SANTA CLARITA KNEE INJURY ATTORNEY

Serious car accidents can cause knee injuries, especially if the knee is jammed into the dashboard of the car. This usually happens during frontal collisions and usually involves a twisting motion of the knee. A serious car accident can result in a tear of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) of the knee joint.

ACL Tears

The ACL offers stability to your knee. When the ACL is injured, many report the knee simply "gave way," or they heard a loud pop, at the time of injury. An ACL injury can lead to severe swelling, pain, and tenderness of the knee.

Sometimes it's difficult to diagnose an ACL injury early in a personal injury case, until the initial knee pain calms down. When the pain and swelling have diminished, a doctor can examine the knee to check for evidence of a ligament tear. An MRI will show the tear in the ligament, and can be helpful when proving your case to an insurance adjuster.

If the ACL tear from the accident is severe, a physician may recommend surgical intervention. The decision to have surgery often involves not only the severity of the tear, but also the age of the patient and their normal level of activity.

Meniscus Tears

A meniscus tear can also occur in a severe car accident, when the knee cartilage is torn. A meniscus tear is very painful, since the tear leaves the knee with reduced cartilage, causing friction in the joint. Symptoms include swelling, knee pain, tenderness, popping or clicking from the knee, and limited motion of the joint.

If you've had a car accident where a meniscus injury may be present, it's important to have the knee examined by a doctor. The examination generally includes a visual evaluation, and often an X-ray or MRI to confirm the tear.

Treatment for a meniscus tear usually requires surgical intervention. As with most knee injuries, the insurance company will always want to be convinced there was a genuine "mechanism of injury." The accident usually has to be reasonably severe to prove the connection between the car accident and the meniscus tear. Absent excruciating pain reported at the scene of an accident or later at the hospital, insurers usually doubt meniscus tears from accidents at first.

Other Common Knee Injuries
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• Patellar fractures: breaks in the kneecap, often from direct impact with the dashboard or another surface during a collision
• Dislocations: occurring when the bones of the knee joint are forced out of their normal position, usually from significant trauma
• Sprains and strains: overstretching or tearing of the ligaments or muscles around the knee, which can range from mild to severe

The Law Protects You Even When Insurers Doubt the Mechanism of Injury

Insurance companies routinely argue that a knee injury — particularly a meniscus or ACL tear — either pre-existed the accident or that the accident simply wasn't severe enough to cause it. California's "eggshell plaintiff" rule addresses part of this: a negligent party must take the victim as they find them, meaning even a pre-existing but previously manageable knee condition that was aggravated by an accident can still support a claim. Prompt medical evaluation and clear, consistent documentation are the best way to counter both the "mechanism of injury" argument and a pre-existing-condition argument.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does it sometimes take a while to diagnose an ACL or meniscus tear after an accident?

Initial swelling and pain can make it difficult to properly examine the knee right after an accident. Once the acute symptoms calm down, a doctor can more accurately assess for ligament or cartilage damage, often confirmed with an MRI.

Why do insurance companies question knee injuries from car accidents?

Insurers often argue the impact wasn't severe enough to cause a significant tear, especially without a clear "mechanism of injury" like dashboard impact. Prompt, well-documented medical evaluation is the best way to address this doubt.

Can I still have a claim if I had prior knee issues?

Possibly. Under California's eggshell plaintiff rule, a negligent party is responsible for aggravating a pre-existing condition, even one that was previously manageable, though clear documentation of the change after the accident matters.

How long do I have to file a knee injury claim in California?

In most cases, California law gives you two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury claim.

Talk to a Santa Clarita Knee Injury Attorney Today

​Robert Mansour can help advise you regarding your case.  He serves the entire Santa Clarita Valley including Valencia, Canyon Country, Saugus, Newhall, Castaic, Stevenson Ranch, and surrounding communities. Call Santa Clarita personal injury attorney Robert Mansour at (661) 414-7100 for a free consultation and evaluation of your case.  You can also fill out our Free Case Evaluation form.

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