Knee Pain After Motorcycle Accidents
According to statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were 5,172 motorcyclist fatalities in 2017. There were 550 motorcyclist fatalities recorded in the state of Florida during the same year. The NHTSA estimates that around 89,000 motorcyclists were injured.
Numbers like these are why the Daytona Beach, FL lawyers of Chanfrau & Chanfrau take motorcycle accidents so seriously. The vulnerability of motorcyclists leaves them susceptible to many kinds of injuries. Below, we want to focus on the risk of knee injuries to motorcyclists.
The Likelihood of Lower Body Injury Among Motorcyclists
According to a 2008 study by the NHTSA on lower-extremity injuries in motorcycle crashes, 47 percent of motorcycle accident victims sustained at least some sort of lower-extremity injury. This covers motorcyclists who suffered only a lower-extremity injury, motorcyclists who suffered multiple lower-extremity injuries, and motorcyclists who suffered a combination of lower-extremity and upper-extremity injuries.
Given how exposed the legs are when operating a motorcycle, it should come as no surprise that injuries to the lower body are a possibility in collisions.
Types of Injuries to the Knees
There are a few serious kinds of knee injuries that may affect motorcyclists. The ones we’ve commonly seen among Daytona Beach motorcycle crash clients include:
- Fractured Knee - Fractures to the knee cap (patella) can make it difficult to walk, stand, or even straighten your leg.
- Dislocated Knee - A knee dislocation means that the knee joint has been thrown out of proper alignment. This may also involve damages to the bones of the leg as well as surrounding tissues of the knee.
- Ligament Injuries - The ACL, MCL, and PCL are essential for keeping the knee joint in place. Damage to the ligaments can make simply getting around impossible.
- Tendon Injuries - Tendons attach muscle to bone. Injuries to the knee tendon can lead to problems straightening out your leg.
- Meniscus Tear - The meniscus is the cartilage of the knee joint that cushions the meeting point between the shin bone and the thigh bone. Meniscus tears are usually caused by forceful twisting or rotation of the joint.
Long-Term Effects of Knee Injuries
If you experience a knee injury, it can take months and sometimes even years to restore your mobility. Knee injuries take time to heal from, and leave you bound to crutches or a wheelchair for a while. Lingering knee pain may affect your for years after the injury occurred.
What’s more, serious knee injuries may have lasting impact on your mobility, necessitating a career change or change in your lifestyle. This might impact your career and earnings.
How Legal Damages Can Help
If you suffer a serious knee injury in a motorcycle collision, legal damages can help cover the financial losses you’ve experienced as a result of the crash. This includes the cost of medical care, the cost of physical therapy, lost wages, damage to your vehicle and other property, and emotional pain and suffering.
Punitive damages may also be sought if the circumstances of your crash were particularly egregious and the negligent party deserves to be punished for their harmful actions.
Contact Our Law Firm
If you have been seriously injured in a motorcycle accident, be sure to contact the auto accident lawyers of Chanfrau & Chanfrau. We are here to help. You can reach our Daytona Beach by phon at (866) 610-0653 and our Palm Coast office at (386) 439-7760.