Workers’ Compensation Benefits For Knee Injuries
Workers who are involved in accidents on the job in Sunrise can suffer severe and debilitating knee injuries. Most knee injuries are caused by trauma to a part of the knee joint, and they can have many different causes. Knee injuries can happen in almost any type of job, from slip and fall accidents when a white-collar worker slips or trips in the office to struck-by injuries that occur on construction sites. Our experienced workers’ compensation attorneys in Sunrise can provide you with more information about knee injuries and how you can seek benefits following a knee injury at work.
Understanding Workplace Knee Injuries
Knee injuries at work result from accidents and other incidents involving “trauma to one or more tissues that make up the knee joint,” according to Johns Hopkins Medicine. Those parts of the knee include bones, cartilage, ligaments, muscles, and tendons. Depending upon the type of trauma, a worker may suffer a sprain or strain, or in more serious situations, an employee might suffer a tear or a kneecap fracture. Many knee injuries require medical treatment and surgery, and serious knee injuries can cause a worker to miss many days on the job. According to Medical News Today, the following are the most commonly reported types of knee injuries:
- Kneecap (or patella) fracture;
- Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, including sprains and tears;
- Knee dislocation;
- Meniscus tear or other cartilage tear;
- Bursitis;
- Tendonitis;
- Tendon tear;
- Collateral ligament injury;
- Iliotibial band syndrome; and
- Posterior cruciate ligament injury.
Common causes of workplace knee injuries include falls and being struck-by materials or equipment. An injured worker’s treatment options will depend upon the specific type of knee injury and its severity. Some types of workplace knee injuries may improve with physical therapy, but other knee injuries may require invasive treatments like surgery.
Steps to Take After a Workplace Knee Injury in South Florida
If you suffered a knee injury at work, you should take the following steps that are required by Florida workers’ compensation law:
- Report the knee injury to your employer as quickly as possible, but at the very latest within 30 days from the date of the knee injury;
- If the knee injury is an emergency, seek emergency medical treatment nearby, but otherwise seek medical treatment as soon as possible from an approved medical provider (an initial emergency visit does not need to be with an approved provider);
- Continuing receiving medical care and treatment from an approved medical provider; and
- Work with a Sunrise workers’ compensation attorney to determine your options for wage replacement benefits and temporary or permanent disability benefits.
Contact Our Sunrise Workers’ Compensation Lawyers
After a workplace injury in South Florida, it is critical to seek advice from an attorney who can help you. Knee injuries can be particularly devastating for anyone whose job requires mobility since knee injuries can prevent a worker from standing, walking, and performing a wide variety of workplace tasks. The experienced Sunrise workers’ compensation attorneys at the Law Offices of David M. Benenfeld, P.A. can help you to seek the compensation you need.
Sources:
hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/knee-injuries
medicalnewstoday.com/articles/319324#ten-common-knee-injuries
leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0400-0499/0440/0440ContentsIndex.html
