If you have suffered from a knee injury that was caused by the negligence of another party, then you may have a valid Charlotte, North Carolina, personal injury claim. It all depends on how your knee injury occurred, whether or not a pre-existing condition was made worse, and what kind of economic and non-economic losses are associated with the injury. Many knee injuries are caused by things that neither you nor anyone else could have controlled. You may have some kind of degenerative condition in which your knees become weaker or lose cartilage over time. If this happens, then there may be no recourse for financial compensation, if nobody was negligent in causing the injury. Then, there are knee injuries that occur through mistakes or physical activities of your own. This could be a lifting or maneuvering injury, a sports related injury, or a trip and fall injury on your own property. When it comes to the knee injuries that you can recover compensation for, there must be an identifiable negligent party. If you trip and fall on someone else’s property, if you are in an auto accident, or are at work when the injury happens, then these are examples of situations where you can recover compensation.
Why Are Knee Injuries So Common in Charlotte, North Carolina, Personal Injury Claims?
The reason that there are so many personal injury claims in Charlotte, North Carolina, that center around knee injuries is because your knees are among the most vulnerable parts of your body. At the same time, they are among the strongest parts of your body. To understand how both of these facts can co-exist, let’s look at the anatomy of your knee. It is the complex anatomy of this joint that makes it strong and powerful, but also at risk for serious injury. You can feel your knee cap at the point of your knee joint, and this protects the underlying anatomy while allowing your knee to bend. Connected to this part of your knee are the thigh bones and the shin bones. What connects all of these bones are the ligaments, which are like ropes that hold your bones together. Then there is the cartilage that is found in between the bones to cushion the impact of your steps and motions. Finally, there are tendons which connect your leg muscles to your leg bones. All of these parts of the knee make for a sturdy and well-functioning joint that can bend, lift, and carry your weight. Unfortunately, they also contribute to a whole system of body parts that could become damaged in various ways. When any part of your knee is damaged or injured, you can end up in a very painful and difficult situation.
Different Parts of the Knee Become Damaged and Cause Different Knee Injuries
Naturally, with so many parts of the knee joint that can become injured or damaged, there are a wide range of different injuries that fall under the broad category of knee injuries. All of the different knee injuries can present in similar ways. You will typically feel pain or swelling, and you may find it impossible to walk or stand, depending on how severe the injury may be. For some, the symptoms of knee injuries include long term pain, frequent flare ups of pain and swelling, or a continuous limp. It is not uncommon for people with long term knee injuries to wear a knee brace for support. Following are the common types of knee injuries that we see in Charlotte, North Carolina, personal injury claims:
- Fractures
- Sprains
- Strains
- Ligament Tears
- Dislocation
- Cartilage Damage
Fractures to the knee can involve the area where the thigh or shin connect to the knee cap, or it can be a fracture to the knee cap itself. It may be a severe fracture or a mild fracture, and the symptoms will vary accordingly. These types of injuries can occur in sports, in trip and fall injuries, in auto accidents, in falls from heights, or in cases where something falls on, collides with, or crushes the knee.
Sprains, strains, and ligament tears are also common in sports injuries. They frequently occur when someone twists or lands wrong after jumping or running. Dislocation occurs whenever the thigh bone or the shin bone come detached from where they are supposed to be connected to the knee cap. Cartilage is something that can be damaged in a specific injury or worn away over time.
Depending on the severity of your knee injury, you may need a knee brace, crutches, physical therapy, pain medication, and even surgical procedures to correct the damage. If you have a valid personal injury claim for your knee injury in Charlotte, North Carolina, then you can get these medical needs compensated by the negligent party who caused the injury. If the injury occurred while you were working, then you can get compensation through your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance policy, without having to prove that anyone was negligent in causing the injury.
What Do You Do When Your Knee is Injured Through Someone Else’s Negligence?
Any time you suffer from a knee injury that you believe is attributable to someone else’s negligence, there are a few important steps that you need to take. Any knee injury should be seen by a medical professional as soon as possible. Knee injuries that arise from someone else’s negligence, however, also need to be documented and supported with evidence. This means that you need to gather evidence from the scene of the injury, if possible, and let your doctor know what caused the injury. At the scene, you might get photos of a hazard that caused you to fall, photos of property conditions, and photos of the injury if the injury is visible. If there are any witnesses to the injury, you can get their contact information as well. You should also ask for the insurance information of anyone who was involved. This could be someone’s homeowner’s insurance, a business insurance policy, or an auto insurance policy, for example. If you aren’t sure if your knee injury requires treatment, consider the following:
- Did you hear a popping sound when you injured your knee?
- Did your knee buckle or give out?
- Are you unable to move your knee with or without pain?
- Did your knee swell up or change colors?
If any of these things happened, or even if you are just in a lot of pain, seek treatment from a medical professional. Then, call Ted A. Greve & Associates Injury Lawyers to learn more about pursuing compensation. Contact our dedicated Charlotte NC personal injury claim lawyer today!
