Knee Injury
Longmont Knee Injury Attorneys

Everyone is aware that car accidents can cause serious and traumatic injuries. Yet, many people are not aware of how traumatic a knee injury can be, and the chronic pain and disability that knee injury victims often deal with.

The keys to a successful medical claim regarding a knee injury lie in understanding common car accident-related knee injuries, their treatments, and the costs that are incurred. It is imperative to seek prompt medical attention, while collecting important evidence of the other driver’s negligence. During this time, an experienced Longmont knee injury attorney will be able to assist you with all facets of your injury claim.

Common Knee Injuries

• Kneecap Damage. This type of injury occurs when the side door, firewall, or window caves in during a collision and crushes the driver’s knee(s). When this happens, the clamshell-shaped bone inside the kneecap (referred to as the patella) can fracture. The patella shields the tendons and ligaments inside the knee, which surround the quadriceps muscles that runs up the front side of each thigh.

Surgery is required to repair a fractured patella. The surgeon opens up the front of the knee and rebuilds the area with pins, wires, and screws, removing fractured pieces too small to repair.

Post-surgery therapy can last six to nine months, and the combined costs of surgery and therapy can range from $6000 to $12,000. Sadly, even after a kneecap is repaired and the victim is healed, he or she may be forced to live with pain and limited mobility in the kneecap joint for the rest of their lives.

• Ligament Damage. More prevalent in side-impact collisions, these injuries occur when there is damage to the tendons and muscles of the knee. The varying force of impacts can cause pulling, twisting, or hyperextension of the tendons.

The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is the source of 70% of all car accident-related knee injuries. The ACL consists of dense soft tissue and is one of four ligaments whose purpose is to provide flexibility to the knee. In an uninjured knee, the ACL stretches and turns with the knee, returning to its original position when the action is completed.

An injured ACL, however, that has been strained, is misshapen and mildly to moderately painful. A torn ACL can be debilitating and excruciating.

• Meniscus Injuries. These occur when there is damage to the disc-like mass of soft tissue and cartilage located behind the knee. The force of a car accident could cause one or more of your menisci to rupture, resulting in a painful and crippling impairment. Even a slight tear can cause moderate pain.

Arthroscopic surgery may be necessary to allow a surgeon to sew the torn areas of the menisci back together. In severe cases where the menisci cannot be repaired, a surgeon will replace them with prosthetics. Recovery from this procedure can require six to nine months of therapy and cost a patient $6000 to $8000.

Contact Our Longmont Knee Injury Lawyers

A knee injury can easily become a chronic and debilitating condition. Even after the initial injury is healed, knee injury victims can experience arthritis, pain, limited mobility, and stiffness in their knee for years. In many cases, it can significantly impact their ability to work, enjoy their hobbies, and maintain an active lifestyle.

When this occurs you need an experienced Longmont knee injury lawyer on your side. Contact the Longmont personal injury law firm of Fuicelli & Lee, PC, for a free case evaluation. You pay nothing unless you receive a financial settlement or award. Call our office at 303-355-7202 or fill out our confidential contact form.