Orange County Knee Injury Lawyer

Knee injuries are one of the most common debilitating injuries from car accidents, falls, construction accidents, assaults, and other types of negligence, recklessness, and intentional acts. High-speed impacts, rollovers, and head-on collisions can cause catastrophic injuries to the knees that are life-altering, but less serious accidents can still cause knee injuries that can lead to long term disability. Some knee injuries will heal on their own and others will require multiple surgeries and years of rehabilitation. When internal injuries are caused by the negligence, recklessness, or intentional act of another person, it’s possible for victims to collect a substantial amount of compensation. An experienced Orange County knee injury lawyer can help you collect money for medical expenses, current and future lost earnings, pain, suffering, and mental distress. Call the Crockett Law Group today to schedule your free consultation with our personal injury attorneys and learn more.

What Are the Different Types of Common Knee Injuries?

The thigh bone, tibia, and patella meet to form the knee joint. It’s covered with cartilage that allows it to glide smoothly when you straighten and bend your leg. The meniscus is a tough wedge-shaped type of cartilage between the femur and tibia that acts as a shock absorber. There are four ligaments that connect the bones and control the movements of the knee and tendons that connect the muscles to the bone. When any of these elements are injured, a person can lose the full function of the knee. These are some of the most common types of knee injuries:

Fractures

Open, closed, simple, or compound fractures of any of the bones near the knee can impact the function of the knee joint and reduce the range of motion and mobility.

Dislocations

When the bones become misaligned due to trauma such as a car accident or fall, it’s called a dislocation.

Ligament Injuries

Injuries to ligaments are caused when the knee is overextended or moved in an unnatural way. Torn ligaments of the knee can range in severity based on which ligament is involved and how badly damaged it is.

Grade I

The fibers are only minimally overstretched. This is what’s commonly referred to as a “sprain.” There’s only minimal slight bruising and swelling.

Grade II

The ligaments are partially torn, with more pain, bruising, and apparent swelling.

Grade III

This is when the ligament is completely torn, the knee is very swollen and bruised.

Meniscus Tears

Meniscus tears range in severity and are caused when the knee suddenly changes direction. They are often caused by pedestrian knockdowns and sports accidents.

Tendon Tears

Tendon tears are usually not as serious as meniscus or ligament tears. There are caused by falls that stretch the tendons. Tendon tears are also known as tendonitis.

Symptoms of a Knee Injury

Knee injuries are not always immediately symptomatic. It’s not unusual at all to have little to no pain until several hours, or even days, after a knee injury. Here are some of the symptoms to look for if you suspect that you’ve sustained a knee injury:

• Swelling
• Heat
• Pain
• Redness
• Tenderness
• Difficulty bearing weight
• Difficulty walking
• Difficulty with bending the knee
• Clicking or popping
• Instability
• Bruising
• Locking

If you experienced any of these symptoms, it’s important to seek medical advice as soon as possible.

How Do I Treat My Knee Injury?

Some knee injuries will heal on their own, but many require medical treatment to achieve a full recovery and regain full range of motion. Fractures and dislocations usually require immediate medical attention and sometimes require emergency surgery. Soft-tissue injuries to the knee are usually treated initially with a combination of conservative therapies such as physical therapy and acupuncture, with assistance from anti-inflammatory medications. If conservative therapy is not successful, the next course of action is often injections of cortisone, a powerful anti-inflammatory, directly into the injured area. Therapy is sometimes more successful after cortisone injections reduce the pain and swelling of the knee. If physical therapy and cortisone injections are not successful, the next course of action is to consider surgical repair. Many types of knee surgery can be done arthroscopically on an outpatient basis. The repairs are accomplished with the use of a tiny video camera and small punctures used to insert instruments. Some types of knee surgery do require traditional open methods. After surgery, physical therapy is usually necessary to achieve a full range of motion, stability, and proper gait.

How Long Does It Take for a Knee Injury to Heal?

Some knee injuries heal very quickly, but others may never completely heal. The most severe knee fractures, dislocations, and tears can require multiple surgeries and years of rehabilitation. During this time a victim may accumulate large amounts of medical bills and be unable to work. In some cases, knee injuries can be catastrophic, requiring the use of a wheelchair for mobility or for the leg to be amputated from the knee down.

How Much Is My Knee Injury Claim Worth?

The value of a claim for a knee injury in Orange County will vary greatly based on the amount of treatment required, the time it takes to heal, how much time was lost from employment, and the degree of permanent loss of use. Claimants with more serious knee injuries and long-term disability can often collect multi-million dollar settlements or verdicts for a combination of medical costs, lost earnings, pain, suffering, and mental anguish.

Further Reading

• What is the Average Settlement for Knee Injury in Auto Accident

Review Your Claim With an Orange County Knee Injury Lawyer

You can count on our Orange County knee injuries attorneys to know how to collect the largest amount of money possible to pay for medical treatment, reimburse you for your lost earnings, and compensate you for your pain, suffering, and mental anguish. We’ll launch a thorough investigation of your case, ensuring that we have the evidence to present a strong case on your behalf. We offer a free consultation to discuss your case and our legal strategy so you will have a complete understanding of all issues. Please contact our personal injury firm at (800) 900-9393 today to make an appointment.