What Is the Settlement Value of a Knee Injury Claim in Virginia?

Many slip and fall incidents in Charlottesville, VA result in painful knee injuries. These injuries impact the largest joints in the body, so their effects can be truly debilitating. If someone else was responsible for your knee injury, they could owe you compensation for the harm you’ve suffered. A lawyer can give you a more detailed estimate of what you could be owed after reviewing your case. Contact Kendall Law Firm for a free consultation.

What Is the Average Slip and Fall Knee Injury Settlement?

One important thing to understand is that there is no “average” knee injury settlement. Every knee injury is different, just as every slip and fall incident is different. The only way to obtain a reliable estimate of the value of your case is to speak with a knowledgeable injury lawyer.

However, if you suffered a knee injury for which someone else is legally liable, you could be entitled to compensation for the following:

• Hospital bills and other medical expenses
• Incidental costs, such as mileage costs for medical travel
• Lost wages or benefits from missed time at work
• Lost earning capacity from permanent or long-term injuries
• Subjective losses, such as pain and suffering from your injuries

Common Elements of Knee Injury Settlements

No two slip and fall knee injury cases are alike, but many knee injury victims suffer similar health consequences that require specific treatment plans. In most cases, past and future medical costs account for the largest portion of an injury victim’s economic losses.

Depending on the circumstances, you could be entitled to compensation for the following common types of knee injury-related medical expenses:

• Hospital visits – Many slip and fall injury victims end up in the emergency room (ER) with serious knee injuries. A single visit to an ER in Virginia for a moderate injury costs almost $2,000, according to CBS News. The costs of outpatient hospital visits can vary significantly depending on the types of treatment you receive. Incidental costs alone could cost thousands of dollars if you require inpatient hospital treatment.
• Diagnostic and treatment costs – If there’s a chance your knee injury may have contributed to a fracture or another injury, doctors may need to use diagnostic tools like X-rays to confirm the damage. Knee x-rays can cost anywhere from several hundred dollars to as much as $1,000 or more, depending on the provider. A more advanced MRI typically starts at $700. On top of that, a typical first-time doctor’s office visit can cost upwards of $150 without insurance.
• Prescription medications – Many knee injury victims need various prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) medications to relieve pain and treat knee conditions. OTC anti-inflammatories and other non-prescription medications tend to be reasonably priced, but prescription drugs can get expensive quickly, especially if they are not covered by insurance. For instance, Medicare estimates that the average cost of a steroid injection in a hospital outpatient department is almost $750.
• Total knee replacement surgery – In a total knee replacement (TKR) procedure, the surgeon removes the entire knee joint and replaces it with an artificial one. In the past, TKR surgeries were only recommended for patients whose conditions left them completely unable to walk. But with advances in modern medicine, these procedures are performed proactively for many younger patients who prefer not to wait idly by as their health deteriorates. Today, the estimated average costs of these more accessible TKR surgeries are $30,249 for inpatient procedures and $19,002 for outpatient procedures, according to Blue Cross Blue Shield.
• Partial knee replacement surgery – A partial knee replacement (PKR) is a less-invasive procedure than the TKR that involves replacing just one portion of a damaged knee joint. PKR patients with less severe knee injuries might pay 10 to 50 percent less than TKR patients, mainly because PKR surgeries typically require shorter hospital stays. This means that if you need a PKR surgery for your knee injury, you can expect it to cost anywhere from about $15,000 to $27,000 for an inpatient procedure and about $9,500 to $17,000 for an outpatient procedure.
• Arthroscopic surgery – Arthroscopic surgery involves making small incisions and inserting tiny cameras and surgical tools beneath the skin. It is a common treatment for meniscal tears and other soft tissue injuries in the knees. The cost of arthroscopic knee surgery can vary significantly based on the location, nature, and severity of the knee injury, but outpatient arthroscopic knee surgeries typically range from $5,000 and $10,000, according to Harvard Health Publishing.
• Physical therapy – Many knee injury victims benefit considerably from physical therapy and rehabilitation. Physical therapy can help patients improve muscle tone, strength, and range of motion after knee injuries or surgeries. Out-of-pocket copays for insured patients typically range from $10 to $75 per physical therapy session, while uninsured patients may pay as much as $50 to $350 per session.
• Incidental costs – Most slip and fall victims incur various incidental costs due to their injuries. This includes the costs of slings, crutches, wheelchairs, and home devices, which can easily cost hundreds of dollars. Many knee injury patients also require in-home assistance with cooking, cleaning, and accessibility modifications for their homes or vehicles. Finally, there are the travel expenses patients incur as they go to and from various appointments.

These medical expenses can quickly add up to tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars for an average knee injury case. And this is without factoring in other related losses, such as reduced wages and lost quality of life.

Properly Valuing a Knee Injury Claim

Here are some key factors that affect the value of your knee injury claim:

• The nature and severity of your knee injury
• How long your knee injury takes to heal
• Whether your injury has permanent complications
• Whether your injury prevents you from working
• The total cost of your current and future medical bills
• The limits of all applicable insurance policies
• Who is liable for the slip and fall incident
• What types of evidence are available for the case

Can I Recover All Damages from a Slip and Fall Knee Injury?

Insurance companies often try to settle claims for less than their full value. However, an experienced personal injury lawyer can review any offers and advise you whether it is in your best interest to settle your claim or file a lawsuit against the responsible party. Either way, our team will fight for you to recover maximum compensation for your claim.

Talk to Our Slip and Fall Injury Attorneys in Charlottesville, VA

When you are ready to discuss the specifics of your slip and fall knee injury case, contact the Charlottesville, VA injury lawyers of Kendall Law Firm by calling (866) 590-9773. We can answer your questions and evaluate your case for free in an initial consultation.