Knee Injuries Caused by Auto Accidents

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The knee is one of the most easily damaged parts of the body. As people age, complaints of knee pain are common, and even the most well-done knee surgeries can leave people with lingering pain and stiffness. It’s no surprise that knee injuries are relatively common in car accidents. When met with the sheer force of a car accident, the delicate muscles, bones, and soft tissue of the knee can suffer serious damage.

If you’ve been injured in a car accident, you may very well be entitled to compensation. Ready to find out? Call Reeves & Mestayer at 228-374-5151 to schedule a consultation now.

How Car Accidents Can Cause Injuries

The type of injury you suffer depends on what type of car accident you’re involved in and the speed of the accident. The position of the leg also matters. For example, if you are T-boned, your outside knee can be shoved into your inner knee, causing fractures in both. On the other hand, if you are hit head-on, you may strike your knees on the vehicle console.

If your knee is bent during the crash, your kneecap may be left exposed to serious damage. Unfortunately, that doesn’t mean that keeping your leg straight is the better option. In this position, you risk having your leg bones jammed together, resulting in potentially severe injuries to your knee.

Several types of injuries may occur after a major car accident:

Ligament Damage

The knee holds the anterior cruciate ligament, posterior cruciate ligament, and medial collateral ligament. While most people know of the ACL since many athletes suffer ACL injuries, the MCL and PCL are less well-known. Tears in any of the ligaments often require immediate surgery, especially severe tears. If the tissue is simply strained, it may be able to recover without extensive intervention. If you go through surgery for ligament damage, plan on waiting at least six months to feel back to normal.

Fractures

A broken kneecap or tibial plateau can cause significant damage. A patellar fracture may heal in a matter of weeks if the patella has not moved out of place. If it has, extensive surgical intervention may be necessary. This often causes pain for months. A fracture of the tibial plateau may or may not require surgery, depending on how serious it is. If it’s a minor fracture, you may recover with enough rest and recuperation.

Dislocated Knee

Your knees are the foundation of your ability to walk, so a dislocated knee can be a life-changing injury. When the knee has become dislodged from its normal position, you’ll generally feel extraordinary pain and be unable to move your knee. If the knee moves back into place easily, you may not need surgery. However, if the surrounding arteries have been damaged, surgery may be recommended.

Even if you have an “easy” dislocated knee that does not require surgery, the path to recovery is still long. The knee must be kept immobilized until it heals, and you’ll likely have some lingering pain and stiffness for the rest of your life.

Damage to the Muscles or Cartilage

Damage to the muscles and cartilage is relatively common in a car crash. When the muscles of the knee are pushed to their limits, you may feel stiffness, spasms, pain, and swelling. If more severe muscular damage happens, physical therapy or surgery may be the next step.

Cartilage damage may occur if the knee is forcefully twisted. Symptoms of torn cartilage include pain, swelling, and a limited range of motion. Much like a muscular injury, this type of injury generally recovers with rest and elevation. A severe tear may only fully recover with surgery.

These knee injuries highlight how important it is to seek medical attention after a car crash. Even if you feel mild or moderate pain that you think will go away, you could have a major knee injury. In these situations, prompt treatment is essential for those who hope for a full recovery.

Choose Reeves & Mestayer for Your Car Accident Claim

The team of personal injury attorneys at Reeves & Mestayer can help you pursue the compensation you’re due after a car accident. If you’re ready to take the first step in your personal injury claim, call us at 228-374-5151 or get in touch online.

Proving the Other Driver Was Texting in an Auto Accident

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It’s hard to imagine a text message that’s important enough to be worth causing a car accident. Despite that, a shocking number of accidents are caused by those who text while behind the wheel. If you’re involved in a crash and you suspect the other driver was using their phone at the time of the crash, what’s your next step?

Learn more about how you can prove that another driver’s bad decision caused your accident. When you’re ready to talk about your case with our team, call Reeves & Mestayer at 228-374-5151.

The Dangers of Texting and Driving

Texting and driving is incredibly dangerous, but a large number of drivers still think it’s harmless. What’s a second or two spent looking at your phone, after all? One glance at your phone is enough to cause a major accident. Consider this: the average text message takes five seconds to type. During that time, a person driving 55 miles per hour crosses the length of a football field, all without looking at the road.

Not only is texting and driving dangerous, but it’s also becoming increasingly common. Surveys indicate that a growing number of teen and adult drivers admit to texting and driving within the last 30 days. That’s why it’s important to drive defensively, give yourself plenty of space around other drivers, and be ready to see compensation if a negligent driver hits you.

Support Your Claim with Proof

If you’ve been hit by a reckless driver and you suspect that they were using their phone, you’ll need to prove your claim. If you can, your personal injury claim will be much stronger. Driving while texting is a breach of a driver’s obligation to others on the road, which is to take reasonable steps to prevent injury to others. There are several ways you can prove that another driver was texting at the time of a crash.

Court Order

Perhaps the most straightforward way to get proof is to subpoena the driver’s cell phone company. Your lawyer can do so as part of an ongoing case. However, this may not be the first step they go to. It can take time and is sometimes more cumbersome than it’s worth if there are other options. Cell phone records will show exactly when text messages were sent and received, providing ironclad proof.

Eyewitness Assistance

Many safe drivers are fed up with distracted drivers on their phones. They notice when someone next to them is speeding up and slowing down randomly, swerving, or otherwise driving unsafely. If they see that person with a cell phone in their hand and notice that they are involved in an accident down the road, there’s a good chance they will stop to offer their assistance to the other driver.

While another driver’s observation may not provide proof that the liable party was driving at the time of the accident, it can be a good starting point for an investigation. It may also be included in the police report, which is very useful for your attorney.

Traffic or Commercial Cameras

Cameras are everywhere nowadays, and while that may feel like an invasion of privacy sometimes, it is helpful in situations like this. Red light or traffic cameras are often clear enough to identify a driver, so they are good enough to show whether or not the driver has a phone in their hand. If you choose to go this route, make sure to ask for the footage quickly. It is often rewritten on a set schedule to save space.

Confession

Most drivers know better than to admit that they were using their phones at the time of the accident. Some come right out and say that they were using their phones if they are panicking over the crash. If this happens, make sure you tell the police officer who responds to the scene.

Start Your Personal Injury Claim with Reeves & Mestayer

Have you been hit by a distracted driver? You may be entitled to compensation for your medical bills, lost income, and related expenses. Find out more about your options now by contacting Reeves & Mestayer online or calling us at 228-374-5151. We’re here to hold reckless drivers accountable for the damage they cause.