How to Treat Knee Injury From Falling

Slip and fall accidents happen all the time, whether in businesses, places of work, or public spaces. While some of us may be lucky enough to escape with nothing more than a bruised ego, other individuals sustain serious injuries that are challenging to treat and may cause lifelong complications. Depending on what causes you to lose balance and how you land frequently determines what area of the body is injured. One of the most commonly injured body parts that result from a slip and fall is the knees because it's the natural way to land when our feet slip backward.

Unfortunately, when you land on your knees, you may not realize how much damage has happened until later. Sure, it hurts right away, but you might still get up and brush it off. It may not be until later that you realize the extent of your injury and need the advice of a slip-and-fall lawyer. Morgan and Morgan are here to help. Let's look at how to treat a knee injury from falling and the legal options you have if you were injured on someone else's property.

How Do I Know if My Knee Injury Is Serious?

Anytime you experience an injury, we recommend you seek medical treatment. Only a doctor is qualified to determine the proper treatment for a knee injury to ensure maximum improvement. However, suppose you're unsure whether a trip to the doctor is necessary. In that case, here are some common signs that suggest your knee injury could be serious.

• Rapid and significant onset swelling
• Stiffness
• Warmth to the touch accompanied by redness
• Instability and weakness
• Popping or crunching sounds
• Inability to fully straighten and flex the knee
• Inability to put weight on your knee
• You are able to observe a deformity in your leg or knee
• You have severe pain

What Kind of Knee Injuries Are Typical in a Slip-and-Fall Accident?

Knee injuries may impact tendons, ligaments, joints, bones, cartilage, ligaments, and fluid-filled sacs surrounding the knee. Here are some typical knee injuries people sustain in a slip and fall accident.

Abrasion - Serious scrapes can occur when you hit a surface such as cement or asphalt. If minor, it can be treated at home. However, significant and deep abrasions that cause bleeding may require medical treatment.

Laceration - If you fall on something sharp like metal or glass, it can cut a hole or puncture the skin, which may require medical attention. Suppose a rusty object breaches the skin layers. In that case, you could be at risk for tetanus and should go to a physician immediately.

Contusion - Bruising is common after you sustain a knee injury due to a slip and fall accident. A hard impact often causes blood vessels to leak, which causes the flesh to appear black and blue. While painful, bruises can typically be treated with ice packs, the elevation of the affected limb, and rest.

Sprains - It's common to sprain your knee during a slip-and-fall incident because the ligaments can be overstretched. While sprains can be treated at home like contusions, you should visit a doctor if you have severe pain or significant swelling and are having difficulty moving your knee.
 
ACL injury - A tear in any of the four ligaments that join your shinbone to your thighbone is an ACL injury. Surgery is frequently required to mend a torn ligament. Failure to adequately treat this injury can lead to chronic pain and loss of function.

Fractures - Bones in the knees, like the kneecap, can be broken during a fall. Individuals that suffer from conditions such as osteoporosis are at higher risk.

Torn meniscus - The meniscus acts as a shock absorber and is a tough, rubbery cartilage located between the shinbone and thighbone. It is susceptible to tear when it bears weight, and you suddenly twist, such as in a slip-and-fall accident. While some injuries of this nature can be treated without surgery, if you experience persistent pain with swelling, surgery may be required.

Knee bursitis - Inflammation of the bursae can sometimes occur with specific kinds of knee injuries. The bursae are the small sacs of fluid that cushion the outside of the knee joint, enabling tendons and ligaments to glide easily over the joint.

Patellar tendonitis - A sudden, direct impact to the front of the knee can result in patellar tendonitis, which is inflammation and micro tears of one or more tendons.

Knee dislocation - While rare, a dislocated knee requires immediate medical attention to avert complications like nerve and blood vessel damage.

How Are Knee Injuries Treated After a Fall?

Morgan and Morgan always recommend seeking medical care after any injury. Still, you can take some immediate steps that may help until you can get to a doctor. First, get off your feet as soon as possible and allow the joint to rest. It's crucial not to tough it out through the pain because you can worsen the injury. Pain and swelling can be reduced by applying ice packs for 15 minutes at a time. The knee can be stabilized by a brace or by wrapping a bandage around it firmly, and you should elevate the affected limb. Avoid massaging the area or drinking alcohol, which can encourage swelling and bleeding.

While a mild knee injury will likely resolve on its own, prompt medical care increases the chances the knee will fully heal. If the pain persists, this indicates the injury is more serious. The type of injury will dictate the treatment options, which may include the following:

Aspiration - If the joint is highly swollen, a physician may attempt to reduce the pressure by inserting a needle to remove the excess fluid.

Physical therapy - You may need to attend physical therapy sessions to learn methods and exercises to reduce pain and increase mobility and strength.

Arthroscopic surgery - Often used to treat cartilage tears and less invasive than traditional methods, arthroscopic surgery involves the surgeon making small cuts and inserting tiny instruments to repair the damage.

Open surgery - In cases of severe injury, the entire knee joint may need to be opened so the doctor can view the complete area to correct the damage.

How Long Does a Knee Injury From a Fall Take to Heal?

The timeline for healing will depend on the type of injury sustained. Some injuries just require rest, while others require surgery. Sprains may take 2 to 4 weeks if surgery isn't required. If surgery is needed, it can take six months to a year to fully recover.

Knee injuries from a slip-and-fall accident can have long-lasting ramifications for the victim, from mobility issues to chronic pain. That's not even addressing the financial consequences like medical bills and lost work hours. When you're hurt because someone else was negligent, a qualified slip-and-fall lawyer can work to ensure you receive compensation.

How Morgan and Morgan Law Firm Can Help

Suppose you sustained a knee injury in a slip-and-fall accident. In that case, you might be eligible to collect compensation if the accident resulted from a negligent property owner. You could be entitled to recover payment for the following damages:

• Past and future medical expenses related to the slip and fall injury
• Lost wages if your injury resulted in missing work hours
• Loss of future wages if the injury forces you to obtain different employment that pays less
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Punitive damages in cases of gross negligence

How Can I Sue a Property Owner for a Slip-and-Fall Accident?

Most people know they can file an insurance claim after a car accident that wasn't their fault. Still, you're also able to file a claim for other types of accidents, like a slip and fall, because of a dangerous condition on someone else's property. All property owners, whether commercial or private, must make it reasonably safe and warn others if hazardous conditions exist. Generally, if the property is occupied by a lessee or tenant, the occupier may be held liable if they are in control of the property.

Most states have varying levels of care that are owed to a visitor based on their status, which is as follows:

Invitees - This is generally the status you would have if you were on the property for purposes of commerce, such as visiting the grocery store, the hair salon, the gym, or an office park. If an invitee is injured while on the property, the owner or the occupier would be responsible for damages if they knew of or should have known about a dangerous condition and failed to fix or warn invitees of the issue. The highest duty of care is typically given to invitees.

Licensees - People that come onto a property for non-business purposes, like social guests, friends, and family members, are generally considered licensees. Owners and occupiers are still responsible for their safety and must warn of hazards, especially if the licensee is a child.

Trespassers - A trespasser is someone who is on a property without either knowledge or consent of the owner. Generally, property owners do not owe a duty of care to a trespasser. Still, they cannot deliberately create conditions to hurt people. Here again, exceptions are made for children. For example, most cities and states have laws concerning attractive nuisances, such as swimming pools, that must be adequately fenced in to prevent unauthorized use.

What is Slip and Fall Claims and Premises Liability?

Premises liability is the legal concept used in personal injury cases when an injury is caused by an unsafe condition on someone's property. To be successful in a premises liability claim, you must prove the property owner was negligent in the care or maintenance of their property, which resulted in your injuries. Not every injury on someone else's property warrants a claim, however. To recover compensation, you have to show that the property owner was aware or should have been aware of an unsafe condition and did not take action to remedy the hazard or warn others.

What Are Some Examples of Dangerous Conditions?

Slip and falls that lead to serious knee injuries are often caused by the following dangerous conditions:

• Faulty stairs
• Snow and ice accumulation
• Wet floors
• Debris
• Oily floors
• Improper placement of cables and cords
• Unsecured carpets, rugs, or mats
• Loose or broken floors, pathways, steps, and sidewalks

What Are Common Defenses in Slip and Fall Cases?

When you make a claim for a slip and fall injury, the insurance company will most likely look for ways not to pay. Here are the most common defenses used that you will have to overcome:

Open and obvious defense - The open and obvious defense maintains that the injured party should have seen or been aware of a dangerous condition and avoided it.

Comparative fault - One of the ways insurance companies minimize their liability is to place some of the blame on you. For example, you weren't wearing the appropriate footwear for the weather, or you weren't watching where you were going.

Inadequate notice - Another common defense is that the property owner had no knowledge of the hazard or defect. For example, if you slipped and injured your knee because of a spill on the floor at the grocery store, they may say they didn't have sufficient time to clean it up. In a scenario like this, witnesses or video footage could be vital.

Contact Morgan and Morgan

While a serious knee injury can be devastating, you shouldn't have to deal with the consequences of someone else's negligence on your own. When a property owner fails to uphold their duty of care, it may be possible to recover compensation. Morgan and Morgan can help. Our slip-and-fall lawyers are ready to extend their legal expertise to ensure you receive the funds you deserve for quality medical care and compensation for other losses.

Time is limited for these actions, so contact us today for a free case evaluation.