Knee Injury Car Accident Attorney — Coral Springs, Florida

The knee is one of the most complex joints in the human body and one of the most vulnerable in a car accident. Dashboard impacts, sudden braking forces, and the twisting motions of a collision can tear ligaments, shred cartilage, and fracture bone — leaving an injured person facing surgery, months of physical therapy, and the prospect of a joint that never fully returns to its pre-accident condition.

Knee injuries are frequently minimized in early insurance evaluations. Adjusters may characterize them as sprains that will resolve on their own, discount the need for surgery, or argue that degenerative conditions visible on an MRI predated the accident. An experienced attorney who understands both the medical reality and the legal strategy changes the dynamic of those negotiations entirely.

Eric A. Hernandez is a personal injury trial attorney in Coral Springs with more than 25 years of experience representing injured people throughout Broward County and South Florida. A former Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida and former clerk to Chief Justice Charles T. Wells of the Florida Supreme Court, Eric handles knee injury cases with the precision and persistence that complex orthopedic claims require.

Call HLM Injury Lawyers at (305) 842-2100. Free consultation — no fees unless you recover.

How Knee Injuries Happen in Florida Car Accidents

The knee bears the brunt of several distinct injury mechanisms in vehicle crashes:

• Dashboard injuries: In frontal collisions, an occupant’s knee strikes the dashboard with considerable force — often at an angle that compresses and rotates the joint simultaneously. This is a primary mechanism for ACL tears, PCL tears, and patellar fractures.
• Airbag deployment: Airbag deployment drives the occupant back into the seat, and the reaction forces of sudden deceleration can stress the knee joint.
• Side-impact crashes: Lateral force applied to the outside of the knee can cause medial collateral ligament (MCL) tears and meniscal damage.
• Twisting during impact: When the body is thrown during a collision, the foot can remain planted or restrained by a floorboard while the torso rotates — classic conditions for ACL and meniscal tears.
• Ejection and secondary impacts: In serious crashes, occupants who are ejected or who strike interior structures can suffer complex, multi-structure knee injuries.

Symptoms and Long-Term Impact of Knee Injuries

The severity of knee injuries spans a wide spectrum — from mild sprains that resolve within weeks to complete ligament tears requiring reconstruction:

• ACL tears: The anterior cruciate ligament stabilizes the knee against rotational force. A complete ACL tear typically requires surgical reconstruction with a graft, followed by six to twelve months of rehabilitation. Without surgery, ongoing instability makes many physical activities impossible.
• MCL and PCL tears: Medial and posterior cruciate ligament injuries range from sprains to complete tears. MCL injuries often heal with conservative treatment; PCL and combined ligament injuries may require surgery.
• Meniscal tears: The menisci are C-shaped cartilage structures that cushion the knee. Tears may be treated with physical therapy or require arthroscopic surgery — either partial meniscectomy or repair. Significant meniscal loss increases the risk of early post-traumatic arthritis.
• Patellar fractures: Fractures of the kneecap from dashboard impact may require surgical fixation and extended immobilization.
• Post-traumatic arthritis: Even successfully treated knee injuries can lead to arthritis years after the accident — a long-term consequence that can be factored into the damages portion of your case.
• Impact on mobility and work: Knee injuries restrict the ability to walk, climb stairs, stand for extended periods, and perform physical labor. For workers in trades, service industries, or any physically active profession, the economic impact can be severe.

Proving a Knee Injury in a Personal Injury Claim

• MRI documentation: MRI is the definitive imaging modality for soft tissue knee injuries. It can identify ligament tears, meniscal damage, and bone bruising with precision. Ensuring that appropriate imaging is obtained and documented is a foundational step in your case.
• Arthroscopic findings: In some cases, an arthroscopic surgical procedure reveals the full extent of the injury — damage that may not have been fully visible on MRI. Surgical photos and reports provide powerful documentation.
• Orthopedic specialist records: Consistent treatment with an orthopedic surgeon who documents your diagnosis, treatment plan, and prognosis creates the evidentiary foundation for your claim.
• Combating pre-existing condition arguments: Degenerative changes in the knee — particularly in older patients — are common findings on MRI. Insurers may argue these changes are responsible for your symptoms, not the accident. An attorney retains medical experts who can differentiate traumatic injury from pre-existing degeneration and establish the accident’s causal contribution.
• Future medical cost documentation: A surgeon’s recommendation for future procedures — a second surgery, continued physical therapy, pain management — is part of the damages calculation. These costs must be projected and documented before any settlement is finalized.

Florida Law and Your Knee Injury Claim

• PIP coverage: Florida requires $10,000 in PIP coverage for all vehicle owners. Your PIP covers initial medical expenses and a portion of lost wages regardless of fault — provided you sought medical treatment within 14 days of the accident.
• Serious injury threshold: A knee injury that requires surgical reconstruction, causes permanent functional limitation, or results in post-traumatic arthritis may qualify as a significant or permanent injury under Florida’s serious injury threshold — allowing you to pursue pain and suffering damages against the at-fault driver.
• Statute of limitations: HB 837 (2023) sets a two-year filing deadline from the date of the accident. Missing this deadline forfeits your right to sue.
• Comparative negligence: Florida’s 51% rule applies. At 51% or more fault, no recovery. Below that threshold, recovery is reduced proportionally.

Why Hire Eric Hernandez

• Federal prosecution background: Eric built complex cases with expert witnesses and technical evidence throughout his time as an Assistant U.S. Attorney — skills that directly translate to orthopedic injury claims.
• Florida Supreme Court foundation: A depth of legal knowledge that informs every strategy, from initial claim evaluation through trial preparation.
• 25-plus years in court: A track record that ensures insurers take settlement negotiations seriously.
• Bilingual practice: Direct representation in English and Spanish throughout Coral Springs, Broward County, and South Florida.
• Contingency fees: No fees unless HLM Injury Lawyers obtains compensation for you.

Contact HLM Injury Lawyers — Free Consultation

A serious knee injury can take months to recover from and affect your life for years. The compensation you pursue now needs to account for that full picture — not just your current bills.

Call Eric Hernandez at (305) 842-2100 or visit HLM Injury Lawyers at 3301 N. University Dr., Suite 100, Coral Springs, FL 33065. Free consultation — no fees unless you recover.