Whiplash & Whiplash Injury St. Louis

knee injuries

Recovery from a Knee Injury after a Car Accident

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Knee injuries are quite common in car accidents, especially if you’ve been hit from behind and thrown towards the dashboard.

Recovery after a knee injury can take a long time. In some cases, victims never regain their initial mobility and have to live with pain and limited mobility. That’s why a good St. Louis auto accident lawyer is so important. They can make sure you get proper compensation to cover for the cost of your pain and suffering.

knee injury in a st. louis car accident

The Most Common Knee Injuries in Car Accidents

Here are some of the most common types of knee injuries that occur in car accidents:

Patella Fracture

A fractured patella – or a broken kneecap – is a severe injury that happens often in rear-end accidents. The knees of the driver or the front passenger hit the dashboard with intense force. All the pressure goes to the patella, which can get fissured or fractured. This injury comes with excruciating pain and limited mobility in the knee joint: some patients can’t straighten their knee or put any weight on it.

Ligament Tears and Stretches

Although they are more common in people who practice sports, knee ligament injuries can also result from a car accident. It usually occurs when the knee is trapped under the dashboard, steering wheel or other objects and there is unusual bending in the joint.

These are the ligaments in your knee that can be injured in an accident:

  • ACL (anterior cruciate ligament): it connects the thigh bone to the shin bone
  • PCL (posterior cruciate ligament): rarely injured outside a car accident, this ligament also connects the thigh bone to the shin bone
  • LCL (lateral collateral ligament): connects the thigh bone to the fibula
  • MCL (medial collateral ligament): connects the thigh bone to the shin bone on the inside of the knee joint

Recovery After a Knee Injury

As mentioned before, recovery can be long after a knee injury. Many cases need surgery to regain most of the mobility and prevent the injury from getting worse. Most patients need physiotherapy for a long period to strengthen their muscles and better sustain their joints.

If you have been in a car accident and start observing symptoms that could be related to a knee injury, go see a doctor right away. Often, injuries are not observed immediately after the accident, and they can get worse if left untreated. Follow your doctor’s orders very closely and see the specialists they refer you to.

All these efforts are meant to give you the best chance to a full recovery of your knee, but they also serve as hard evidence in a car accident claim.

We strongly recommend hiring a reputable St. Louis car accident attorney for knee injury cases, as they can typically get worse over time and need a long recovery period. A good attorney will not take an early offer from the insurance company, leaving you uncovered in the future, and they will make sure to include in the claim all the medical treatment you will need.

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How Knee Injuries After a Car Accident Can Impact Quality of Life

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Knee injuries are some of the most painful types of injuries someone can sustain, and some of the most common.

There are a number of different injuries one can sustain after a car accident, and while some might not be considered life-threatening, they are in no way less severe.

Knee injuries, for instance, are some of the most painful types of injuries someone can sustain, and some of the most common, according to some studies. Unfortunately, they are also the kind of damage that can have lasting effects on the human body and impact your quality of life. If you’ve sustained this type of injury, you may be entitled to compensation. Reach out to a St. Louis car accident attorney as soon as possible.

st. louis man with knee injury after car accident

How Can Knee Injuries Affect Quality of Life?

Your active lifestyle depends greatly on the health of your legs, particularly the knees that allow you to be mobile. If the knee is injured and can no longer give you that mobility, then your social and professional life may suffer greatly.

These injuries can prevent you to take part in the activities you once enjoyed, and even force you to quit your job and find something more suited for your condition. Sometimes, these effects are temporary, and many car accident victims heal completely after a suitable treatment and, perhaps, some physical therapy. However for the less fortunate cases, these injuries can force a person to change their lifestyle for good.

What Can You Do?

Many types of knee injuries can require expensive medical treatment. If you’ve also lost your job because of it, then you’re likely considering your options.

According to Missouri law, one option you have is getting compensation from the driver that caused the car accident and, as a result, your injuries. Most of these cases are handled through an insurance claim filed with the other driver’s insurance company, where you’ll submit evidence of your injuries, medical records, and proof that the other driver is liable to receive compensation.

It’s best to work with an experienced car accident lawyer for further assistance. They can help you file the claim, decide on how much to ask, and negotiate a settlement with the insurance company to make sure what you get is enough to give you some financial comfort during these trying times.

Depending on your injuries, you may also be entitled to disability benefits, even if your doctor estimated you’ll make a full recovery in the future. However, if your injury prevents you from work, these benefits are meant to help you get by during your treatment, and will not impact the personal injury claim in any way.

Speak With a Car Injury Lawyer

Knee injuries caused by car accidents can change your life altogether. If this happens, you do not have to bear the cost of treatment alone. The at-fault party is liable for compensation. Speak with a St. Louis auto accident lawyer to see how you can get these benefits.

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Knee Injuries From Car Accidents: What You Need to Know

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Knee injuries are one of the most common outcomes of car accidents.

The reason knee injuries are so common after car accidents, is that they are often directly in the line of airbags, which can apply a high level of force. Here is what you need to know about this type of damage.

Symptoms

One of the biggest issues car accident victims go through is not know if they have an injury or not. The first thing we’ll say on this matter is that you should always see a doctor. Even if you barely feel a symptom or aren’t expiring any, it is best to see a medical professional anyways. The second is to watch out for the following signs when it comes to knee injuries.

Discoloration – The three typical colors you’ll see are blue, green, and red. Each signals inflammation and damage, the most common of which is bruising.

Temperature – Another indicator of the healing response is a rise in temperature, which is caused by more blood being in the area.

Pain – The most obvious clue is pain. If you feel it, you should see a doctor.

Weakness – Lastly, you may find that your knee is weaker during weightlifting, sports, or day to day tasks. No matter what, this discomfort is cause for concern.

Injuries

The most common knee injuries that come from car accidents include fractures, dislocations, sprains, cartilage damage, and ligament tears. Each of these damages comes with its own set of symptoms and complications. Though we could list them, it is a better for you to speak with a doctor and getting expert medical information.

The Most Common Cause

Though high-speed collisions can cause a vehicle to make an impact with your knee directly, the more common occurrence is airbag complications. What happens is your airbags deploying, and the force of their quick inflation may twist your knee in an uncomfortable way. This movement can compromise the structure of the knee and cause injury.

Treatment Options

Your specific treatment will depend on the opinion of your doctor. Generally, at-home remedies include ice, heat, and rest. Minor knee injuries will solve themselves using these tactics. For severe ones, you may need to utilize physical therapy or surgery, both of which may be paid for by a personal injury lawsuit.

Your Means of Compensation

The one silver lining of sustaining a knee injury from a car accident is that you may not have to pay for your treatment. The reason is that your case could fall into the personal injury legal framework. In short, if you can prove that another party was at fault for your damages, you can get your medical bills and many other expenses paid for.

If you injure your knee in a car accident, one thing you must understand is that you don’t have to take on that tragedy alone. Instead, you can speak with an experienced St. Louis car accident attorney and get the ball rolling on obtaining benefits from the liable party. Timing is crucial in these cases, so starting the process as soon as possible is in your best interest.

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