Meniscus Tear Injury Lawyer in Massachusetts

Meniscus Tears as Accident Injuries in Massachusetts

The meniscus is the cartilage cushion in the knee that distributes load across the joint and provides stability. Meniscal tears are a recognized and well-documented consequence of traumatic knee injuries caused by car accidents, motorcycle crashes, slip and fall incidents, and workplace accidents. They cause knee pain, swelling, mechanical symptoms such as locking and catching, and reduced mobility. When another party’s negligence causes a meniscal tear, you are entitled to full compensation. Attorney Jeffrey C. Lavey represents meniscal tear accident victims throughout Massachusetts.

How Car Accidents Cause Meniscal Tears

Car accidents cause meniscal tears through several mechanisms: direct impact to the knee from the dashboard, door panel, or other vehicle components; the rotational force applied to the knee when a foot is fixed and the body rotates around it; the hyperflexion or hyperextension of the knee in a crash; and the compressive loading of the joint in high-energy impacts. These traumatic mechanisms differ from the degenerative tears that occur from wear over time, and medical experts can often distinguish between traumatic and degenerative tear patterns on MRI.

Treatment for Meniscal Tears

Small meniscal tears that are not causing significant symptoms may be managed non-surgically with physical therapy and activity modification. Tears that cause significant symptoms, locking, mechanical catching, persistent pain and swelling, are treated with arthroscopic surgery. Arthroscopic procedures may involve meniscal repair (suturing the tear together, which is preferred when possible because it preserves the cartilage) or partial meniscectomy (trimming the torn portion when repair is not feasible). Full recovery typically requires several months of physical therapy.

The Degenerative Tear Defense and How to Counter It

The most common insurance company defense in meniscal tear cases is the claim that the tear was degenerative, that is, caused by years of normal wear rather than by the accident. Degeneration that is present on MRI does not mean the traumatic tear was not caused by the accident, pre-existing degeneration may have made the meniscus more susceptible to tearing under traumatic forces. Orthopedic experts can evaluate the specific tear pattern, the degree of degeneration present, the mechanism of injury, and the timing of symptom onset to establish that the accident caused or materially contributed to the tear. Attorney Lavey works with orthopedic experts to counter the degenerative tear defense in every case.

Compensation for Meniscal Tear Victims

Meniscal tear compensation includes all medical expenses from diagnosis through surgery and physical therapy, all lost wages during recovery, pain and suffering during healing, and future costs if the tear increases the risk of post-traumatic arthritis or if additional treatment is anticipated. Attorney Lavey pursues every element of available compensation for every Massachusetts meniscal tear accident victim.

Frequently Asked Questions