Workers' compensation insurance is well-known for dealing with work-related accidents, but it might be more accurate to say it covers all types of injuries. Certain jobs require workers to repeatedly place their knees in positions that make gradual injuries more likely. Read on to learn more about dealing with a repetitive knee injury.
The Job Itself is the Problem
It's not clumsiness or carelessness that creates the circumstances for some types of injuries. If your job is to make sudden stopping, twisting, upward, and downward movements on a regular basis, your knees are at risk. Those who work in construction, in factories, or in jobs that require climbing up and down or doing heavy lifting, etc. may be vulnerable. While these workers may be more prone to issues, almost anyone employed in a job that requires you to walk a lot, like nurses and postal workers, can be affected.
When Trouble Strikes
When your normal aches and pains widen in scope, you need to seek treatment. Some common signs of problems include sharp or throbbing pain, numbness, stiffness, tingling, and more. This might indicate anything from torn ligaments and bone spurs to stress fractures and osteoarthritis. To be paid workers' compensation benefits, you must see a physician as soon as you become aware of the problem.
What to Expect from Workers' Compensation
After letting your supervisor know about the knee issue, see to it that a claim form is filed with your employer's insurance carrier. See either the doctor you are required to see or a doctor of your own choosing, depending on your plan, and stay in treatment until released. You can expect to be covered for all medical expenses incurred as a result of your repetitive injury. Additionally, you will receive a partial salary during your time off to recover.
Stay on Top of the Treatment
Some workers with this type of injury must endure surgery and months of rehabilitation before they can return to work. Others are never able to perform the same job tasks again due to the long-lasting effects of the injury. The workers' compensation agency will evaluate your injury and make a determination. There are several potential outcomes of what is known as the independent medical examination:
- You are ordered to return to your position at work.
- You are determined to be unable to perform at your previous job.
- You are determined to permanently disabled.
If you disagree with any of the findings, speak to a workers' compensation lawyer immediately. You can appeal the rulings and have your recuperation extended. You may also be entitled to a lump sum compensation package that includes cash, job training, and other disability benefits. Speak to a lawyer about your workers' compensation rights today.
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