A knee injury can upend your daily life far more than many people realize. Damage to the knee, one of the most complex joints in your body, can make it painful to walk, work, or care for your family.
At Morris, King & Hodge, P.C., our Huntsville knee injury attorneys have been representing injured North Alabamians since 1966. We know the local courts, local insurance companies, and the real impact knee injuries can have on working people across the region. If someone else’s negligence caused your knee injury, we want to hear from you.
Contact us for a free consultation. You pay nothing unless we recover compensation on your behalf.
Alabama gives you only two years to file, and one shared fault can bar your claim entirely. Get your case reviewed by attorneys who’ve recovered over $168 million since 1966. You pay nothing unless we win.
Why Knee Injuries Are More Serious Than Insurance Adjusters Make Them Sound
Insurance adjusters tend to treat a knee injury as a temporary inconvenience. However, the knee is the largest and one of the most structurally demanding joints in the body.
Research published in Academic Emergency Medicine found that around 6.6 million knee injuries were treated in U.S. emergency departments over a single decade, with adults over 65 sustaining fall-related knee injuries at more than double the rate of younger populations. The CDC confirms that injury-related visits are among the top reasons Americans seek emergency care.
A torn ligament or fractured kneecap can require multiple surgeries and months of rehabilitation. Even after you have finished treatment, you might still be left with chronic pain. When an insurance adjuster downplays the lasting harm, it’s essential to have our Huntsville knee injury lawyers document your full losses.
Types of Knee Injuries Our Huntsville Attorneys Handle
A knee injury can be anything from a soft-tissue sprain to a catastrophic fracture that demands joint replacement. Below are some examples of knee injuries often involved in negligence-based claims.
Ligament Injuries (ACL, MCL, PCL, LCL)
The knee relies on four major ligaments to stay stable. An ACL injury (that is, a tear of the anterior cruciate ligament) is among the most well-known, often caused by sudden twisting or impact during a collision. MCL, PCL, and LCL tears can result from direct blows in car and truck crashes. Ligament reconstruction typically requires surgery followed by 6 to 12 months of physical therapy.
Meniscus Tears
Each knee contains two wedge-shaped pieces of cartilage (the menisci) that cushion the joint. A meniscus tear often occurs when the knee is forcibly twisted while bearing weight, such as in a slip-and-fall knee injury on a wet floor. Severe tears may require arthroscopic surgery, and some never fully heal.
Patellar (Kneecap) Fractures and Dislocations
A direct blow to the front of the knee can fracture or dislocate the patella. These injuries typically require surgical fixation and extended immobilization, leaving patients unable to work for weeks or months.
Tibial Plateau Fractures
The tibial plateau is the flat upper surface of the shinbone that supports your body weight. High-energy impacts (such as those from a truck accident or a fall from a height) can crack the surface. You might also suffer damage to surrounding ligaments and cartilage, which can make recovery more complicated and can increase your risk of long-term arthritis.
Cartilage Damage and Post-Traumatic Osteoarthritis
Trauma to the knee can speed up cartilage breakdown and lead to post-traumatic osteoarthritis. Claims of this kind are often rejected because the degenerative condition might not appear for months or years after the initial injury. Having a knowledgeable attorney on your side can help protect your claim.
Total Knee Replacement (TKR) After Trauma
When a traumatic injury destroys too much cartilage or bone, a total knee replacement with an artificial joint might be the only option.
Common Accidents That Cause Knee Injuries in North Alabama
Knee injuries in our area frequently result from preventable incidents, including:
- Car and truck accidents – Collisions on I-565, I-65, Memorial Parkway, and other busy thoroughfares in Madison County regularly result in dashboard knee impacts. A knee slammed against the dashboard or trapped in crumpled metal can sustain ligament tears, fractures, or dislocations.
- Slip, trip, and fall accidents on unsafe property – A slip and fall knee injury on a wet floor, broken sidewalk, or icy parking lot can cause meniscus tears, patellar fractures, and ligament damage. Property owners who fail to maintain safe conditions can be held liable.
- Workplace knee injuries – Construction workers, warehouse employees, and factory personnel face elevated risks from falls, heavy equipment, and repetitive kneeling.
- Defective products – Faulty knee implants, defective safety equipment, and malfunctioning machinery can cause or worsen knee injuries. A product liability claim can hold manufacturers accountable.
How Alabama Law Affects Your Knee Injury Claim
Alabama has a two-year deadline in place for most personal injury claims. Specifically, Ala. Code § 6-2-38 gives you a maximum of two years from the date of your injury to begin legal proceedings against the at-fault party. If you miss the deadline, you lose the right to seek compensation in court.
Alabama also follows the doctrine of contributory negligence, which can bar recovery completely if the defendant proves you were even partially at fault. In Williams v. Delta Int’l Mach. Corp., 619 So. 2d 1330 (Ala. 1993), the Alabama Supreme Court reaffirmed this rule. Insurers in knee injury cases routinely try to pin some of the blame on victims to deny or reduce claims, making an experienced Huntsville knee injury attorney essential.
What a Knee Injury Claim Is Worth in Alabama
Every case is different, but compensation in an Alabama knee injury claim may include:
- Medical expenses (past and future surgeries, rehabilitation, and assistive devices, for example)
- Lost wages and diminished earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Costs of long-term care or future knee replacement
Alabama does not cap compensatory damages in personal injury cases.
Why Choose Morris, King & Hodge for Your Huntsville Knee Injury Case?
Founded in 1966, our firm has secured over $168,000,000 in verdicts and settlements. Our lawyers have more than 140 years of combined experience, and we have also earned listings in Best Lawyers®, Super Lawyers®, and the Bar Registry of Preeminent Lawyers.
Our knee injury attorneys prepare every case as if it is going to trial. Insurance companies know which firms will step into a courtroom, and that shapes the offers they make. We practice regularly in Madison County courts and understand local procedures, judges, and opposing counsel in the 23rd Judicial Circuit.
If you suffered a knee injury because of someone else’s negligence, contact Morris, King & Hodge, P.C. today for a free, no-obligation consultation.
Alabama gives you only two years to file, and one shared fault can bar your claim entirely. Get your case reviewed by attorneys who’ve recovered over $168 million since 1966. You pay nothing unless we win.
