Slip and fall accidents in Atlanta can occur for a number of reasons. While slip and fall accidents may not result from one common activity, one experience victims of slip and falls share is usually knee pain. Annually there are about one million emergency room visits and 1.9 million doctor’s visits for knee pain. While not all of these visits occur due to slips and falls, many of the emergency room visits and primary care visits are related to falling.
Falling on a hard surface can cause damage to a person’s knee, muscles, ligaments, and tendons—often resulting in serious knee pain. Symptoms of knee injuries following a Georgia slip and fall include:
- Inability to bear weight (can’t put weight on one of your legs)
- Locking feeling (knee feels stuck in one spot)
- Bruising and swelling of the knee
- Unable to walk without pain
Three of the main knee injuries following slip and fall accidents include:
- MCL tear – The medial collateral ligament (MCL) gets injured when someone falls on the outside of the knee, resulting in a tear of the MCL. Because the MCL limits the inside of the knee from widening, a fall can cause the widening of the inside of the knee from an MCL tear.
- ACL tear – The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is the main ligament providing stability in the knee. When the ACL tears, people cannot bear weight or walk without hobbling or using crutches.
- Torn meniscus – The meniscus is a half-circle piece of cartilage that prevents the tibia and femur from direct bone-to-bone contact. Each knee has two menisci (medial and lateral) that act as shock absorbers of the knee and help stabilize the knee. When the menisci tear, a person’s body weight is unevenly distributed, which can lead to degenerative changes.
With any of the above knee injuries, the ligaments or cartilage can partially tear or completely tear. Depending on the seriousness of the injury, an orthopedist will typically recommend arthroscopic surgery. During this time, victims of slips and falls will have limited mobility. It will be required that victims rest, ice their knees, and go to physical therapy in order for their knees to fully heal. Because victims will miss work and will not be able to perform daily activities such as driving and taking care of themselves, they may need a lot of financial assistance to cover their medical bills, lost wages, and other expenses during this time.
To make sure you are receiving fair compensation for your knee injuries following a slip and fall accident in Georgia, call Shane Smith Law to find out about your rights in a free, no-obligation consultation. Call (980) 246-2656 to speak with an experienced Atlanta premises liability lawyer today.