Hip and knee pain after a car accident in Michigan
Your knees can strike the dashboard in a crash, and your hips take the force through the seat and lap belt. NovaMed in Southfield examines hip and knee pain the same day when we can and sets up a plan to treat it.
- Knee pain from the dashboard
- Hip pain and stiffness
- Pain walking, climbing stairs or getting up
- Phones answered Mon-Fri, 9 AM to 5 PM. After hours the line goes to voicemail. Walk-ins from 9 AM.
Call to schedule your car accident injury evaluation
Hurt in a car accident? Our team sets up your visit and checks your auto coverage on the phone. Same-day visits are often available during office hours.
- Same-day visits often available
- No referral needed
- Phones answered Mon-Fri, 9 AM to 5 PM. Walk-ins welcome at 27211 Lahser Rd, Suite 200, Southfield
Tap to call from your phone. Phones are answered Mon-Fri, 9 AM to 5 PM. After hours the line goes to voicemail. If you are badly hurt, call 911.
- Same daySame-day car accident visits are often available, and walk-ins are welcome.
- No-FaultMichigan No-Fault (PIP) accepted. We handle the paperwork with your auto insurer.
- RecordsExam findings and reports sent to your insurer or attorney with your permission.
- Southfield27211 Lahser Rd, Suite 200. Serving Detroit and all of Metro Detroit.
How a car accident injures your hips and knees
In a front-end crash, your body slides forward and your knees can hit the dashboard or the panel under the steering wheel. That force can travel up the thigh bone into the hip. The lap belt holds your hips in place, and bracing your foot on the brake can strain the leg as well.
Hip and knee injuries we see after car accidents include:
- Dashboard knee: bruising or injury to the kneecap and the ligament behind the knee
- Knee ligament sprains and meniscus injuries
- Hip strain and bruising from the lap belt or door
- Hip bursitis and labrum injuries
- Leg pain that starts in the lower back, such as sciatica
- Hip dislocations and fractures, which need emergency care
Why hip and knee pain can start late
Hip and knee pain often shows up a day or two after the crash, when you get up from a chair, climb stairs or try to kneel. Swelling and stiffness build as the injured tissue reacts.
Some knee injuries feel minor at first and get worse with walking. An exam finds the cause early and records how the injury relates to the accident.
How we evaluate and treat hip and knee pain
A clinician asks how the crash happened and where your legs hit. We examine your hips, knees and lower back, check how they move and bear weight, test ligament stability and strength, and check the nerves in your legs. When it is medically necessary, we order imaging such as X-ray or MRI through our referral partners.
Your plan can include pain management, physical therapy, follow-up exams and orthopedic referrals when you need them. We track how you walk and move at each visit. With your permission, we send records to your auto insurer or attorney.
Leg pain can also come from the lower back. See back pain after a car accident.
Paying for hip and knee treatment in Michigan
Under Michigan No-Fault, medical care for car accident injuries is generally billed to the Personal Injury Protection (PIP) part of your own auto insurance, up to your policy’s limits, no matter who caused the crash.
We verify your coverage before your visit and handle the paperwork with your auto insurer. Read more about seeing a No-Fault doctor in Michigan.
What happens at your first car accident injury visit
One visit gets you examined, diagnosed and on a plan, with everything written down.
What to bring
- Photo ID
- Your auto insurance card or claim number
- The police or crash report number, if you have it
- Your health insurance card
- A list of medications you take
- 01Call or walk in
Same-day visit
Call or walk in. Bring your ID, your auto insurance card and the crash report number if you have it.
- 02Exam
A full evaluation
A clinician asks how the crash happened, examines the areas that hurt and checks movement, strength, reflexes and pain levels.
- 03Records
Findings written down
Your diagnosis, exam findings and treatment plan go into your medical record, including how your injuries relate to the accident.
- 04Plan
Care that fits the injury
Follow-up visits, pain management, physical therapy or a specialist referral, and imaging such as MRI through referral partners when it is medically necessary.
Hip and knee pain symptoms after a car accident
Adrenaline hides pain. These often show up hours or days after a crash. Any of them is a reason to get checked.
- 0-24 HA bruise or swelling on the front of the knee
- 24-72 HPain climbing stairs or getting up from a chair
- 24-72 HHip pain or stiffness when you walk
- 24-72 HA knee that feels unstable or gives way
- DAYSPain kneeling, squatting or crossing your legs
- DAYSLocking, catching or clicking in the knee
- DAYSPain in the groin or outer hip
- WEEKSHip or knee pain that is not getting better
A leg that looks deformed or shortened, being unable to put weight on a leg, severe swelling, or numbness or a cold foot after a crash can be serious. Call 911 or go to an emergency room.
Common questions
What is dashboard knee?
It is an injury from the knee striking the dashboard in a crash. It can bruise the kneecap or injure the ligament at the back of the knee, and should be examined.
Why does my hip hurt after a car accident?
The lap belt, the door and force traveling up from the knee can all injure the hip. Hip pain can also come from the lower back.
How long does knee pain last after a car accident?
Bruises often improve in a few weeks. Ligament and meniscus injuries can take longer. We reassess at every visit.
Can I come in if the accident was weeks ago?
Yes. Hip or knee pain that lingers or starts late is common. Call or walk in and we will evaluate it.
Do I need a referral or a lawyer to be seen?
No. You can call or walk in. No referral is needed.
Is treatment covered in Michigan?
Medically necessary care for crash injuries is generally billed to your PIP benefits, up to your policy’s limits. We verify your coverage first.
Care for every part of a crash injury
Car accident whiplash and neck injuries
The most common car accident injury. We check how your neck moves and treat the strain before it settles in.
Learn moreCar accident medical exams
A head-to-toe evaluation of the areas that hurt, done the same day, with findings recorded.
Learn moreCar accident medical records
Clear documentation of diagnoses, findings and treatment, ready when your insurer or attorney asks for records.
Learn moreMichigan No-Fault (PIP) patients
We work with your auto insurer’s PIP medical benefits and help you get the paperwork right.
Learn moreSouthfield, on Lahser Road
- Address
- 27211 Lahser Rd, Suite 200
Southfield, MI 48034 - Phone
- (313) 319-4284
- Visits
- Same-day appointments and walk-ins. Call ahead and we'll have your paperwork ready.
- Serving
- Southfield, Detroit, Oak Park, Royal Oak, Farmington Hills, Dearborn, Livonia, Novi, Troy, Warren and the rest of Metro Detroit.