Dashboard knee is a common injury in a Louisville car accident and it is important to seek immediate medical attention for these injuries.  The forces associated with a car accident are quite severe, and can result in your knees making contact with the dashboard, console, door or steering column.  “Dashboard Knee” is a specific type of knee injury which occurs when the knee makes impact, such as in a head-on collision.  The knee cap, or patella, may be fractured and there is often damage to the ligaments and other connective tissue surrounding the knee itself.

A fractured or broken knee is usually quite obvious, but damage to the ligaments and soft tissues of the knee can be more subtle.  Often the symptoms take several days or weeks to fully present symptoms.  Some of these include:

• Redness, tenderness, tingling or swelling of the knee and surrounding tissue
• Pain and the inability to bear weight
• A “pop” or “tearing” feeling
• Locking of the knee joint
• Instability, especially when in motion or turning
• A gritty feeling or grinding inside the joint

While Dashboard Knee is a common injury in a Louisville car accident the knees are quite susceptible to other injuries.  Injury or a tear of any one or more of the critical knee ligaments can result in a painful and time consuming recovery.  Injury to the Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL), the Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL), or the Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL) are usually due to over-extension.  PCL injuries are much more common when the knee is bent as it is when riding in a car or passenger vehicle.  A knee dislocation can appear to be less severe than a fracture or torn ligaments.  However, arterial damage associated with these injuries can actually present severe long-term consequences.

This is why it is important to contact the attorneys at Hargadon Lenihan & Herrington or call and speak with an experienced Louisville personal injury attorney for a free consultation at (866) 583-9701.  We have helped many clients with knee injuries to receive the compensation they deserve and to have the resources necessary to fully recover from the pain and life interrupting consequences of a knee injury from a Louisville car accident.