Knee injuries can be debilitating, making everyday tasks feel impossible to perform. Whether you’ve fractured your kneecap, suffered a ligament injury, or dislocated the joint, your pain and mobility issues could impact your life for years to come.
In Nevada, if the injury occurred in an accident that someone else’s conduct caused, filing a personal injury claim can offer you the chance to recover damages for the losses you’ve sustained. Here is what Las Vegas residents should know about these potentially catastrophic injuries and what steps you should take if an accident causes them.
Most Common Types Of Knee Injuries
In Las Vegas accidents, there are a few types of knee injuries that are common.
Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury
The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is made up of two bands of connective tissue that form an X, allowing the back-and-forth movement of the knee. The tissue in front is the ACL. This ligament can easily tear if it’s hit with a significant amount of force. It’s a common injury during car accidents and can often occur if you brace your leg against the impact.
One of the most recognizable signs of an ACL injury is the popping sound that it can cause, quickly followed by the knee giving out. Within 24 hours, you can experience significant pain and swelling. These injuries will typically require surgery to reconstruct the ACL.
Knee Dislocation
A knee dislocation occurs when there’s a misalignment of the knee’s bones, which are the patella, tibia, and femur. Dislocations can occur in traffic collisions as well as slip and fall accidents and any other incident where you experience a powerful impact.
Immediately, you may feel extreme pain. The knee might swell, and you won’t be able to bend or straighten it. It won’t be able to hold your weight if you try to walk on it, either.
Often, people assume you can just “pop” the knee back into place, but fixing a dislocation requires medical expertise. Trying to do it yourself could lead to harm to nearby blood vessels, which could require emergency surgery to repair.
Torn Meniscus
The meniscus is a piece of cartilage that cushions your thigh and shin bones, preventing them from hitting one another. If your knee rotates abruptly and forcefully, you could experience a torn meniscus. Falls from heights, collisions at high speeds, and workplace accidents can all cause these injuries.
You may hear a clicking sound if you tear your meniscus. The knee may then lock up, not allowing you to straighten it. Pain and swelling can be significant.
To treat this injury, you will need bed rest followed by physical rehabilitation. In the most severe cases, surgery could be necessary.
Patella Fracture
Your patella, or kneecap, can fracture if it collides with an object with substantial force. Traffic accidents and falls from heights are common causes of these fractures.
A patella fracture can immediately result in debilitating pain and swelling. The knee may stiffen, and it might be impossible to move it or put weight on it. To diagnose a break, your doctor may request an MRI or an X-ray. If the fracture is small, you might only require rest and rehabilitative therapy. If not, you could have to undergo surgery.
Pursuing Your Legal Rights After An Accident
If you were in a Nevada accident that occurred because of someone else’s conduct and you suffered a knee injury, you may be entitled to pursue a personal injury claim. These claims allow you to receive compensation for the losses you’ve sustained.
Negligence is the legal theory connected to the majority of personal injury claims, and it refers to the failure to behave with the same level of care that a reasonable person would have shown in similar circumstances. To prove that negligence occurred, you’ll need to first establish that the party owed you a duty of care that they breached, causing your knee injury.
Although it may appear simple, gathering the evidence you need to show that the other party is responsible can be complicated. Most complex of all, however, can be negotiating with insurance companies to achieve a settlement that will cover all of your losses. Insurance companies are known for the tactics they use to minimize claims.
To have a chance to fully recover the losses you suffered, it’s essential to hire a personal injury lawyer. An attorney will know how to gather the evidence that can show you deserve compensation and will have access to professional witness testimonies from people like medical providers and accident reconstruction experts.
Another vital benefit that hiring a lawyer offers is the chance to take your claim to court. If the insurance company doesn’t offer a fair settlement, an attorney can litigate the case in front of a judge.
Damages Available After A Knee Injury
When you file a lawsuit, you can claim both economic and non-economic damages. Economic ones focus on compensating you for the quantifiable losses you suffered. These damages cover medical expenses, including surgical procedures and rehabilitative care, along with any future medical needs you may have because of the injury.
In instances when you will have to make adjustments to your home or vehicle to accommodate a lasting injury, you can also receive compensation as part of medical expenses to do so. The cost of assistive devices can also be covered.
Often, knee injuries are severe enough to prevent you from working. If that’s the case, you may miss out on income that would otherwise have been yours. Economic damages can cover these losses. Additionally, you can receive compensation if the injury will limit the work you’re able to perform in the future.
Alternatively, non-economic damages focus on compensating you for losses that don’t have a clear price tag. Knee injuries can cause serious pain and emotional distress, so you may also be able to seek compensation for pain and suffering. If you’re not able to live your life as you used to before the accident, you could also claim loss of enjoyment of life.
Consult A Las Vegas Personal Injury Lawyer Today
Filing a claim against the party that caused you to suffer a knee injury is no simple task. If you hire a personal injury lawyer, however, you won’t have to worry about managing the legal aspects of the claim. Instead, you can put all of your efforts toward healing.
At De Castroverde Accident & Injury Lawyers, our skilled team has decades of experience representing people throughout Nevada who have been hurt because of negligence. We can fight for your rights and navigate the complexities of the legal system on your behalf. Contact us to schedule a free consultation at (702) 222-9999 with a seasoned Las Vegas knee injury attorney today.
