Kentucky drivers may be on Interstate 75 or Interstate 65 when a speeding driver rams their vehicle from behind. A reckless driver may ignore a red light at a busy Louisville or Lexington intersection and T-bone an innocent driver.
These careless acts lead to impacts that break bones, including the bones that make up the biggest joint in your body, the knee. This injury can require thousands of dollars in medical care to repair and victims can suffer lifelong stiffness and pain. A Kentucky car accident lawyer safeguards victims to make sure they have the support to pay for the best medical care available.
Schedule a Free Consultation After a Knee Injury in a Kentucky Car Accident
A knee injury can affect your life in many ways that go beyond pain. A fractured knee can rob you of your ability to walk, drive, and earn a paycheck. This is a frightening situation when car accident victims also have medical bills piling up.
After an encounter with a reckless driver, you should never have to face the expense of recovery alone. To make sure you aren’t held responsible for the costs of your comeback from a broken knee, contact Kaufman & Stigger, PLLC, of Kentucky.
We offer a free, no-obligation case consultation to all Kentucky car accident victims. It’s an easy, no-risk way to understand the benefits available to you and how to secure those benefits from an unhelpful car insurance company.
Kentucky Car Accident Knee Injury Dangers
The knee joint is where three leg bones merge and are held together by ligaments, tendons, muscles, and cartilage. The knee’s basic function is to join the upper and lower leg to allow you to sit, walk, bend, and jump.
Johns Hopkins University details the three bones that form the knee joint:
- The shin bone in the lower leg.
- This is the thighbone.
- The kneecap.
Researchers say that in car accidents, it’s the kneecap that’s most often fractured. The patella can strike the steering wheel column, the dash, or the back of a seat to suffer a painful break. The knee could also be crushed in a crumpled car or be twisted in a quick motion of a collision.
John Hopkins reports that kneecap breaks can be “nondisplaced,” meaning that this round bone is broken but hasn’t been moved. A “displaced” patella fracture means the kneecap has been cracked and also moved from its groove at the end of the femur bone. This movement can also tear the tendons and ligaments that hold the knee together.
A knee injury can leave victims facing a challenging recovery. Victims should never have to worry about the cost of a week’s or a month’s long recovery plan, especially when another driver is to blame for what happened. A Kentucky car accident lawyer will be proving that you weren’t responsible for an accident and then demonstrating just how much you’ll need to pay for a full recovery from your knee injury.
Kneecap Fracture Treatment and Costs
A car accident victim suffering from a broken kneecap or torn soft tissue could require a cast to hold the area still. A knee scooter could also be necessary to allow patients some amount of freedom of movement. A knee injury can take anywhere from three to six months to heal. Of course, they can also result in a permanent disability that causes pain and restricts mobility for a lifetime.
When surgery is necessary, recovery may take longer than a few months. Screws and plates could be installed to hold the area in place as the knee heals. A kneecap broken in many pieces might require a surgeon to piece it back together.
Because of the complexity of the knee, the costs of repairing it can be much more expensive than any other type of fracture. Even a normal fracture can cost $10,000 or more in hospital care and medical equipment. When surgery is necessary, as it often is, the costs can increase by three times or more. These expenses will vary greatly depending on where patients receive their treatment in Kentucky. Care could cost more or less in big cities like Lexington or Louisville than in less populated areas.
With the extreme costs for care and rehabilitation for a kneecap fracture, it’s critical that the victims of car accidents don’t end up paying for their own recoveries. It’s a Kentucky traumatic injury lawyer’s job to force car insurance companies to support victims throughout their hospital care and beyond.
What Kind of Things Can I Earn Compensation for After a Knee Fracture?
Your lawyer will be investigating your car accident and collecting proof of who was to blame. Your lawyer also collects medical charts and invoices to show the financial damages you’ve suffered.
A complete list of every hardship you and your family members have endured will be created and submitted with your knee injury insurance claim.
A claim for damages after a knee injury should demand financial support for the following and more:
- Medical bills now and the expenses expected in the future.
- A lifetime of support in the event of a permanent disability.
- Knee physical therapy/medical equipment costs.
- Pain and the emotional trauma the victim has experienced.
- Loss of enjoyment of life while dealing with a change in lifestyle caused by a serious knee injury and the difficulties experienced in recovery.
- Travel costs during recovery. This is especially important if you are unable to drive and/or are in a wheelchair.
- Lost time from work including expected lost wages in the future.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to file a claim over my car accident knee injury?
One year. You’ll have 12 months from the date of the accident to file an injury claim. You should take action as soon as possible. This gives your attorney the best chance to collect fresh evidence and build a strong case.
Should I speak to the at-fault driver’s car insurance representatives?
Only give basic information. Adjusters will call you asking to get a recorded statement about what happened. Refuse. They hope they can twist some of your comments later to hurt your case. Refer them to your lawyer.
Will I have to go to court to get fair compensation for my knee injury?
Usually not. The vast majority of knee injury claims are settled out of court. Car insurance companies don’t want to pay the cost of defending themselves. They also don’t want their unfair practices exposed in a trial.
Contact a Kentucky Car Accident Knee Injury Lawyer
If you or a loved one have suffered a broken knee due to a driver’s carelessness, don’t feel like you must cope with the pain and the financial burden of care alone.
Schedule a free, no-obligation case review today with a Kentucky Car Accident Lawyer you can trust to be on your side and fight for your fair compensation. You’ll speak with a real Kentucky lawyer at Kaufman & Stigger, PLLC. If you decide we can help you earn the most for your knee fracture injury claim, you won’t need any money. We don’t get paid unless we win your case for you.