I’m sorry to hear about your torn ACL. If you tore your ACL because of another party’s negligent conduct, you should speak with an attorney about your legal options. A torn ACL can be very painful and normally takes surgery to heal, followed by months of therapy.
The ACL is one of two ligaments that help connect the shin bone and the thigh bone. The ACL helps support the knee joint by holding the bones together. The ACL also helps stabilize movement. If an ACL is torn, stability is lost, and medical treatment is needed.
There are a number of ways that an ACL can be torn. An ACL can be torn in a collision. It can be torn by sudden stops or suddenly changing directions. It can also be torn by landing the wrong way after jumping. It’s possible to only partially tear an ACL, but in most situations they are completely torn. A torn ACL usually results in a popping sound, which is followed by swelling, pain, and a loss of leg stability.
Surgery must be done in order to repair a torn ACL, although some elderly patients opt for therapy only instead of surgery. A torn ACL cannot be sutured back together, and instead must be reconstructed. After surgery, the patient normally requires physical therapy and must also use crutches and a knee brace. It can take four to six months for the knee to be fully functional again.
If you have torn your ACL in an accident that was caused by another person’s negligence, you should speak with an attorney. You likely have had to deal with a great deal of pain and time off work, and you are entitled to compensation for that. If you are in Los Angeles, call me, Conal Doyle, Los Angeles personal injury attorney at 310-385-0567. I can help. Call today to learn more or to schedule a free consultation.