You need to sit when driving a vehicle. Unfortunately, this position leaves your legs exposed should an accident occur. Your knees will be in close proximity to the dashboard and steering wheel, which can be pushed into your legs during a collision.
Knee injuries, even minor ones, can be very painful. Severe injuries can result in a long period of recovery on top of the pain and suffering. Outlined below are some of the more serious knee injuries associated with car accidents.
Ligament injuries
The knee comprises three different ligaments, the ACL, MCL and PCL. During a vehicular collision, these ligaments can be strained, sprained or torn. While it’s not always straightforward to classify each injury as more serious than the other, tears tend to be more painful and take longer to recover. A serious injury to the knee ligaments may require surgery and, thus, a recovery period of several months to a year.
Knee fractures
The knee cap can also be referred to as the patella, and this is a bone that can fracture during trauma. The extent of the injury largely depends on how many fractures there are. For instance, if the bone has several fractures, then surgery may be required to reconstruct the knee cap.
Dislocation
A dislocated knee occurs when the joint has been forced out of its socket. Such injuries are notoriously painful, and there can also be soft tissue damage with this type of injury. In many cases, your medical team will have to put the knee back into place with surgery as well as repair soft tissue damage.
If you have been injured due to the negligence of another driver, you may be entitled to compensation. Seek some legal guidance to find out more about the law on personal injury.