A Severe Knee Injury Caused By a Car Accident Can Change Your Life
One of the most common car accident injuries is a severe knee injury. A severe knee injury can lead to partial or permanent disability, with the victim needing treatment such as extensive physical therapy and surgery to get back on their feet. Knee injuries can cause significant damages in the form of medical costs, lost wages, and loss of earning capacity. Not only will you have to pay for the medical expenses, but you could be without work while on your road to recovery. These injuries also will often come with an immense psychological and physical burden that need not be financial in nature as well. Hiring an experienced car accident lawyer can help to ease the burden by possibly getting you compensation for your injury. They can help you file a personal injury claim, which can put you on the path to financial recovery.Kneecap Injuries Caused by a Car Accident
Commonly referred to as the patella, the kneecap is a triangular bone that serves as a shield for the knee joint. It gives the knee joint the structure to allow you to bend your knee and move around freely. If you bang your knee against the dashboard or steering wheel during a car crash, the knee joint will likely pop out of place. This means you have dislocated your kneecap, which leads to swelling, intense pain, and an inability to straighten your knee.Car Accident Inflicted Knee Fractures
A patellar fracture can come in four forms: a stable fracture, a displaced fracture, a comminuted fracture, or an open fracture. A stable fracture is the least severe type of fracture. This refers to when the bone gets knocked out of position by one or two millimeters. A displaced fracture means the broken bone is no longer in position and doesn't align with the rest of the knee. A comminuted fracture means the bone is shattered into three or more pieces, with pieces floating around in your knee. An open fracture means the broken bone pierced the skin or penetrated down the bone. With a mild kneecap injury, physical therapy may be all that is needed to stabilize the knee back into alignment. In severe cases, surgery will be your only option.Ligament Injuries Caused by a Car Accident
Knee ligaments are tissue bands that connect your femur to your tibia and fibula. The ligaments connect your upper leg to your lower leg, stabilize the knee joint, and prevent the knee from twisting. A knee ligament can be injured during a car accident if your bent knee receives a blow to the front or side. The ligaments can be torn or ruptured as a result of a blow. Here are some of the ligaments that can be injured during a car accident:- Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL)
- Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL)
- Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL)
- Meniscus
How Can a Car Accident Cause a Knee Injury?
The knee is most at risk for injury when it is bent. This exposes the kneecap and ligaments to intense pressure. As you drive, your knee needs to be bent. Any force from a crash that impacts your knee is likely to lead to a serious injury. In a rear-end collision, the knee is jolted forward into the dashboard, while a front-end collision forces the dashboard into the knee. A T-bone accident differs from the two above. It's unlikely for your knee to be impacted by the dashboard from a side collision like this. The impact from the side causes your body to twist. Your knee twisting can lead to a fracture.What are the Symptoms of a Severe Knee Injury?
The following are some of the symptoms of a severe knee injury following a car accident:- Intense pain in the knee
- Swelling of the knee
- Discoloration
- Limited range of motion
- Lack of strength in the knee
- Temperature variation
- Popping noises when you move your knee