Should I Get a Spine Surgery after my Slip and Fall?

Figuring out the actual injury that’s occurred in your knee is the first step in figuring out the right course of treatment. Here are the most common knee injuries you can sustain, either from a car accident or a slip and fall due to a hazardous condition:

• Knee Dislocation – A dislocation in the knee occurs when the bones are knocked out of place, and in some cases, the bones may pop back into place on their own. But if the dislocation is significant enough to immobilize you, surgery may be the only option.
• Cartilage Tear – the cartilage in the knees includes the meniscus and the articular lining, which cushions the bones and helps them move smoothly over each other. When any of these are torn from the trauma of an accident, you are likely to have severe pain and problems moving your knee.
• Knee Fracture – Blunt force trauma to the knee can cause a fracture, thereby leaving bones fragments to float around the knee. A brace or splint may be used to keep the knee in place as it heels, but serious fractures may require surgery. This type of injury can develop into arthritis over time, so on-going checkups are needed to monitor the level of pain and other issues you are having with your knee.
• Patella Injury – a patellar or kneecap fracture is another injury that’s caused by a forceful impact to the knee. A cast or brace can be helpful in healing a kneecap fracture, but deep, complex fractures usually require surgery.
• Knee Sprain – Overstretched ligaments are very common with slip and fall accidents, and many of these cases may be treated with rest and pain medications. However, it’s essential to see a doctor and verify which ligament is torn (ACL, MCL, or PCL) and signs to look for that may indicate that the injury is getting worse.
• Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL) Injury – a blow to the knee can cause a PCL injury, which will compromise your ability to bend the knee, as the PCL is the strongest ligament in that area. Symptoms of a PCL injury include pain and swelling, along with limited ability to move the knee when you bend your leg.
• Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Injury – this is a very common knee injury that can happen from jumping, twisting, and other ordinary actions. But over-twisting, bending, etc., which can happen in a car crash or from an unexpected fall, can also lead to an ACL tear.
• Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL) Injury – An MCL tear occurs on the interior of the knee, while PCL and ACL tears are in the kneecap area. Injury to the MCL is usually accompanied by tearing of another ligament, so immediate medical attention is needed to verify exactly where you have been injured.

You may need to have knee surgery after being injured from a slip and fall or car accident if you are dealing with limited range of motion or instability in the knee joint. A surgical procedure can reduce pain, add stability to the affected area and restore mobility in the knee joint. Keep in mind that surgery is for severe injuries to the knee, and there are other treatments that may be of help to you. Other ways to treat knee injuries from an accident include:

Based on the severity of your injury, how long it takes to recover from a knee surgery can take anywhere from a couple of months to several years. In the meantime, you will probably need 12 or more months of physical therapy, though some cases of knee damage will never fully heal. As a result, you may develop chronic pain and arthritis in your knee.

Settlements for injuries that require knee surgery can start at around $75,000, though many people receive $150,000 and above due to the required treatments, lost wages, pain and suffering, and various other issues. There’s no denying that knee injuries have a debilitating effect on your life, possibly for many years into the future. Some victims may end up with a disability and have to switch careers or stop working altogether. That’s why payments of over $1,000,000 are not unusual on behalf a slip and fall or car crash victim.

Obtaining an accurate case value is essential to recovering the losses you suffered. Our lawyers will calculate a fair amount of damages to ask for and fight to bring you the highest possible settlement.

It can take between 6 to 18 months to reach a settlement if you hurt yourself from a fall or auto accident. However, a claim may be settled within a few months if you have minor injuries and the defendant is willing to negotiate in good faith. However, most of our clients come to us with fairly serious injuries, so it’s not unusual for 1 to 2 years to go by before a lawsuit is fully resolved. With cases that are tried in court, you are looking at a potential timeline of 3 years or longer. However, only about 5% of accident claims at our law firm go to court, so this is not an issue most people need to worry about.

Personal injury lawsuits in California have a deadline of 2 years, meaning that you have 24 months starting from the accident date to file a claim. However, you should contact a lawyer right away to initiate the claims process, thereby ensuring that you can receive payment as soon as possible. What happens if you miss the statute of limitations to file a car accident or slip and fall lawsuit? Unless you have an extreme circumstance that the court is willing to consider, you will lose the right to sue altogether. Don’t take the risk of missing the deadline to sue for someone else’s negligence. Contact us immediately and seek help from a member of our legal team.

At the end of the day, no one is truly prepared for an accident that results in a serious injury. The recovery process can drain you physically, emotionally, and financially, but there are laws to help you obtain compensation if someone else is responsible for the accident.

Whether you need a slip and fall lawyer or a car accident attorney, our law firm is here for you 24/7. We are ready to answer all your questions and help you decide if filing if an injury claim is the right course of action. If you decide to hire us, the cost of representing you will be paid by the party you are suing and paid to us at the same time as your compensation check. If we don’t succeed in winning your lawsuit, you are protected by the Zero Fee Guarantee, so you owe us $0 in legal fees.

For a free consultation on your rights as an accident victim, contact our office to schedule a free case evaluation.

Other Pages on Our Website Related to This Topic
Should I Get Spine Surgery after my Car Accident
Should I Get a Fusion Surgery after a Slip and Fall Accident