Common Knee Injuries After a Slip and Fall

Man holding knee in pain after falling on outdoor steps.

Slip and fall accidents have the potential to cause severe and debilitating injuries.

Slip and fall accidents are often overlooked and seen as minor incidents with no major consequences. In actuality, these accidents can cause severe physical injury, financial losses, and emotional trauma for the victim.

Some of the most common injuries suffered in slip and fall accidents are knee injuries. A severe knee injury can have a significant impact on an individual's life, as the knee is a crucial joint for mobility and weight bearing. Depending on the severity of the injury, it can lead to pain, inflammation, and difficulty walking or standing. In some cases, it may require physical therapy, or even surgery, and a prolonged recovery period.

Knee injuries can also limit a person's ability to participate in physical activities and exercise, which can impact overall health and well-being. In some cases, a knee injury can lead to long-term disability.

Often, slip, trip, and falls are the result of negligence by a property owner or manager. Property owners who allow disrepair or poor maintenance are putting people in unsafe environments and at risk of severe injury. As such, they need to be held accountable when their negligence causes harm to another.

Attorney Al Lasso and Lasso Injury Law LLC have been handling slip and fall cases in Las Vegas and communities throughout Nevada since 2003. If you or a loved one was injured in a slip and fall accident, contact us today to review your legal rights and options.

What are common knee injuries from falling?

There are several common knee injuries that can result from a slip and fall, including:

Knee sprains: The ligaments that connect the bones in the knee can be stretched or torn when the knee is twisted or bent in an unusual way.
Bone fractures: The bones in and around the knee, including the thighbone (femur), shinbone (tibia), and kneecap (patella), can be broken if enough force is applied to the knee.
Knee dislocations: The bones in the knee can be forced out of place if the knee is twisted or bent in an unusual way.
Meniscus tears: The meniscus is a piece of cartilage that acts as a cushion between the thighbone and shinbone. It can be torn if the knee is twisted or bent in an unusual way.
Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears: The ACL is a ligament that connects the thighbone to the shinbone and helps to stabilize the knee. It can be torn if the knee is twisted or bent in an unusual way.
Posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) tears: Like the ACL, the PCL connects the thighbone to the shinbone and helps with knee stability. It can be torn if the knee is bent backward.

The severity of these knee injuries can vary, and they may require different types of treatment and recovery time. If you hurt your knee in a slip and fall, seek immediate medical attention. A doctor can diagnose, document, and treat your injuries.

How do you tell if you have a knee injury?

There are several signs and symptoms that can indicate a knee injury, including:

Pain: Pain is the most common symptom of a knee injury. It can range from mild to severe and may be felt in the front, back, or sides of the knee.
Swelling: Swelling is another common symptom of a knee injury. It can occur in the knee itself or the surrounding areas, such as the thigh or shin.
Bruising: Bruising may occur if there is a direct blow to the knee or if bleeding occurs within the knee joint.
Stiffness: Stiffness in the knee can make it difficult to move or straighten the leg, which often signals an injury.
Weakness: Weakness in the knee can make it difficult to stand or walk and is often a sign of injury.
Instability: Instability can be felt if the knee joint is loose or feels like it might give way.
Popping or snapping sound: A popping or snapping sound may be heard at the time of the injury or when moving the knee.

Again, if you were involved in a slip, trip, and fall accident and hurt your knee, don't just try to "walk it off." Only a doctor or physical therapist can diagnose the specific injury by a physical examination, imaging test, or an arthroscopy (a surgical procedure that allows the physician to look inside the knee joint using a small camera) and will recommend the best course of treatment.

Compensation for a knee injury after a slip and fall

If you hurt your knee in a slip and fall accident on someone else's property, you have the right to seek compensation for your damages. Specifically, you may be able to seek compensation from the property owner or the person responsible for maintaining the property where the accident occurred, whether it's a hotel, casino, bar, restaurant, or some other type of business.

To recover maximum compensation, you will need to prove that the property owner or manager was negligent. Negligence is a legal term that means someone failed to take reasonable care to prevent an accident from happening.

In the case of a slip and fall accident, you will need to prove that the property owner or manager knew or should have known about the dangerous condition that caused your fall and failed to take reasonable action to fix the problem or warn you about it. Examples of negligence can include substances on the floor, inadequate warnings, tripping hazards, lack of handrails, or inadequate lighting.

Additionally, to win your case, you will need to prove that your injury was caused by the fall and is a direct result of the incident. You will also need medical treatment and a medical report to prove the extent of the injuries and the cost of your treatment.

If your case is successful, you may be able to recover compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages. The key is to consult with an attorney as soon as possible to review your rights and lay out your potential legal options.

Talk to an experienced slip and fall attorney today.

If you've been injured in a Las Vegas slip and fall accident, don't accept any settlement offers from the insurance company until you've consulted with an attorney first.

At Lasso Injury Law LLC, we know the tricks insurance companies use to avoid responsibility and can put pressure on them to ensure you recover the compensation you deserve.

Attorney Al Lasso has won significant awards for clients in court and can help fight for the compensation you are entitled to under Nevada law. Plus, since we offer legal representation on a contingency fee basis, you pay nothing unless we win your case. For a free consultation, call 702-625-8777.