Common Types of Knee Injuries Sustained in Car Accidents in California
When you are involved in a traffic accident, suffering an injury to one or both of your knees is a common outcome. This is more true with certain types of car crashes than with others, rear-end collisions, side-impact collisions, or a total vehicle rollover. The striking of the knee against the window, the dashboard, or any other inside portion of the vehicle (in the case of a rollover this might even be the roof) is likely to result in an injury to the knee in the form of aggravated twisting or hyperextension of the knee. Any pain that is felt in the knee after a car accident could likely be from damage that was sustained to the knee itself, or it could indicate damage to a muscle or nerve that is simply presenting itself in your knee. Either way, it is imperative that you go to the emergency room or schedule a visit with your doctor as soon as you possibly can after an accident, even if you do not feel like you are injured. Some types of injuries, such as deep bone bruising, can take hours or even a few days before you are aware that something is wrong.
For your best chance at recovering any losses you have endured in a car accident that was not your fault, you should seek the counsel of a California personal injury attorney just as soon as you are able.
Most Frequent Knee Injuries
The most frequently occurring types of knee injuries that come from being in a car accident are:
- Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL) tear
- Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) tear
- Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL) tear
- Medial Meniscus tear
- Lateral Meniscus tear
- Tibial Plateau fracture
Anterior Cruciate Ligament
The Anterior Cruciate Ligament is a major ligament that supports your knee when it is in an extended position. A tear to this vital ligament could very well occur when your leg is hyperextended (forcibly extended beyond its normal range of motion). Symptoms of an injury to your ACL might involve a noticeable popping sound, swelling, and instability of the knee joint. ACL injury treatment will depend on the severity of the ligament tear and could potentially range from a few months of rehabilitation for a small tear to total reconstructive surgery for a tear that is severe.
Posterior Cruciate Ligament
The Posterior Cruciate Ligament is a very strong ligament located at the back of the knee. It is necessary for posterior knee stability. While this ligament is larger and tougher than the ACL, is it still possible to tear it, especially if the impact is received while the knee is bent. For example, if your knee crunches into the dashboard, the force could possibly be hard enough to result in a tear to the PCL. Some of the symptoms of PCL damage could include tenderness on and around the knee, visible swelling, varying degrees of pain, and instability in the knee joint. Treatment of a PCL tear can extend from basic physical therapy all the way to reconstructive surgery. The more active of a lifestyle that you lead, the more likely you are to require surgery on your PCL after an accident. Sedentary lifestyles will receive a more restrained solution like braces or a knee cast.
If you or someone you love has been injured in a car accident that caused a significant knee injury, then you need to employ the services of a licensed, qualified car accident attorney as soon as you possibly can. Here at the Los Angeles Injury Group, we can help you fight for the compensation for the lost wages, medical bills, and pain and suffering that you are entitled to under the law. Give us a call for a free consultation with an attorney at (310) 954-7248 today.