California Injury Attorneys Seek Compensation for Severe Sprains

Sacramento lawyers represent injured victims of negligence

If you’ve ever twisted an ankle, a knee or a shoulder, you know how disabling a joint sprain can be. Swelling immobilizes the joint, causing acute and lasting pain. Immediate care is required or such an injury can linger for weeks or months. That level of pain and resulting medical expenses demand compensation. At Mastagni Holstedt, APC, our personal injury attorneys are prepared to help you obtain the compensation you deserve.

Types and degrees of sprains

A sprain occurs when the ligaments of a joint are stretched to the point of injury. Symptoms of a sprain include pain, swelling, bruising/discoloration, joint instability and reduced range of motion. Sprains are classified according to severity as follows:

• Grade 1 — This is a mild sprain with little or no tearing of the ligament. Complete recovery of a Grade 1 ankle sprain can be achieved within five to 14 days. 
• Grade 2 — This is a moderate sprain in which the ligament is partially torn. Grade 2 ankle sprains might require a removable plastic device, such as a walking boot or air cast brace. Recovery is often achieved in two-to-three weeks.
• Grade 3 — This is a severe sprain in which the ligament is completely torn. Grade 3 ankle sprains may require a leg cast or cast-brace and use of crutches for 10 to 14 days. Complete recovery usually can be achieved in three-to-12 weeks.

Grade 2 and Grade 3 sprains often require physical therapy, as well as pain management and use of anti-inflammatory drugs. Exercises during therapy focus on improving range of motion, strength and balance. Joints that do not improve with rest and therapy may require surgery.

Joints most often affected by sprains include:

• Ankles
• Wrists
• Knees
• Fingers 
• Thumbs

Medical professionals use a variety of methods to diagnose joint sprains, including physical examination, X-rays and MRIs.

Common causes of serious joint sprains 

A person might sprain a joint through various actions, such as:

• Walking or running on uneven surfaces
• Stepping in a pothole
• Suffering a slip and fall accident
• Slipping or tripping and catching yourself
• Falling from a bicycle
• Wearing unstable footwear, such as stiletto heels
• Engaging in high-impact athletics, including running

Individuals with a history of prior injury are susceptible to spraining the same joint again. 

How a skilled personal injury lawyer can help with sprain claims

In order to gain compensation for a sprain injury, you must demonstrate that someone else was responsible, whether through a negligent or deliberate act. An experienced injury lawyer can be of great help investigating the circumstances of your injury to ascertain the precise cause. The causes of some injuries, such as a bicycle crash, might be readily apparent, especially if a motorist ran a stop sign. But many incidents are not so cut and dried. 

Sports injuries are often viewed as an inherent risk of competition. But if you sprained an ankle or knee because a track or field was poorly maintained, that is not a risk you assumed. Moreover, an attorney can better assess your total losses due to your injury by factoring foreseeable future expenses or losses due to physical limitations. Your attorney also can defend you against allegations that your own negligence led to your injury. For these reasons, injured parties who retain legal representation tend to recover far more in damages than those who do not, even after deducting attorneys’ fees.

Contact our personal injury attorneys for sprain injury representation

Mastagni Holstedt, APC represents clients throughout California who have suffered severe sprains due to negligence. We have offices in Sacramento, Rancho Cucamonga, Pleasanton and Redwood City. Call us at or contact us online to schedule a free consultation.