Quick Answer Knee injuries from car accidents include meniscus tears, ACL/MCL sprains, and patellar fractures — typically caused by dashboard impact in frontal collisions. MRI is required for accurate diagnosis. MAIC provides same-day evaluation with on-site knee MRI and orthopedic consultation. No-Fault accepted. Call (888) 991-5290.

How Car Accidents Injure the Knee

Knee injuries in car accidents typically result from three mechanisms: dashboard impact (the knee strikes the dashboard in a frontal collision, causing direct trauma to the patella, femoral condyles, and anterior knee structures); foot bracing (the leg is extended and the foot braced against the brake pedal at the moment of impact, transmitting force through the knee); and lateral impact (side-impact collisions create valgus or varus stress on the knee, injuring the medial or lateral ligamentous structures).

Common Knee Injuries

  • ACL tear: Rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament, causing instability, swelling, and inability to bear weight
  • Meniscal tear: Tear of the cartilage cushion between femur and tibia, causing joint line pain, locking, and swelling
  • MCL and LCL injuries: Medial and lateral collateral ligament sprains and tears from valgus/varus forces
  • Patellar fracture: Dashboard impact can cause direct patellar fracture
  • Tibial plateau fracture: Axial loading through the knee can fracture the tibial plateau

MRI and Treatment at MAIC

MRI is the definitive study for knee injury — it reveals ligament tears, meniscal pathology, and cartilage damage that X-ray cannot show. MAIC's on-site MRI with same-day scheduling and orthopedic consultation provides the complete evaluation your knee injury requires. Call (888) 991-5290.