Dashboard Knee Injuries

The force of a traffic collision can slam front-seat occupants into the dashboard, severely injuring the muscles, bones, joints, and soft tissues of their legs. Knee injuries are common, and their effects can be painful and debilitating. Car accident victims are often left with long-term mobility problems that impair their ability to work and their overall quality of life.

Have you suffered knee injuries in a car accident in Chicago? If so, the personal injury attorneys at Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C. want to help you pursue the financial compensation you need during this challenging time. Not only can knee injuries impact your quality of life, but they can also contribute to significant financial hardship, leaving you struggling to keep up with your mounting medical expenses. You should not have to face these outcomes alone – especially if the accident was due to someone else’s negligence.

If you’re ready to discuss your case with an experienced Chicago knee injury lawyer, contact Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C. today. We offer a free consultation, so there’s no risk or obligation to learn more about your options.

How a Chicago Knee Injury Lawyer Can Help with Your Claim

If someone else caused a car accident that injured your knees, they should have to pay for the consequences. Typically, this money comes from the at-fault party’s liability insurance provider – but therein lies the challenge. Insurance companies are for-profit businesses that lose their profits when they pay out claims. As such, they’re motivated to deny liability, shift blame onto injured parties, and make lowball settlement offers, all in the name of protecting their bottom line.

Getting the money you deserve could prove to be a daunting endeavor. But it’s not one you have to embark on alone.

At Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C., we have over 40 years of experience holding at-fault parties and their insurers responsible. We’ve recovered more than $2.5 billion on behalf of our clients, including more than 350 multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements. We can use our knowledge and resources to gather crucial evidence supporting your case, negotiate hard for a fair settlement, and go to court if one cannot be reached. We’ll do all this at no upfront cost, instead charging a fee only when we secure the compensation you deserve.

Ready to demand the justice and accountability you’ve been denied? Then, reach out to our Chicago knee injury attorneys today.

What Is a Dashboard Knee Injury?

Knee injuries are a common result of car accidents, as the force of impact can slam front-seat occupants into the dashboard. The posterior cruciate ligament, or PCL, is at particular risk of injury. It is located inside the knee behind the anterior cruciate ligament, or ACL. The PCL stabilizes the knee and prevents it from bending backward or twisting to either side. When the knee collides with the dashboard of a car, the blow can twist, damage, or tear the PCL. Damage to the PCL can cause instability and make it difficult to walk.

Although a PCL injury or “dashboard knee” is the most common knee injury in car collisions, they are not the only type. Other common types of knee injuries car accident victims may suffer include:

  • Damage to the kneecap
  • Anterior cruciate ligament injury
  • Medial collateral ligament injury
  • Lateral collateral ligament injury
  • Knee dislocation
  • Fractured patella (or kneecap)
  • Meniscus injury, including torn meniscus
  • Medial meniscus injury
  • Fractures to the bones that attach to the knee, such as the tibia and fibula
  • Knee dislocation
  • Soft tissue damage

Why Do Dashboard Knee Injuries Occur in Car Accidents?

Dashboard knee injuries occur due to blunt trauma to the knee. The sudden external force of a car crash can cause an occupant’s knees to collide with the car’s interior. Although safety restraints prevent the torso from propelling forward in a collision, the unrestrained lower body and legs can bounce around the car’s interior upon impact. When the knee hits the steering wheel, dashboard, or other hard surface, serious injuries can result, including various knee problems.

Dashboard knee injuries are particularly common in rear-end crashes, T-bone accidents, and head-on collisions. The impact force at these angles can cause the vehicle to crumple, shoving the dashboard into an occupant’s body and causing severe and extremely painful knee injuries.

Knee Injury Symptoms

The most common symptoms of dashboard knee injuries include:

  • Swelling of the knee or surrounding tissue
  • Redness
  • Bruising
  • Knee pain
  • Difficulty walking
  • Feeling unstable
  • Reduced range of motion in the knee
  • Weakness
  • A loud popping sound when standing or walking

Diagnosis and Treatment for Knee Injuries

If you think you might have suffered a knee injury in a car accident, seek medical attention immediately. Medical professionals have several methods for diagnosing knee injuries following a car accident. First, physicians will conduct a physical evaluation of the knee. They may test the patient’s range of motion and look for signs of abnormality like swelling and disfigurement. Next, a physician may order a round of diagnostic testing such as x-rays, MRIs, or CT scans to identify the damage’s extent and look for signs of knee fracture or a torn ligament.

Medical treatment for a dashboard knee injury depends on its nature and severity. In some cases, rest, ice, and over-the-counter medication are all it takes to recover from minor injuries. More severe cases may require surgical intervention, orthopedic devices like splints or braces, prescription medication or injections, and extensive physical therapy. A knowledgeable doctor can create a customized treatment plan and explain whether your knee injury will require surgery.

Contact an Experienced Chicago Knee Injury Lawyer Now

If you have suffered a severe knee injury in a car crash someone else caused? A knee injury lawyer in Chicago can help you demand the money you deserve for medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages you have suffered. At Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C., we have a team of top litigators ready to fight for you.

Contact our Chicago office today for your free consultation.