One of the more common injuries that result from car accidents in Spokane includes damage to the knee. As one of the main joints of the lower body, the knee is a vital component of your ability to move around. While many knee injuries involve ligament damage, the direct impact of a car accident can cause a fracture in the kneecap, also known as the patella.
Fractures can greatly impact your life, both physically and emotionally. On top of the physical recovery, you likely have to deal with a significant decrease in your ability to walk around at work or enjoy time with your friends and family.
CCD Law Can Support Your Recovery
At CCD Law, we understand the emotional trauma that can result from any car accident, but especially those that cause knee fractures. Our team of experienced Spokane car accident lawyers is dedicated to helping victims like you determine liability and gather evidence to pursue a claim for damages. If you’ve been injured in a car accident in Spokane, don’t hesitate to contact us for a free consultation. We are here to support you in your recovery.
Understanding Car Accidents in Spokane
As one of the most populated cities in Washington, Spokane has its fair share of car accidents. While every accident is unique, certain factors within Spokane itself frequently contribute to these accidents. Frequently, these accidents occur because of the following:
- Distracted driving, either by phones, passengers, or other factors can take attention off the road and other cars.
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol is another significant factor that can result in severe accidents.
- Speeding is a major risk factor, reducing a driver’s reaction time and making it difficult to stop their vehicle in unexpected situations.
- Spokane’s unpredictable weather conditions, such as snow, ice, and rain, can also increase the likelihood of accidents.
- Reckless driving, such as tailgating, ignoring traffic signals, and failing to yield, is another factor that can lead to collisions.
- Mechanical failures in a vehicle, such as brake failure, tire blowouts, or steering problems, can also cause accidents.
Any one of these factors can not only cause a car accident, but it can lead to knee fractures and other serious injuries. While it’s important to be aware of these factors, sometimes accidents simply can’t be avoided. At that point, you’ll need to know what to do in the aftermath.
Steps to Take After a Spokane Car Accident
Every car accident is different. However, the accident’s aftermath is a very important aspect of your physical and financial recovery.
First and foremost, you should always get to safety and then check yourself for any injuries. In the event that you’ve suffered a knee fracture, you’ll likely need assistance with moving to a safe part of the road and checking yourself for any injuries. Thus, it’s important to get medical attention at the scene, so you can at least get a better idea of what your injuries are. From there, you’ll want to have someone help you do the following:
- Gather evidence at the scene. Normally, you can do this by taking photos of the accident scene, including any damage to the vehicles involved, road conditions, and any visible injuries.
- Make sure to get the contact and insurance information of the other drivers involved in the accident. You’ll also want to get any witnesses’ names and contact information.
- You’ll want to seek more extensive medical care in the days after the accident. Follow your doctor’s instructions and attend all medical appointments and therapy sessions to ensure you receive proper treatment and care for your injury.
A knee fracture can have long-lasting consequences, so taking these steps is important to ensure you receive proper medical care and legal support. To that end, knowing the prognosis and treatment associated with these injuries can give you a better idea of the extent of your damage.
Types and Complications of Knee Fractures After a Spokane Car Accident
While the knee itself doesn’t have many bones–just three–a fracture can vary in severity depending on the force of the impact and the position of your knee at the time of the collision. Generally speaking, there are more common types of knee fractures that can happen in car accidents, such as:
- Patella fractures – A patella fracture is a break in the kneecap bone, which can be caused by a direct blow to the knee that can happen in a car accident.
- Tibial plateau fractures – Tibial plateau fractures occur when a break in the upper part of the shinbone (tibia) forms the knee joint.
- Femoral condyle fractures – Femoral condyle fractures involve the rounded ends of the thighbone (femur) where it meets the tibia to form the knee joint.
- Tibial spine fractures – A tibial spine fracture is a break in the bone that projects upward from the top of the tibia and helps stabilize the knee joint.
The prognosis of a knee fracture can sometimes be difficult, depending on the person’s health and the overall severity of the fracture and its resulting complications. As with any injury, this can vary from person to person. However, some of the more common complications of a knee fracture include:
- Osteoarthritis
- Blood clots
- Infections
- Chronic pain and weakness in the knee
Once you have a prognosis and treatment plan, you can begin the process of physically recovering from your knee fracture. That said, a significant part of your recovery will be handled through the legal process. Our team of experienced Spokane car accident lawyers can help you navigate this process, which can sometimes be challenging.
Legal Process After a Car Accident in Spokane
One of the most intimidating aspects of a car accident is the legal process that’s involved. In general, you’ll not only have to keep up with your knee fracture and its treatment plan, but you’ll also have to face medical bills and other associated damages.
That’s where our team of Spokane car accident lawyers can be vital. We have years of experience in handling all different types of car accidents and can help you through this process. Throughout our years handling car accident claims, we have developed a proven system of success that leaves our clients satisfied and helps them get the benefits and support they need. Our system includes the following:
- Investigation – Our team has a wealth of experience in conducting investigations into accidents. Our process includes gathering evidence, interviewing witnesses, and working with accident reconstruction specialists to create a full picture of what happened.
- Filing an insurance claim – One of our first steps after an investigation is to file a claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance company. An insurance claim can help you get compensation for your injuries and damages, like your medical expenses, lost wages, and property damage.
- Negotiations – Ultimately, filing a claim with an insurance company will result in them offering you a settlement. Our team will negotiate with them to obtain the best possible outcome for you.
- Litigation – If a settlement cannot be reached through a claim, we can file a lawsuit against the driver and their insurance company. This means the case could end up in court, where a judge or jury will decide your case. On top of medical expenses, lost wages, and property damage you could win, you can also recover damages relating to pain, suffering, and emotional distress caused by the accident.
With our team on your side, you can rest assured that you’ll be able to get fair compensation for your knee fracture and other injuries. More than that, you can count on us to provide you with legal and emotional support throughout the process.
Legal Guidance You Can Trust in Spokane
At CCD Law, we’ve been dedicated to providing exceptional legal guidance to clients since 1948. Our team of experienced Spokane car accident lawyers is fully committed to helping you through your accident case. You can trust that we will use our utmost expertise and effort to achieve that outcome.
If you’ve sustained a knee fracture or other serious injury in an accident, please don’t hesitate to contact us for a free and confidential consultation and case assessment.
