Dashboard knee is a non-medical term for a very specific and common injury that drivers and front seat passengers may experience during a crash. These injuries can cause victims to experience excruciating pain, reduced mobility, swelling and other serious symptoms.

At Andy Citrin Injury Attorneys, we know how painful knee injuries can be and how that trauma can impact your ability to work, engage in family time, or enjoy your favorite activities. When we represent you, our experienced car accident attorneys in Mobile get to work right away. We are deeply committed to securing the compensation you need to recover from your car crash injuries and move forward.

Not sure if you have a case? Call for a free, no-risk case review to discuss your situation, get answers to your questions, and learn about your legal options.

Call Andy Citrin Injury Attorneys for your free case evaluation today. 251-888-8888.

What Are Dashboard Knee Injuries and How Do They Happen in Car Crashes?

The medical term for dashboard knee is posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) injury. Dashboard knee injuries are pretty common and occur when the impact of a collision violently pushes your body forward, causing you to hit your knees against the dashboard.

Even though your vehicle stops following the impact, your body continues to move forward due to inertia. Seatbelts help restrain the upper part of your body, but your knees may slam into the dashboard with tremendous force. An impact of “just” 30 mph can generate significant force.

How Do I Know If I Have a Dashboard Knee Injury After a Car Crash?

Dashboard knee injuries may not be immediately noticeable after a car accident. Sometimes, adrenaline can mask your body’s pain and symptoms for hours or even days after the initial accident and injury.

After a car crash, your health should be your priority, and seeking immediate medical attention ensures any critical internal injuries, fractures, or other physical damage are ruled out or discovered and treated.

Dashboard knee can be diagnosed via diagnostic imaging, like an MRI or X-ray, to determine the extent of the injury. Once diagnosed, you can begin treatment to control pain, reduce swelling, and prevent further damage.

Pain becomes more apparent as the initial shock of your car crash wears off. Key symptoms you may experience include:

• Swelling: Typically begins within 2-6 hours – may be severe
• Stiffness: Difficulty fully straightening or bending your knee
• Discoloration: Bruising that progresses from red to purple to deep blue
• Instability: Feeling like your knee might “give out” when you put weight on it
• Locking: Knee gets stuck in one position and may not move

You may experience different types of pain, which may include:

• Sharp, shooting pain when moving suggests ligament damage
• Grinding sensations or popping sounds, indicating potential cartilage damage
• Deep, aching pain that worsens with activity points to bone injuries
• Pain that radiates up your thigh or down your shin, which may indicate nerve damage

Are Dashboard Knee Injuries Serious and What Treatment Do I Need?

Dashboard knee injuries can range from fairly mild to significant damage. It depends a lot on how fast you were traveling up to the moment of impact. That said, knees are one of the most complex joints, involving four bones and a large network of ligaments, muscles, and other soft tissue. The force of a collision can cause damage to multiple components in your knee at once.

For minor dashboard knee injuries, you may only need a few weeks of rest, ice, physical therapy, and a knee brace. More severe dashboard knee injuries may require surgery, especially for PCL tears or if your patella was fractured or displaced in the collision.

Treatment varies from one patient to another, depending on the severity and location of the damage. Generally initial treatment for dashboard knee may include:

• Diagnostic Testing: X-rays to identify fractures and MRI scans to evaluate soft tissue damage
• Immobilization: Knee braces, splints, or crutches to keep weight off the injured joint
• Pain Management: Ice application, elevation, and medication to make the injury tolerable

If your knee injury is severe, you may need surgery to repair the damage, followed by rehabilitation therapy, and other extensive treatment.

Can I Get Compensation for My Dashboard Knee Injury in Alabama?

Yes, you can seek compensation for your dashboard knee injury in Alabama if another driver’s negligence caused your accident. That said, you should take immediate steps to ensure the protection of your rights and to maximize your recovery.

Under Alabama’s strict contributory negligence laws, contributing even one percent to the crash that injured you will bar you from recovery any compensation. You need a seasoned lawyer who knows how to dispute insurance companies who try to unfairly assign fault to victims after a crash.

Types of Compensation That May Be Available

When liability is established, Alabama law allows dashboard knee injury victims to recover compensation for their damages, including:

• Medical Expenses: All treatment costs, including surgery, hospitalization, physical therapy, medications, and future medical care
• Lost Wages: Time away from work and reduced future earning capacity if your injury limits your ability to work
• Pain and Suffering: Compensation for physical pain, emotional distress, and reduced quality of life
• Property Damage: Vehicle repair or replacement costs

Evidence That Proves Your Dashboard Knee Injury

Detailed evidence is needed to establish that your injuries resulted from the car accident. Insurance companies often challenge these claims, making strong documentation essential for securing fair compensation.

Physical Evidence

Photos showing the location and extent of your vehicle’s damage, as well as any images of your knee as it begins to swell and show signs of bruising.

Medical Documentation

Emergency room medical records provide the most critical evidence of not only when your knee injury occurred, but also how badly. When you visit the ER, it creates a “timestamp” which links the date of your initial injury to the accident that caused it.

Medical records show additional information about your dashboard knee injury, including:

• Diagnostic testing
• Doctor’s diagnosis
• Prescribed treatment
• Follow-up care required
• Restricted activities

If you need surgery, those details will also be included in your medical records, as will any follow-up appointments your doctor requires to continue your treatment and monitor your progress.

Follow-up medical appointments continue to aid your recovery while also creating a critical timeline. Gaps in that timeline caused by missed appointments or stopping treatment early creates time gaps that can severely damage your claim. Insurance companies look for those time gaps and use them to dispute your claim and the severity of your injuries.

Why Hire Andy Citrin Injury Attorneys for Your Mobile Car Crash Claims

Our law firm specializes in cases involving serious car crashes, and we have a history of proven results. We also take a different approach to ensuring our clients get fairly compensated for their medical costs and other losses.

Rather than putting you through months of delays while we negotiate what is likely to be a low settlement offer, our seasoned attorneys push to go to trial early on. We realize the idea of going to court is intimidating for many people, but we have a unique advantage that makes it less scary – the only realistic mock courtroom in Alabama. We utilize this realistic courtroom environment to prepare our clients well in advance, ensuring they feel more confident when their day in court arrives.

Injured in a Car Crash? Call Andy Citrin Injury Attorneys for Legal Help Today

Dashboard knee injury claims involve complex medical issues and challenging legal standards. The state’s contributory negligence law gives insurance companies incentive to shift that one percent of blame to you so they don’t have to pay out on your claim.

At Andy Citrin Injury Attorneys, we are prepared to dispute any attempts to unfairly assign our clients with fault. Contact us today or complete our confidential online form to schedule a free consultation with one of our attorneys.

Remember what Andy says, “I win or you don’t owe me a dime.” 251-888-8888.