Important Information about Knee and Leg Injury Risk in Auto Collisions

August 22, 2016

Auto accidents cause injuries to approximately 2.35 million people annually in the United States, according to the Association for Safe Internation Road Travel (ASIRT). Many vehicle occupants suffer serious injuries to the leg and knee. When suffering any injury, crash victims should seek immediate medical care, an accurate diagnosis to confirm a full understanding of their injuries, and a prognosis. Prompt medical diagnosis and treatment will both contribute to your medical recovery as well as document your injury. Because the lower extremities are among the parts of the human body most often injured in a crash, our Atlanta personal injury lawyers have provided the following information crash victims should know in the event they suffer injuries to their leg(s) or knee(s) in an auto accident.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) indicates that injuries to the lower extremities are commonly experienced by drivers of passenger vehicles in frontal impact collisions. Although automakers continue to add safety features to vehicles, which include more airbags, crash avoidance systems, and automatic seat belts, the NHTSA reports that the high prevalence of injuries to the lower extremities has continued despite newer model vehicles as well as the additional safety features.

The prevalence of lower extremity injuries is important because these types of injuries can have far-reaching effects on crash victims. Some of the injuries to legs and knees experienced by auto accident victims include, among others:

Meniscus Injuries: The cartilage of the knee is referred to as the meniscus. When the force of impact causes the knee to twist in a crash, a tear or other injury can occur, which causes intense pain and, in some cases, requires surgery to repair.
Knee Bursitis: Bursae are small sacs of fluid that are located within the knee. When the knee experiences impact during a crash, inflammation of the bursa often occurs.
Fractures of Bones: There are several bones that might break or fracture in a crash, such as a fibula, metatarsal bones, tibia, and femur.
Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Tears: This serious type of knee injury involves damage to the ligament that connects the femur to the tibia. The ligament can stretch or completely tear during a crash. Surgery and a long period of physical rehabilitation often are required to recover from this injury.

Injuries to the leg or knee force crash victims to overcome intense pain and potentially a long course of costly treatment and physical rehabilitation. Knee injuries like an ACL tear often are among the most painful types of injuries. Some injuries to the lower extremities can be so severe that a person never experiences a full recovery, which can result in permanent limited mobility and disability.

In addition to the physical hardships associated with serious injury to the knee or leg, lower extremity injuries often result in extensive medical bills and significant lost wages. For example, the cost of treatment for a broken femur when a rod must be inserted ranges between $86,500 and $500,000 according to a Cleveland State law review article. However, the cumulative financial loss experienced can vary greatly depending on a wide range of factors that include but are not limited to medical care expenses, the severity of the injury, extent of disability, loss of earning power and other factors. Our attorneys pursue compensation for our clients who have suffered lower extremity injuries against those responsible for their injuries due to negligence. Compensation can include a monetary recovery for medical expenses, lost wages, Pain and Suffering, punitive damages depending on the severity of the at-fault person or company's conduct, and more.

Put Our Firm's Over 39 Years of Legal Experience to Work for You

If you or your loved one has suffered an injury to the leg or knee in a car accident in Atlanta, our experienced Atlanta personal injury lawyers strive to provide the best outcome possible under the law and based on the circumstances of our clients' cases. Our Georgia accident attorneys at Montlick and Associates, Attorneys at Law, are available to assist clients throughout all of Georgia and in the Southeast, including but not limited to Albany, Athens, Atlanta, Augusta, Columbus, Gainesville, Macon, Marietta, Rome, Roswell, Savannah, Smyrna, Valdosta, Warner Robins and all smaller cities and rural areas in the state.

No matter where you are located, our attorneys are just a phone call away, and we will even come to you. Call us 24 hours a day/7 days a week for your Free Consultation at 1-800-LAW-NEED (1-800-529-6333). You can also visit us online at www.montlick.com and use our Free Case Evaluation Form or 24-hour Live Online Chat.

Montlick & Associates, Attorneys at Law
17 Executive Park Dr NE
Atlanta, GA 30329
(404) 529-6333
(800) LAW-NEED
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Category: Auto Accidents