Car Accidents
A torn ACL is one of the most painful and disabling injuries you can suffer in a car accident, fall, or other trauma. When that injury is caused by someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation. Our law firm has handled many ACL injury claims and fought to recover the highest possible settlement amounts for our clients. This page explains how ACL injuries happen, what recovery looks like, and what kind of financial compensation you might expect from a settlement or lawsuit.
Ligaments connect the bones in the human body. The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is one of the main ligaments in your knee. Three separate bones combine to form the knee – the shinbone (tibia) and thighbone (femur) connect with the kneecap (patella) in front like a shield.
Four separate ligaments connect and stabilize these bones. The collateral ligaments are on either side of the knee and act like walls, holding everything together on the sides. The cruciate ligaments (the ACL and the PCL) are inside the middle of the knee and control back and forward movement. The ACL and the PCL cross each other in an X formation, with the ACL in front and the PCL in back.
ACL Injuries
Like all ligaments, the ACL can be injured by stress or trauma such as:
- Sudden awkward stopping
- A rapid change of direction
- Landing from a jump or fall
- An impact from a collision, like a car accident
ACL injuries are generally classified as either partial tears or complete tears. With a sprain or partial tear, the ligament is damaged but still intact. A complete tear occurs when the ligament is split in two and cannot hold the knee together. A torn ACL is more common than a partially torn ACL.
A torn ACL is an injury that occurs suddenly, and the symptoms are usually immediate. Sometimes, when the ligament tears, it makes a popping noise, followed by immediate pain and loss of normal movement/control. The initial tear is followed by swelling and pain.
In most cases, a doctor can diagnose a torn ACL based on just a physical examination of the knee. An MRI is sometimes used to confirm the diagnosis or evaluate the extent of the tear.
Most ACL injuries are sports-related and more common in women. Can you tear your ACL in a car accident? You can. Our auto accident lawyers have seen scores of cases where the victims suffered a torn ACL in a car crash. We see them most often in head-on collision cases.
- Understanding the settlement value of knee injury cases
Treatment for ACL Tear
Once an ACL is torn, it will never heal and repair itself without surgery. Non-surgical treatment options involve physical therapy and sometimes the use of a knee brace. However, with non-surgical treatment alone, the knee will never be restored to its pre-injury state. As a result, non-surgical treatment is usually only for older patients who are less concerned about restoring full mobility.
Surgical treatment is the only way to heal a torn ACL and fully restore the knee. A torn ACL usually cannot be stitched together like skin or other tissue. The ACL must be surgically reconstructed with the placement of a tissue graft. The graft implant gives the ACL a structure to regrow onto, like ivy growing up a wall. Physical therapy and months of rehab and recovery are needed after surgical restoration.
Torn ACL Lawsuits
A torn ACL is a common injury in many accidents. In a car accident, the sudden force of the collision can often put the knee under acute stress, particularly when the driver or passengers use their legs to brace against the impact. Again, our lawyers see this often with head-on collisions or any impact that involves the jarring of the knee.
Another type of accident that can often result in a torn ACL is a typical slip and fall on a slippery floor. When you suddenly lose balance on a slippery surface,e your knees will often be twisted or bent with enough force to tear an ACL.
Bicycle collisions and a variety of workplace accidents can also cause ACL tears.
Tearing an ACL can be a serious and painful injury that will involve months of recovery. As mentioned above, reconstructive surgery is almost always required to repair a torn ACL followed by months of rehab and physical therapy. Aside from the pain and discomfort, recovering from an ACL tear can also have a financial impact if you are sidelined from work.
If you tear an ACL in an accident caused by someone else’s negligence, you have every right to demand compensation for your medical expenses, financial losses, and pain and suffering. In many cases, you might be able to get compensated without filing a lawsuit or going to court. Our firm has obtained financial compensation for torn ACLs on behalf of numerous clients.
There is one more thing to keep in mind. If you have an ACL tear, you are at greater risk of tearing your meniscus. The ACL creates a loose knee that can easily cause injury to the meniscus. One weakness can cause another injury.
We saw this with Kevin Durant, who had a calf injury that led to an Achilles tendon tear in the NBA Finals in 2019. People suffer meniscus injuries after an ACL tear from simply climbing stairs.
So if you have a meniscus injury while recovering from your ACL, a good plaintiffs’ attorney will make the case that the meniscus injury was caused by the car crash, even though it happened much later.
How Much Settlement Compensation for ACL and PCL Injuries in Personal Injury Cases?
If you suffered a torn ACL, one of the first questions on your mind might be: How much compensation can I get for this injury? That should be your question. This is what civil lawsuits are about. There is no other path besides money to compensate you.
The answer depends on several factors, including how the injury happened, the extent of your treatment, and whether your case involves a personal injury lawsuit or a workers’ compensation claim.
In personal injury cases, such as those arising from car accidents, slip and falls, or premises liability, the settlement compensation for a torn ACL can range from around $50,000 to over $200,000. These cases often involve ACL reconstruction surgery, long-term physical therapy, and sometimes permanent limitations. The settlement amount may increase significantly if the injury affects your ability to work or participate in activities you once enjoyed.
When an ACL injury occurs at work, the claim will typically go through the workers’ compensation system. The average workers’ comp settlement for a torn ACL is generally lower than in civil lawsuits. These claims usually settle for $15,000 to $50,000, depending on the state, the severity of the tear, whether you needed surgery, and how the injury impacts your long-term ability to work. However, cases involving both a torn ACL and meniscus often result in higher payouts, especially when surgery and extended time off work are required.
In car accident cases, we frequently see ACL injuries caused by the impact of a crash, especially when the knee is forced into the dashboard or twisted unnaturally. These are common in head-on collisions, where the bracing reflex causes drivers and passengers to press their legs forcefully against the floor or firewall. The torn ACL car accident settlement value is heavily influenced by whether the injury required surgery, the permanence of the damage, and the total amount of medical bills and lost income.
Ultimately, there is no set payout number for the compensation for a torn ACL you will receive. But if someone else’s negligence caused your injury—whether in a car accident, a workplace mishap, or a slip and fall—you are entitled to a meaningful settlement payout. Every case is unique, and factors like your age, medical history, insurance coverage, and the quality of your legal representation all play a role in the outcome.
We understand the pain, disruption, and uncertainty that comes with a serious knee injury. Our law firm has handled many ACL injury settlements and can help you assess the full value of your claim and fight for the compensation you deserve.
What Impacts The Settlement Amounts of ACL/PCL Injury Cases?
The primary factor driving the settlement amounts for a torn ACL or PCL injury case is the type and severity of the injury to the ACL or PCL ligament. Less severe injuries, such as ACL or PCL sprains, are worth much less. A torn ACL or PCL is a much more serious injury and has a higher settlement payout. Similarly, the average settlement for ACL reconstruction will be higher.
Are ACL/PCL Injuries Difficult To Prove in a Lawsuit?
Not really. In fact, these types of knee injuries are among the easiest to document in a personal injury case. Why? Because they show up clearly on an MRI. If your ACL or PCL is torn, the imaging will say so in no uncertain terms. It is not guesswork. You do not have to rely on vague symptoms or battle over whether your pain is real. A good MRI scan will put those arguments to rest.
When someone suffers a torn ACL or PCL in a car accident, work injury, or fall, it is not just about pain and swelling. These are structural injuries, and medical imaging gives lawyers the evidence needed to prove exactly what happened. That is a huge advantage when you are trying to get fair compensation for medical bills, lost income, and everything else that comes with a serious knee injury.
Think about it this way. You are not just claiming you are hurt. You are showing the jury or the insurance company hard proof. That can make a big difference in the outcome. It also helps protect your case from one of the most common defense tactics—saying the injury was not from the accident or that it was already there. When you have a torn ACL lit up on an MRI, that argument starts to fall apart fast.
So if you are wondering whether you have a strong case for an ACL or PCL tear, ask yourself one question. Did a doctor see it on imaging and recommend treatment? If the answer is yes, then you are already halfway there. This is the kind of injury that speaks for itself. The rest is about making sure you have the right legal team who knows how to present it.
Are Torn ACL Injuries Common In Car Accidents?
Yes. Injuries to the knees are very common in car accidents because the knees are very vulnerable to the sudden impact force of an accident. Car accidents and sports-related injuries are the 2 leading causes of ACL and PCL tears.
ACL Injury Settlements and Verdicts
Below are sample verdicts and settlements for cases involving ACL tears. This does not tell you how much compensation you will get for a torn ACL (in fact, these payouts are somewhat low). But it does give you a better idea of the settlement compensation payout ranges in these cases.
- $1.7 Million Settlement Demand (Ohio, 2025): In a medical malpractice case, a patient suffered a failed ACL reconstruction surgery, resulting in permanent disability. The plaintiff’s legal team demanded a $1.7 million settlement, citing surgical negligence and the patient’s subsequent inability to work.
- $1.4 Million Settlement (New Jersey, 2024): A driver was rear-ended by a commercial truck while stopped at a sign. The collision caused multiple injuries, including an ACL tear, seven herniated and bulging discs, and a rotator cuff tear. The plaintiff underwent over a year of spinal and orthopedic surgeries, with ongoing medical care projected to include procedures costing up to $100,000 each. The case settled for $1.4 million during mediation.
- $225,000 Settlement (New York 2023): A ten-year-old was a student at a public school owned, maintained, supervised, and controlled by defendant Longwood Central School District when he tripped and fell during recess due to a concealed hole in the soccer field and injured his knee. The plaintiff suffered a torn ACL requiring reconstructive surgery.
- $25,000 Verdict (New Jersey 2023): The plaintiff was getting into the passenger side of a vehicle when the driver started pulling away before he got in. The plaintiff suffered a full-thickness ACL tear with reconstruction surgery.
- $2,498 Verdict (Nevada 2023): The plaintiff, a 31-year-old female, was reportedly a patron at a restaurant owned and/or operated by defendant Dave & Busters. The plaintiff said she slipped and fell in the bar area of the restaurant due to the presence of ice cream and/or another liquid substance on the floor. The plaintiff said she suffered personal injuries due to her accident, which included a torn ACL that required her to undergo surgery.
- $268,000 Verdict (California 2022): A woman suffered a torn ACL when she slipped and fell at Ralph’s Grocer/ The plaintiff alleged that the defendant was negligent and failed to mop up a slippery substance on the floor. The jury awarded $268,000 – $210,000 in pain and suffering and $58,000 in past and future medical bills.
- $106,000 Settlement (Massachusetts 2021): A woman suffers a complete ACL tear and tibial plateau fractures after a fall dancing on a platform. Where is the lawsuit? Good question. She contends the club should have done a better job of protecting her from the risk of falling. Not a strong case. But the club settled for a settlement amount of $106,000.
- $5,0000 Verdict (Pennsylvania 2019): Plaintiff was sitting in her parked car when she was struck by the defendant while backing out. The plaintiff was awarded $5,000 for a torn ACL.
- $54,000 Verdict (Pennsylvania 2017): Plaintiff sued her landlord when she slipped and fell in the basement of her rental unit, resulting in an ACL tear. She was awarded $30,000, but the award was reduced to $16,500 based on her comparative negligence.
- $54,000 Verdict (Maryland 2016): The plaintiff was awarded $54,000 for a torn ACL and MCL caused when an unleashed dog knocked her over.
- $93,000 Verdict (Maryland 2015): A pedestrian was struck by the defendant’s car while walking the street and tore her ACL and MCL in her right knee. She was awarded $93,000, nearly half of which was for past medical expenses.
Keep in mind that these are civil lawsuits, not workers’ compensation claims. The average workers’ compensation settlement for a torn ACL or other ACL injury will likely be much lower.
Defense Arguments in an ACL Lawsuit
So, what do defense lawyers say when you claim an ACL tear came from a car accident, a fall, or a work injury? Often, they push back hard. They argue the tear did not come from the accident at all. Instead, they blame wear and tear over time, past injuries, or even claim that the damage was already there and is just now showing symptoms.
But as we discuss above, one of the strongest parts of an ACL or PCL injury case is how clearly these injuries show up on an MRI. That is the ace in your hand. If your ACL is visibly torn on a recent scan and the injury lines up with the timing of the accident, it becomes a lot harder for the defense to argue this was some long-standing, unrelated issue.
Now, the defense may still try. They might argue your knee was already damaged or that the MRI does not prove when the tear happened. But here is the catch: when an ACL tears, the ligament fibers do not get enough blood flow to heal or stay intact. If the tear is there, and the MRI shows it, that becomes real, objective evidence. And juries get that.
The only time the defense gains traction is if the MRI does not show an actual tear or the ligament is missing entirely, with no good explanation. That is when you start running into real proof problems. But if your scan shows a torn ACL loud and clear, the argument that it came from something else starts to crumble quickly.
Bottom line: objective imaging like an MRI takes the wind out of the defense’s sails. The key is making sure the timing, the medical records, and your legal team all tell the same story…and tell it well.
Contact Us About Your Torn ACL
If you suffered a torn ACL or similar injury in an accident, contact our personal injury lawyers at 800-553-8082 for a free consultation. We will evaluate your case and let you know whether you might be entitled to financial compensation.