Many Georgia workers suffer from work-related knee injuries. These injuries may be covered by workers’ compensation.
Knees injuries can happen as the result of an accident that happens on the job or repetitive stress to the knee joint from work activities. As long as the injury is job-related and prevents you from working, you may be entitled to medical care and income benefits from workers’ compensation.
A knee injury can affect the most basic functions of your life and your job, such as walking, lifting, squatting, kneeling and climbing stairs. The following are examples of knee injuries:
- Torn ACL or MCL ligaments
- Torn meniscus
- Damage to knees over time from job activities
- Knee replacement
Injured workers may be entitled to medical care, such as arthroscopic surgery, physical therapy and joint replacement. They may also be entitled to accommodations such as light-duty restrictions upon returning to work. To obtain workers’ compensation benefits for a knee injury:
- Report the injury to your employer as soon as possible—no later than 30 days after an accidental or the day you became aware of the injury.
- Seek medical treatment from an approved workers’ compensation doctor. Your employer or the workers’ compensation carrier can provide you with a list of doctors.
- Follow through on your treatment until you recover as fully as possible.
Insurance companies often deny claims for knee injuries by claiming they are not work-related. It may take the help of an experienced workers’ compensation attorney to help you obtain the benefits you need.