.

A settlement doesn’t always mean that you’re going to get less than what you owe. Many solutions cover medical costs, the costs of Transportation, legal fees, and other elements of your crash. Unfortunately, many people see a settlement as what it sounds like settling and push for taking the case to court. That is, of course, always an option.

If you want to take your case to court, you need to know that there’s an opportunity for a judge to award you less than what insurance offered during settlement negotiations.

Getting a Car Accident Attorney from Virginia Beach Involved in Your Claim

Virginia Beach has its fair share of car accidents and car accident injuries. At Virginia Injury Law, we help the victims of these crashes get compensation to cover their medical costs and the other damages that come with a wreck, such as property damage and pain and suffering.

With knee injuries, whether it’s a ruptured ligament torn tendon or fracture, there’s quite a bit of pain. Then you have the additional elements of being unable to work for weeks or months at a time. Factoring after that, the added cost of physical therapy and rehabilitation and possibly. Occupational rehabilitation. Our team will go after compensation for every element of damage in your crash.