A work-related serious knee injury can put you out of commission fast, leaving you unable to earn a living, participate in your favorite hobbies, or help out around the house. If your knee injury occurred on the job, then workers’ compensation benefits should cover many of the costs associated with the injury, taking care of your medical needs, and paying you a portion of your missing wages. At least, that’s the idea.
Employers and their workers’ compensation insurance providers don’t always approve claims as they should, because paying claims costs money. Any error on your part could give an insurance company an excuse to deny your workers’ comp claim or limit your benefits. That’s why you should work with a Kentucky knee injury attorney at Morgan, Collins, Yeast & Salyer from the start.
Our Kentucky workers’ compensation lawyers can handle your claim, gather supporting evidence of the on-the-job accident and your serious injury, and represent you at a hearing before an administrative law judge.
A member of our Kentucky Courage law firm is available to review your workplace knee injury and discuss your legal options. Contact us today for a free, no-obligation consultation with a knee injury attorney.
What You Need to Know About Knee Injuries
Knee injuries involve trauma to the bones, tendons, ligaments, cartilage, and muscles that make up the structure of the knee. On-the-job accidents cause many kinds of knee injuries. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, some of the most common knee injuries include:
- Anterior cruciate ligament tears (ACL injuries)
- Meniscus tears
- Dislocations
- Kneecap fractures
Some knee injuries occur gradually from wear and tear and cumulative trauma on the knee joint from performing job duties. Workers who have wear and tear claims from knee injuries are typically older workers. They may have been diagnosed with arthritis when, in fact, they have a workplace knee injury due to wear and tear.
To develop a workers’ compensation case, Morgan, Collins, Yeast & Salyer may refer an injured worker to a doctor to evaluate whether the worker has experienced greater than normal degenerative changes to the knee joint due to work-related cumulative trauma. If so, the worker may pursue a workers’ comp wear and tear claim and seek a knee injury settlement.
Knee pain is the most obvious symptom of workplace knee injuries. Per the Mayo Clinic, additional symptoms could include:
- Swelling in the affected area
- Knee stiffness
- Instability around the knee
- A feeling of weakness in or near the affected area
- Popping noises from the knee
- Inability to straighten the knee completely or put weight on the knee
If you notice these symptoms, you should report your work-related knee injury to your supervisor or human resources office and ask to see a doctor. You should seek medical treatment right away if you notice these symptoms. Early treatment may play a critical role in guarding against additional harm.
If your employer or the workers’ compensation insurance carrier disputes your claim, you should contact an experienced worker’s compensation attorney at Morgan, Collins, Yeast & Salyer to discuss the matter. Our Kentucky Courage law firm offers free consultations. We are proud to stand up for injured workers in Kentucky.
Treatment Options for Knee Injuries
The proper treatment for a knee injury can depend on the specific type of injury you’ve sustained. The Mayo Clinic states knee injury treatment plans could involve:
- Physical therapy
- Pain medication
- Injections of medications (like corticosteroids)
- Surgery
Some workplace injuries require surgery. Knee surgery may involve simply repairing torn ligaments such as a torn meniscus. Workers’ compensation insurance includes medical benefits and should cover the medical bills for knee surgery for treatment of workplace injuries.
Diagnosing a Knee Injury
A knee injury diagnosis typically starts with a basic physical exam by the treating physician. This exam might involve a doctor:
- Inspecting for bruising or other visual signs of injury
- Testing your ability to move your lower leg in various ways
- Pushing on or pulling the joint to learn more about the condition of its bones
A physician may also recommend such tests as:
- X-rays
- Computerized tomography (CT) scans
- Ultrasounds
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
Common Causes of Knee Injuries
Work-related knee injuries have various potential causes. Common examples include:
- Gradual Wear and tear from performing physically demanding job
- Motor vehicle crashes
- Slip-and-fall accidents
A person whose job involves motions that stress the joint could develop an injury over time.
Why Do I Need a Knee Injury Attorney?
If your knee injury is work-related, you may pursue workers comp benefits:
- A Workers’ Compensation Claim – You may file a claim for workers’ compensation benefits if you were injured on the job or suffered a wear and tear injury. Through workers’ comp benefits, you can seek compensation for expenses and losses like medical costs and lost wages.
An experienced workers’ compensation attorney at Morgan, Collins, Yeast & Salyer may provide the following types of legal assistance:
- Explain Your Options – A Kentucky lawyer can review your knee injury case and discuss whether you have a workers’ comp claim.
If so, our law firm can take the following steps to pursue your claim:
- Gather Evidence – Collecting evidence is one of the many tasks a knee injury attorney can handle. When filing a workers’ compensation claim, you must demonstrate that your injury is work-related. You might have pictures of the accident scene or know the names of coworkers who saw the accident take place. Bring copies of any evidence you have to the initial consultation. The employer’s workers’ comp insurer could deny your claim if they can argue your injury was not work-related.
- Complete Paperwork – A knee injury attorney can complete your knee injury claim paperwork and guide you through the claims process.
- Correspond with Workers’ Comp Insurance Provider – The insurance company will try to pay the lowest amount possible to settle a claim. An experienced lawyer can deal with the insurance company on your behalf.
Seek to negotiate a lump sum settlement for a wear and tear injury. Their representation can level the playing field when you’re facing large insurance companies.
What to Expect When You Hire a Workers Compensation Lawyer
The process of hiring our Kentucky workers’ compensation lawyers begins with a free, no-obligation consultation.
Bring copies of any medical records you may have describing your work injury to the initial meeting with the attorney.
Make a list of questions you have about workplace knee injuries and workers’ compensation benefits.
Explain how you injured your knee when reviewing your case with an attorney. If your injury resulted from an accident, write a description of the incident. Be completely honest in your description and include as much detail as you recall. Referencing this narrative can make it easier to describe the incident to an attorney.
Because the consultation is free, you have much to gain and nothing to lose from speaking with a lawyer about your case. You won’t be charged any upfront legal fees if you hire our knee injury law firm. We handle knee injury cases on a contingency fee basis. This means that your legal fees will be a percentage of the recovered compensation.
Be aware you need to file a knee injury claim as soon as possible. You should immediately report the injury to your employer.
You also have two years to file a workers’ compensation claim. The two-year countdown begins on the date of your accident or the date you became aware of your injuries. However, you should immediately report your injury to your employer.
How to Choose a Knee Injury Attorney
When selecting a worker’s compensation attorney to handle your case, consider the following:
- The attorney’s experience with knee injury cases
- The law firm’s reputation in the field
- Your comfort level when speaking with the lawyer
- How thoroughly the lawyer answers your questions
You can get a better feel for these qualities by asking the following questions:
- How will I contact you to learn about my case’s status?
- What types of attorney fees do you charge? Do you charge anything other than a contingency fee?
- Can you describe past workers’ compensation cases you have handled that are similar to my case? How did you successfully represent an injured worker like myself in the past?
- How long do you think it will take to resolve my workers’ comp case?
- Can you provide testimonials from former clients?
You may also ask how much money a knee injury attorney believes your claim may be worth. They might be able to give you an estimate depending on the complexity of your case. However, a good lawyer won’t promise or guarantee a specific financial recovery or a knee injury settlement.
Are you ready to get started with your case? The Kentucky knee injury attorneys with Morgan, Collins, Yeast & Salyer are prepared to fight for your rights and demand the full compensation allowed by Kentucky law. Contact us online or call us at (877) 809-5352 for a free case evaluation.
