In representing his client in a claim for damages as a result of leg knee injury, the personal injury lawyer must have done some research as regard to the leg and the knee, the possible leg knee injury, the possible causes of such leg knee injury, the treatment to the various leg knee injury and the possible precautionary measures against leg knee injury.
Such information puts the personal injury lawyer at an appropriate position in proving on a balance of probabilities that his client, the plaintiff herein is entitled to the award in damages he so prays for from the honorable court.
The personal injury lawyer must first and foremost understand the make up of both the leg and knee separately so as to understand what constitutes leg knee injury. In short the leg is – The limb in the body that supports the rest of the body above the ground and is located between the nee and the ankle. On the other hand,
the knee is – The joint that joins the thigh and bone to the leg and more so it the most important and complicated joint in the entire body having its main function as supporting nearly the entire weight of the body.
Having known in brief what the leg and the knee are and their importance to the body as regard to their function, the personal injury lawyer will be required to know the possible causes of leg knee injury which vary from;
Overuse (repetitive motions),
Sudden stops or twists,
Direct blows to the knee e.g. car accidents
Such information on the what the leg and the knee are and where they are located including their function and possible causes of leg knee injury will enable the personal injury lawyer to relate the information to the various leg knee injury which vary from;
Sprains – as a result of a torn or stretched ligaments located I the knee.
Strain – as a result of a partially or completely torn muscle or tendon in the knee.
Tendonitis – as a result of irritation of the tendon or an inflamed tendon.
Mensical Tears – as a result of sudden changes in speed or side to side movement
Fracture – as a result of a cracked or shattered bone.
Dislocation – as a result of knocking off of the kneecap (patella) to the side of the joint by twisting or some kind of impact.
Cartilage injuries – as a result of small pieces of the bone or cartilage softening to break off from the end of a bone
The personal injury lawyer so as to prove that the leg knee injury was severe and therefore deserving the damages prayed for and nothing less, he will need to know the various examination procedures that his client went through
X-ray – So as to get a good picture of the bones that make up of both the leg and the knee. A diagnosis can be obtained at this juncture.
CAT scan or MRI – So as to get a 3 dimensional picture of the bones, tissues ligaments and cartilage of the leg and knee.
Arthroscopy – Surgery that takes a direct look at the inside of the knee. (open knee surgery)
The personal injury lawyer must also know the various treatments available in treating leg knee injury. Such treatments to leg knee injury include;
Use of anti inflammatory medications – In cases of tendonitis
Application of RICE ( Rest, Use of Ice, Compression by use of bandages, Elevation f the leg) – In cases of Sprains, Strain and overuse
Use of Knee Immobilizer ( A sleeve wrapped around the leg to keep the leg from moving)
Physical Therapy
Wearing a cast
Use of crutches
Information on the specific examination and treatment that the client received herein the plaintiff can be adduced as evidence in a court of law in form of documentary evidence and have an expert witness (doctor) testify as to the gravity of the leg knee injury.
Both the documentary evidence and testimony of the expert witness will educate the personal injury lawyer on the exact examination that his client the plaintiff herein underwent and the prescribed treatment given to him. The personal injury lawyer will use the information to argue for the reasonableness of the damages so prayed for by the plaintiff herein.
More to that, documentary evidence in form of receipts indicating money spent to treat the injuries to the knee like the X-ray examinations, the physical therapy payments and the purchase of crutches, knee immobilizer (a sleeve wrapped around the leg to keep it from moving) and anti inflammatory medications like ibuprofen would also be sufficient proof of the economic strain and stress that the plaintiff had to go through in order to recover money spent on the leg knee injury.
The personal injury lawyer will be finally required to prove that his client the plaintiff herein was not the cause of the leg knee injury by showing that he had done all that he could to prevent leg knee injury. The personal injury lawyer could adduce evidence to the fact that during the accident that caused leg knee injury the client had either, worn protective equipments, e.g. kneepads and supportive shoes that are in both good condition and appropriate to prevent such a leg knee injury.
A medical past history of the client would also be relevant as it would show that the client did not have previous leg knee injury apart from the current one that he claims compensation for.
The leg and the knee being an important parts of the body that enable locomotion and provides for stability and flexibility for the whole body respectively, the personal injury lawyer would further submit that due to leg knee injury, the client, is not in a position to go about his normal day to day activities and therefore requires compensation for the loss of time and finances.