Knee injuries are one of the most common types of injuries suffered in car accidents. Due to the position of a driver’s knees while operating a vehicle, they can slam into the steering wheel or vehicle door upon collision. Similarly, a passenger’s knees may collide with the dashboard in a crash. A car accident-related knee injury can cause significant physical harm — and financial loss. You may be entitled to compensation in a personal injury action for the economic and non-economic damages you suffered due to a knee injury from a car accident.
Types of Car Accident Knee Injuries
The knees are one of the body’s most vulnerable parts in a motor vehicle accident. Knee injuries can be sustained in a head-on crash, a rear-end, a sideswipe accident, or any other type of collision. Regardless of whether you were wearing a seatbelt, your knees can collide with various parts of the cabin in a car crash, resulting in severe and debilitating injuries. There are a variety of knee injuries that can be sustained in a car accident, including:
- Patella fractures
- Soft tissue injuries
- Torn meniscus
- Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries
- Posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) injuries
- Medial collateral ligament (MCL) injuries
- Knee discoloration
- Reduced range of motion
Critically, injuries to the knee usually heal at a much slower pace compared with other body parts. Knee injuries tend to be very noticeable and can involve acute pain, muscle spasms, and swelling. It’s crucial to seek medical help immediately following a car accident — not only is this important for your health, but also to document any personal injury action you might later file.
Filing a Personal Injury Action for a Car Accident Knee Injury
In some cases, a knee injury can lead to permanent disability. Depending on the circumstances, you might require extensive medical treatment, surgery, and physical rehabilitation. You might also be unable to work as you recover from your injuries. If you have suffered what New York Insurance Law defines as a “serious injury,” you may be entitled to recover compensation for your damages in a personal injury lawsuit.
While no-fault insurance will provide up to $50,000 in benefits for your medical treatment and a certain amount of your lost wages, the monetary losses associated with a car accident-related knee injury often exceed this threshold. In a personal injury lawsuit, you may be able to recover your economic damages — including your unreimbursed medical expenses, lost wages, loss of future earnings, and out-of-pocket costs related to the accident.
Additionally, you might be eligible to recover your non-economic damages by filing a car accident-related lawsuit. Also referred to as “pain and suffering,” these damages address the impact the accident had on your day-to-day life and livelihood, including the physical pain and mental anguish you experienced. This category of damages can also compensate you for the loss of enjoyment of life you experienced in connection with your injuries, loss of consortium, and other damages that are non-pecuniary in nature.
Contact an Experienced New York Personal Injury Attorney
If you sustained a knee injury as a result of a car accident, you may have incurred substantial economic damages — and experienced considerable pain and suffering. A knowledgeable personal injury attorney can help ensure you secure the maximum compensation you deserve for your injuries. The Dearie Law Firm, P.C. has represented car accident victims for more than 30 years and has assisted them with obtaining the best possible outcomes in their unique cases.
The Dearie Law Firm, P.C. has convenient office locations in Manhattan, the Bronx, and Brooklyn, as well as mobile locations serving Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, the Bronx, Staten Island, Westchester County, Rockland County, Nassau County, and Suffolk County. Contact us today for a consultation.