When a shoulder, knee, or elbow joint becomes injured in an accident, it can have a devastating impact on the victim's life. You might experience pain, stiffness, and limited mobility after an accident. Depending on the type of knee injury, you may need to undergo one or more knee surgeries with long recovery times. Many of our clients who suffered severe knee injuries must take time off work to recover, making it difficult for them to pay their rising medical bills. If you or your loved one has experienced a serious knee injury in North Carolina, the experienced personal injury lawyers at Arnold & Smith, PLLC, are here to help. Contact us today to schedule your initial consultation.
Average Knee Injury Lawsuit CompensationWhen we meet with new clients, one of the first questions they ask is how much their case is worth. If you have suffered a knee injury in a car accident, truck accident, construction accident, or slip and fall accident, you are probably wondering how you are going to recover compensation. There are two main ways that knee injury victims recover compensation for their injuries — through an insurance claim or a personal injury lawsuit. The value of your knee injury claim depends on multiple factors, including the cost of your medical bills and how your knee injury will impact you going forward.
We cannot give you a precise answer on how much your knee injury lawsuit is worth. However, many knee injury claims end in a settlement between $70 to $150,000. If you have experienced a more severe knee injury, you could recover over $1 million. If you have other injuries in addition to your knee injury, your claim will be more valuable. The most high-value claims involve victims who lose mobility or are no longer able to engage in their daily activities due to their knee injury.
What to Do After a Knee InjuryThe steps you take after a knee injury accident are crucial to your legal claim and overall health. The most important thing you should do after a knee injury is to seek a comprehensive medical evaluation. It might not feel like your knee injury is severe right after the accident due to the shock and adrenaline. However, allowing a doctor to evaluate your knee and run tests, such as an MRI or x-ray, will help you determine the level of injury you are dealing with so you can receive appropriate treatment and care.
Seeking a medical evaluation right after the accident will also help you prove that the accident caused your knee injury. The insurance company or the defendant may claim that you had a previous knee injury to deny paying you compensation. When you receive a thorough evaluation and follow up with your doctor, you will be able to use these medical records to prove the full value of your claim. If your doctor recommends physical or occupational therapy, you should follow up. Additionally, be sure to take any medication prescribed by your doctor. By following your doctor's orders, you will show the court or insurance company that you are doing everything in your power to recover.
What Factors Impact a Knee Injury Claim?The specific type of knee injury you have will play a vital role in your claims. For example, if you tear your ACL and require extensive rehabilitation after surgery, your claim will likely be higher than if you tore your meniscus. The recovery time for a torn ACL is significantly more arduous than the recovery time for other knee injuries. Your claim will also be dependent on how your knee injury limits your ability to work and provide for yourself and your family. If you used to be a construction worker and you tore your ACL, you will not be able to return to your job for a while.
Contact a Charlotte Region Personal Injury Lawyer TodayIf your loved one has suffered a knee injury due to another person's negligence, you should speak to a personal injury lawyer. You may be able to recover compensation for your injuries. Contact Arnold & Smith, PLLC, today to schedule your initial consultation. We will carefully review your case and give you an idea of how much compensation you could recover and when and how to file an insurance claim or pursue a personal injury lawsuit. Our experienced and professional attorneys will fight hard for you.