While neck and back strains might be the most common injury to occur in auto accidents, many people experience injury to their knee. Knee injuries can occur in a variety of car accidents, such as rollovers, side impact, or front end accidents. If the knee strikes the door, or the dashboard,or is twisted, it can result in serious injury. Another cause of injury occurs when the driver braces for the accident by slamming on the brakes and hyperextends the knee on impact.
The most common injury is a strain or total tear of the ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) and the MCL (medial collateral ligament). A strain of either of these ligaments will cause pain, discomfort, and temporary disability that requires physical therapy. A total rupture of these ligaments is a much more serious injury that will likely require surgical repair and lengthy rehabilitation. Two less common knee injuries that occur in car accidents are tears of the meniscus (tears in the cartilage in the knee) and a tear of the PCL (posterior collateral ligament) which can result from a direct violent impact to the knee such as striking the dashboard.
In the most serious situations, accident victims can experience tears of two or more ligament tears at the same time. A tear of both the ACL and MCL will require surgery and result in a lengthy period of total disability.
Knee injuries are serious and debilitating. Even a minor strain can cause a great deal of discomfort in walking, standing, and even driving a car. This can result in total disability, extensive need for rehabilitation, and lost wages.
If you have suffered a knee injury as a result of an auto accident it is imperative that you speak with an attorney who has the experience to handle these difficult and serious injuries. My office has a great deal of experience working with knee injuries from the mild to severe and we are ready to help you. Contact us now.