What If I Fell on Knee Cap on Concrete?

A serious injury from a fall on knee cap on concrete may call for immediate attention and serious action. We at Parnall Law understand that such incidents can shake you to the core about your mobility, independence, and quality of life.

Main Causes of Injuries on Concrete

Concrete is unforgiving and even just falling over a little bit can be dangerous. Common causes include:

Irregular: Cracks in the pavement or sudden elevation changes can trip someone easily. Even minute flaws in concrete can be a danger, particularly in high-traffic areas where people’s focus may be scattered.

Urban ice skating rink: Wet or icy concrete often leads to slipping. Be extra careful in areas that are apt to be neglected. Wet pavements and spilled drinks increase fall risks dramatically.

Obstructions: Items left on walkways, like tools, toys, or other debris, are preventable hazards that can lead to serious injuries. If areas of temporary construction are not roped off properly, these risks can be heightened.

Poor lighting: It is difficult to see hazards that may lead to falls when there is not enough light. Many falls occur in parking garages or entryways that are not well-lit.

Weather hazards: Snow, rain, and ice create slippery surfaces, especially outdoors. Neglected snow removal or untreated ice turns concrete into a significant hazard for pedestrians.

Negligence: When property owners fail to repair concrete after damage or delay cleaning up spills, they are creating a hazard. This ongoing neglect endangers visitors and violates laws requiring the safe maintenance of walkways.

Property owners are responsible for fixing hazardous conditions to make the area safe for their visitors. This includes walkways, parking lots, and entrances throughout New Mexico. Negligence leads to injuries that subsequently create legal claims for justice.

Most Common Knee Injuries

You can sustain a number of injuries by falling directly onto your kneecap on concrete. The most common ones include the following:

Fractured patella: When your kneecap suffers a direct impact, it may either crack or break. According to the Cleveland Clinic, most fractures require surgery.

Ligament injuries: In a fall, the ACL and PCL are notably vulnerable. These are two key ligaments that give strength to the knee and may get torn in high-impact incidents.

Tendon injury: Abrupt landings may lead to tendon injuries, including tears of the quadriceps or patellar tendons.

Meniscus tears: A twisting motion at the time of a fall can injure the cartilage that cushions your knee joint, according to Healthline in an article titled “Common Knee Injuries.”

Bursitis: This is the inflammation of the small sacs called bursae that cushion the knee joint; it results from repeated or direct impact.

Contusions and soft tissue damage: Nearly all bruises and minor soft tissue injuries are followed by swellings and pains.

All these need proper diagnosis and treatment to avoid long-term complications. Severe, untreated injuries may result in chronic pain, reduced mobility, or arthritis. Many of them require rehabilitation, such as physical therapy, and delays in treatment may prolong the healing or worsen the conditions.

What To Do After a Knee Injury on Concrete?

If you’ve taken a spill and hurt your knee on concrete, here’s what you can do to protect your health and your legal rights:

1. Get medical help: It is always better to be safe than sorry. A comprehensive examination may reveal hidden damage, even if the initial pain is not severe.
2. Document the scene of the accident: Photograph the area in which your accident occurred. Include photos of any hazard that caused or contributed to your injury. These photos are very important in proving your case.
3. Report the accident: Notify the landowner or property manager where your fall occurred. An incident report should be written up regarding your fall, and a copy should be given to you.
4. Evidence preservation: Preserve the footwear worn at the time and any torn clothes resulting from the fall. This will be a point of proof in establishing liability and that the environment caused the accident.
5. Legal advice: If an accident happens, find a great attorney who will research the case and fill you in on how you can recover your medical treatment and lost wages, among other compensable damages.

These steps become especially important in public or commercial areas. While New Mexico’s laws on liability hold property owners responsible for unsafe conditions, proving negligence through better documentation and witness statements is always key to favorable results.

Tips To Prevent Falls

While one cannot stop accidents, some proactive steps can always be taken in order to reduce the liabilities:

1. Wear appropriate footwear: Shoes should be good enough with decent traction and support, and should also be suited for the winter or rainy season for maximum stability on slippery floors.
2. Be alert: Pay close attention to your surroundings, especially in unfamiliar areas. Take a look at walkways for potential hazards that could include wet spots, debris, or uneven flooring.
3. Report hazards: Let property owners and managers know about possible dangers such as wet floors, spills, or uneven surfaces. Timely reporting will prevent you and others from being in an accident.
4. Use handrails: Whenever possible, lean on handrails when going up or down stairs or ramps. This small precautionary measure makes all the difference in keeping balance.
5. Light your way: Use a flashlight or use the light from your cell phone while passing through dark areas.
6. Avoid distractions: For instance, your phone, loud music, or any activity that requires diversion of attention.
7. Regular exercises: Special exercises in enhancing balance, flexibility, and strength will go miles in fall prevention, more so for the elderly population. Yoga, tai chi, or training that enhances balance is particularly effective.

These precautions reduce the chances of falls, hence preventing you from being injured. Being careful in areas like parking lots or construction zones and maintaining spaces ensures that the communities are safe and secure for all.

Contact an Attorney Today

If you fell on your kneecap on concrete and need legal assistance, Parnall Law is here to help. Contact us at (505) 268-6500 today for a free consultation and let us fight for the compensation you deserve.