Free Case Evaluation
Seattle Knee Injury Lawyers
Helping victims recover compensation after serious knee injuries in WA
A knee injury can affect your entire life tremendously. Not only are knee injuries extremely painful, but they often require surgery, long-term physical therapy, time off work, and ongoing doctor’s appointments. The effects can last months, sometimes a lifetime. These injuries make it hard to keep up with normal tasks and properly support yourself or your family.
If your knee injury was caused by an accident, dangerous property condition, workplace incident, or someone else's negligence in some other way, you should not have to deal with the fallout yourself. You may be entitled to damages for your medical expenses, lost wages, and physical pain. Our team is here to help you determine your next steps and to advocate for your needs and rights.
Free Case Evaluation
When do knee injuries lead to personal injury claims?
Not every knee injury will lead to a personal injury case, but if someone else’s actions or mistakes caused your harm, you may have a potential claim. Understanding the most common circumstances for knee-related lawsuits is the first step in holding the wrongdoer responsible.
Car accidents
Car crashes are a major cause of knee injuries in Washington, from torn ligaments to complex fractures. When another driver is at fault, the law allows injured victims to make a personal injury claim. Documenting how the accident caused or worsened your knee problems will be important evidence as the case moves forward.
Pedestrian and bicycle accidents
Pedestrians and cyclists are hit by cars far too often because drivers are negligent, and the injuries can be severe. Bikers and pedestrians don’t have the protection that those inside motor vehicles do, making it essential for all drivers to take appropriate caution while on the road. When the negligence of one of these drivers causes the crash, the driver can be held liable.
Slip and fall accidents
Knee injuries are frequently the result of trip and fall accidents, especially on poorly maintained or hazardous property. Common dangers include wet floors, icy sidewalks, or unexpected obstacles that lead to sudden falls with direct force on the knee. Property owners can be liable for injuries if they know or should know of risks, or if the hazard was reasonably foreseeable, and fail to correct them or alert people to hazards.
Workplace incidents
Many jobs put employees at risk of injury, including knee injuries; construction jobs and jobs that involve repetitive motions can lead to knee injuries. In this case, you will need to figure out if you have a workers’ compensation claim or a third-party injury lawsuit. A lawyer can help you with this.
If you’ve suffered a knee injury, it might be worth looking into whether you can make a claim to collect damages. The easiest way to do this is to talk to a legal professional immediately.
What compensation may be available after a knee injury?
When someone else's negligence causes your accident, or you have a third-party claim after a workplace injury, there are certain types of compensation you could be entitled to. If you’re limited to workers’ compensation, the benefits available are different.
Medical expenses
After a knee injury, you may experience significant medical expenses. This could include emergency room bills, imaging, surgery, physical therapy, assistive equipment like braces, crutches, or wheelchairs, or even making your home accessible. You can claim these losses in your case.
Lost wages
Lost wages can be a significant issue for someone who experiences a serious knee injury. It’s not just about the days you miss right after the injury, but also the ones you’ll miss in the future for as long as you’re unable to work.
Reduced earning capacity
On top of missed wages, you can also experience reduced earning capacity. This means you’re not able to earn as much money now as you were before your accident. If ongoing limitations hurt your ability to earn a living or obtain promotions, this could be claimed as well.
Pain and suffering (if you have a personal injury or third-party claim)
Many people with knee injuries deal with more than just financial concerns; they suffer significant physical and emotional pain. This can include ongoing discomfort, trouble sleeping, frustration with limited mobility, and the simple disappointment of having to miss out on favorite hobbies or daily routines.
The emotional impact of an injury can be quite significant. While it’s difficult to put an exact dollar amount on this type of pain, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be able to recover compensation for it.
The exact types of damages you’re entitled to will depend on how serious your injury is and what your losses look like.
What evidence is used in a knee injury claim?
When you’re trying to recover from a serious knee injury, gathering the right evidence is essential. You need to connect your injury to the accident and someone else's negligence.
Medical records
Your medical records tell the official story of your knee injury. These can include doctor’s assessments, hospital or urgent care reports, and explanations of your treatment.
Diagnostic imaging
Imaging is important in these cases, as you usually need specialized tests to determine what’s actually wrong with your knee. This could include X-rays, MRIs, and CT scans. These provide a good idea of how serious your injury was.
Surgical records
If you needed to have surgery to fix a broken bone or damaged ligament in your knee, this can significantly strengthen your claim and increase the value. Your surgeon can provide their notes and explain what they saw when they did the surgery and what they expect the recovery to look like.
Physical therapy documentation
Many knee injuries require weeks or even months of rehab and therapy. Your physical or occupational therapist will take notes to document your pain levels, progress, setbacks, and any ongoing limits to your daily activity.
Photographs and videos
Having pictures of your injuries, like swelling, cuts, or bruises, can help show how serious your injury was. Also, photos of the accident scene can be valuable, as they show what really happened. Videos, like dashcam footage if you were injured in a car accident, also might indicate what happened and how bad it was.
Police or accident report
Depending on where you were injured, there may be a police report or an incident report that was created. For example, if you were hurt in a car accident, you should call 911 and wait for law enforcement to arrive, and they would create a report. If you were hurt at work, you can tell a supervisor, and they should create an incident report. Whatever type of report it is, it should document what happened, who was there to see the incident, the injuries you suffered, and any other relevant information about the accident.
Expert medical testimony
For complex or disputed cases, sometimes you need a medical expert to explain how your knee injury occurred, the extent of your injuries, and your future medical needs. Doctors and rehabilitation specialists can explain ongoing symptoms, long-term disability, the need for future treatments, and how your whole life could change going forward. If a car accident caused your injury, an accident reconstruction expert could be called in to show how the accident happened and who caused it.
Having as much evidence as possible gives you the best chance of recovering compensation for your losses.
Does your law firm have a knee injury lawyer?
Our injury lawyers have decades of experience with all different types of cases, including knee injury cases specifically. If you need help learning more about your options or you’re ready to get started with a claim, we’re always here to help. You can call us today to schedule a free consultation. Our address is 16400 Southcenter Parkway, Suite 210, Seattle, Washington 98188. We look forward to hearing from you.
Reach out to Smith McBroom to schedule a free case evaluation with a Seattle knee injury lawyer
A sudden knee injury caused by someone else’s negligence can be incredibly overwhelming. No one expects to be injured to the point where they can no longer work and are dealing with large medical bills. When this happens, working with an experienced attorney is always a good idea. Our team has decades of experience and knows how to handle knee injury cases. Call us today to schedule your free consultation with a knee injury lawyer.