Torn Ligaments

Torn ligament injuries can be extremely painful. People who have been involved in motor vehicle collisions, slips and falls, and other unexpected accidents often sustain these disruptive injuries.

Torn ligaments can impact an accident victim’s mobility and range of motion. Depending on their severity, they might also prevent injured accident victims from performing everyday tasks.

If you have incurred financial losses as a result of the torn ligament you sustained in an accident, you may be eligible to file a civil claim against the at-fault party. Depending on the manner in which your injury was sustained, the at-fault party might be a negligent driver, a property owner and/or occupier who failed to adequately maintain their residential or commercial space, or another individual or entity whose wrongful actions were directly responsible for causing you pain, inconvenience, and financial losses. 

To learn more about the process of pursuing compensation, contact our Ontario personal injury lawyers today and receive a free initial consultation.

Common Types of Torn Ligaments

Ligaments are tough, fibrous tissues that either connect bones to one another, or connect bones to cartilage. When a ligament is overstretched or torn, the injury is commonly referred to as a sprain. 

Sprains cause varying degrees of pain, swelling and bruising, as well as an impeded range of motion. Ligaments can be overstretched and torn in a number of traumatic or forceful scenarios like being struck by a motor vehicle or falling down a poorly maintained flight of stairs.

Common types of ligament injuries resulting from accidents include:

• Ankle and wrist sprains
• Knee ligament sprains (ACL, MCL, LCL, PCL)
• Torn meniscus
• Whiplash
• Neck sprains
• Rotator cuff tears
• Elbow ligament tears
• Torn foot ligaments
• Back sprains
• And more

Three Categories of Sprains

Ligament injuries are not necessarily debilitating. Mild or moderate sprains may simply be a temporary inconvenience, allowing injured accident victims to cautiously carry out their daily activities. However, severe sprains or tears can have greater impacts on an injured accident victim’s ability to perform the duties of their jobs, as well as their overall quality of life throughout the prolonged recovery periods. 

Sprains or tears are graded according to their severity:

• Grade I – The ligament was stretched or mildly torn without causing any joint instability.
• Grade II – Although the ligament has been damaged, the tear is not complete and there is no significant joint instability.
• Grade III – A complete tear (i.e., a ruptured ligament) causing injured patients significant pain and functional impediments in the affected area of their bodies.

Seeking Compensation for Damages

Depending on the manner in which your torn ligament was sustained and the financial impact your injury has had on your life, you might be entitled to pursue a civil claim for damages. If you were injured in a motor vehicle collision, you might also be able to collect accident benefits to help offset the cost of injury-related expenses.

By working with our Ontario personal injury lawyers, you might be able to recover the maximum amount of damages to which you are entitled. To learn more about options for financial compensation that might be available to you, schedule a free initial consultation with our personal injury lawyers serving all of Ontario by calling 1-800-JUSTICE.