Knee Injuries

Knee injuries are one of the most common reasons for doctor’s visits in the U.S. According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), approximately 10.4 million people saw doctors for knee injuries in one recent year. The Society for Academic Emergency Medicine estimates that there were 6,664,324 U.S. knee injuries over a 10-year period, amounting to a rate of 2.9 knee injuries for every 1,000 people.

The knee is the largest and one of the most easily injured joints in the body. Many types of accidents can result in knee injuries, and serious knee injuries can be painful and disabling. These injuries frequently require extensive medical treatment, including surgeries, physical therapy and knee replacement in some cases.

If you have suffered a serious knee injury in an accident that was someone else’s fault, you may be entitled to recover compensation for your losses through a lawsuit or settlement. If you have been injured on the job, you may be entitled to workers compensation benefits. If your knee injuries have left you totally disabled, you may be eligible for Social Security Disability benefits.

You should seek legal advice immediately – before you discuss the matter with an insurance adjuster and before you sign anything. Let the law offices of Kraft & Associates, P.C., advise you about your rights after an accident that caused a knee injury. We’re an established and professional law firm with friendly lawyers and staff who are easy to talk to. Please call us at (214) 999-9999 or contact us online.

Types of Knee Injuries

The knee is composed of a number of important structures, all of which can be injured. Common symptoms of knee injuries include pain and swelling, instability, or a knee that “catches” or “locks up.”

The following are common knee injuries, as described by AAOS:

• Fractures: Heavy trauma, such as that which occurs in falls or car accidents, can fracture the patella, femur or tibia.
• Dislocation: Crashes, falls and workplace accidents can force the bones of the knee out of alignment, resulting in dislocation of the knee.
• Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) Injuries: ACL injuries often occur along with damage to other structures of the knee. Accidents, such as car crashes, in which the side of the knee is hit, can cause ACL tears.
• Posterior cruciate ligament injuries: A blow to the front of the knee while the knee is bent can cause this type of injury, which frequently occurs in car accidents.
• Collateral ligament injuries: Any accident resulting in a force that pushes the knee sideways can cause injury to the collateral ligaments.
• Meniscal tears: Twisting or pivoting awkwardly in nearly any type of accident or situation can cause tearing of the menisci, particularly when they have been weakened with age.
• Tendon tears: Falls, direct force to the front of the knee, as in auto accidents, and landing awkwardly are common causes of tendon tears.

Causes of Knee Injuries

Knees are vulnerable to a variety of injuries, including disease, sports and all types of accidents. WebMD reports that injuries are the most common cause of knee problems. Some of the most common accidents that injure knees include:

• Car accidents: Injuries to the lower limbs, including the knees, are common in car accidents.
• Falls: Acute injuries can result from a direct blow such as falling on the knee.
• Motorcycle accidents: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) conducted a study of 47,000 injured motorcyclists over a two-year period in the U.S. Among the injuries suffered by the bikers were 5,683 knee injuries.
• Pedestrian accidents: A study published in the journal Traffic Injury Prevention reported that pedestrians’ lower extremities are frequently injured by the front structures of vehicles in pedestrian-vehicle collisions.
• Commercial truck collisions: In passenger vehicle collisions with much larger commercial trucks, serious knee injuries can result for passenger vehicle occupants.
• Workplace accidents: The National Safety Council reports that “walking-into” injuries are one of the most common workplace accidents and often result in knee injuries. Machine entanglement, vehicle crashes and falling from heights are also common on-the-job accidents that can cause serious injuries to the knees.

Attorneys for Knee Injury Accident Victims

If you have suffered serious knee injuries in any type of accident, it is important to consult with a knowledgeable personal injury attorney and actively pursue the maximum compensation you are entitled to receive.

For a free consultation, contact us today by calling us at (214) 999-9999.

Sources:

• AAOS: Common Knee Injuries
• Society for Academic Emergency Medicine: Epidemiology of 6.6 million knee injuries presenting to United States emergency departments from 1999 through 2008
• WebMD: Knee Pain Health Center
• NHTSA: Lower-Extremity Injuries in Motorcycle Crashes
• Traffic Injury Prevention: Finite element analysis of knee injury risks in car-to-pedestrian impacts
• National Safety Council: Top 10 Preventable Workplace Accidents
• Healthline: Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Tear