Workplace Knee and Joint Injuries in Connecticut: What Does Workers’ Comp Cover?

A knee injury can be extremely painful, require extensive rehabilitation and recovery time, and potentially interfere with the victim’s ability to return to work after recovering. If you suffered this type of injury at work, then you may have grounds to seek workers’ compensation benefits with a workplace knee injury claim, and you should hire a workers’ compensation lawyer to guide you through the claim-filing process.

Building Your Workplace Knee Injury Claim in Connecticut

In Connecticut, virtually every private industry employer is required to have workers’ compensation insurance, and most regular workers are covered by this insurance if they are hurt on the job. Knee injury claims may arise from acute traumatic accidents, or they may pertain to repetitive stress injuries that manifest gradually over time. As long as your condition is work-related, you are likely eligible to file a workers’ compensation claim.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics recorded about 35,700 nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses from private sector employers throughout Connecticut in 2022, and many of these reports pertained to severe injuries that required duty restrictions, new job transfers, and missed days of work. Workers’ compensation insurance is meant to provide an economic lifeline to an injured worker while protecting the employer from civil liability for the worker’s damages.

A New London workers’ compensation lawyer can help you file your claim. If you suffered a knee injury from a fall or other specific accident, proving your condition is work-related may be relatively straightforward. However, if you are filing a claim for a repetitive stress injury, then proving this was caused by your job duties may be more challenging, and you may encounter disputes from your employer.

You may need to undergo a functional capacity evaluation before you can receive benefits. A workers’ compensation doctor will examine you to determine the severity of your injury, and then assign you a disability rating that will determine how much you can receive in disability benefits. If your claim is approved, you may receive full medical expense coverage and ongoing disability benefits that account for your diminished ability to work.

How a Connecticut Workers’ Compensation Attorney Can Help

If you intend to file a workplace knee injury claim, it’s important to have a skilled legal representative on your side to increase your chances of success with the claim. They can help you prove that your injury was work-related and resolve any problems you encounter with your employer or their insurance carrier, ultimately assisting you in negotiating a fair determination of benefits.

You may also have grounds for additional legal action depending on how your injury happened. For example, you typically cannot sue your employer for a work injury in Connecticut if they have workers’ compensation insurance, but you may have grounds to file a civil claim against a third party. A New London personal injury lawyer can assist with exploring all of the legal options available to you, and you’re more likely to succeed with their assistance.

Ultimately, a workplace knee injury claim could be more difficult to resolve than you expect, but having the right attorney on your side increases your chances of reaching a favorable outcome. Reach out to Suisman Shapiro Attorneys-at-Law as soon as possible to discuss your case with an experienced Connecticut workers’ compensation attorney.

FAQs

How Long Do I Have to File a Workers’ Comp Case in Connecticut?

In Connecticut, you usually have one year to file a workers’ comp case, and this time limit begins on the date your injury happened. Alternatively, if you are filing a claim for a repetitive stress injury that gradually worsened over time, you would have three years from the date your symptoms first appeared. Consult an attorney right away to meet the applicable deadline for your claim.

How Do I Prove That My Knee Injury Is Work-Related?

Proving that your knee injury is work-related may require several forms of evidence that show that your knee injury was the direct result of performing your work duties. If you suffered a traumatic injury in an accident at work, this should be relatively straightforward. However, you will need a Connecticut workers’ compensation attorney to help you prove that a repetitive stress injury was caused by performing your job duties and the same physical tasks every day at work.

How Much Can I Receive in Benefits for a Knee Injury?

The amount you can receive in benefits for a knee injury depends on the severity of the injury and how much ongoing care it will require. A successful workers’ comp case should cover all medical expenses related to your injury and ongoing disability benefits while you are unable to work. Disability benefits could be paid on a partial basis if you can still manage light duty, or you could receive total disability benefits if you are unable to work at all during recovery.

Can I Sue My Employer for a Knee Injury at Work?

Generally, you cannot sue your employer for a knee injury at work if they have workers’ compensation insurance. This insurance is meant to serve as a “sole remedy” for the injured worker. However, you could have grounds for a suit if your employer intentionally harmed you, violated workplace safety regulations, or if a third party caused your injury.

Why Should I Hire a Workers’ Compensation Lawyer?

You should hire a workers’ compensation lawyer because your case could be more challenging than you expect, and having the right attorney on your side will dramatically increase your chances of resolving your case efficiently and obtaining suitable compensation. Consult a Connecticut workers’ compensation attorney as soon as possible after your injury so they can start helping with your case right away.

The team at Suisman Shapiro Attorneys-at-Law has successfully helped many injured workers throughout Connecticut with a wide range of work injury cases, including workplace knee injury claims. You have limited time to claim workers’ compensation benefits and explore other legal options, so contact us today to schedule your consultation with a Connecticut workers’ compensation attorney.