Making a knee injury claim

A knee injury claim covers a ligament tear, meniscus damage, or a fracture of the kneecap caused by a road accident. It often happens from the knee striking the dashboard, or from a fall off a motorcycle, within a wider road accident claim.

Unlike a straightforward fracture, a ligament or meniscus injury does not always show clearly on a first X-ray. This affects how the claim is built.

This page explains the common types of knee injury, the evidence needed, and how ongoing instability is claimed.

What a knee injury covers

A torn anterior cruciate ligament, commonly called the ACL, affects the knee’s stability. It can make the knee give way unexpectedly during ordinary movement.

A meniscus tear affects the cartilage that cushions the joint. It often causes locking, clicking, or swelling rather than instability.

A kneecap fracture is a more straightforward bone injury, generally visible on an X-ray, though it can still affect bending the knee fully afterward.

How it affects daily life and work

Stairs, uneven ground, and getting up from a low seat can all become genuinely difficult with an unstable or swollen knee. Many people avoid certain movements out of fear the knee will give way.

This itself limits normal daily activity. Any job involving standing, walking on uneven surfaces, or kneeling is usually affected for an extended period.

Some people need to change how their work is done permanently.

The evidence this claim needs

An MRI is generally far more useful than an X-ray for showing ligament or meniscus damage. These soft tissues do not appear on a plain X-ray at all.

A specialist medical report from an orthopaedic surgeon should cover the diagnosis, any surgery such as an ACL reconstruction, and the expected long-term stability of the knee. Physiotherapy records showing how the knee responds to exercise over time add useful, measurable detail to the claim.

How the injury factors into your claim

General damages are assessed against a published compendium of injury awards, together with the medical evidence.^[1] A ligament tear needing reconstruction is generally valued higher than a straightforward kneecap fracture.

Where ongoing instability affects standing or walking-heavy work, this can support a claim for loss of earning capacity. Surgery, physiotherapy, and any future procedure such as a later reconstruction are claimed under future medical costs.

Recovery and outlook

A meniscus tear or a straightforward kneecap fracture often responds well to treatment over some months. An ACL reconstruction generally needs a longer, more structured recovery.

Some people are left with a degree of ongoing instability, even after the best possible surgery and physiotherapy.

What to do next

Follow the physiotherapy plan closely, even once pain settles. Knee stability often depends on rebuilding the surrounding muscles properly.

The general deadline to bring this claim is six years from the accident.^[2]

Leg fractures covers a related injury that can occur alongside a knee injury from the same fall or impact.