Trying to maximize your benefits after a knee injury at work?
An insurance company denial could compound your pain after an on-the-job knee injury in South Carolina. Most insurance companies make more by paying you less. An attorney handles your case for you and can significantly increase your odds of success.
This page refers to SC Workers’ Compensation for Knee Injuries in South Carolina.
Since laws differ between states, if you are located in North Carolina, please click here.
South Carolina Workers’ Compensation for Knee Injuries
Information on this page is not intended as a substitute for a medical evaluation by a qualified provider.
The knee is the largest joint in the body and injuring one can compromise your ability to perform everyday tasks such as walking, running, sitting, and standing.
Unfortunately, knee injuries are very common in the workplace. They are caused by:
- twisting
- bending
- direct impact
- slip and falls
- overuse
- repetitive stress
Knee injuries can be extraordinarily debilitating, and it can take an injured worker months, or even years, to fully recuperate. Surgery may even be required.
If you suffered a knee injury at work, you may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits in South Carolina. Most employers are required to carry workers’ compensation insurance to provide financial protection and medical care to qualifying workers who are injured on the job.
So, after you notify your employer of your injury and seek medical help, your next step should be to seek the advice of an experienced knee injury attorney who knows all about the process of filing a South Carolina workers’ compensation claim.
Contact the Law Offices of James Scott Farrin at 1-866-900-7078 for a free case evaluation. Our workers’ compensation attorneys fight for our clients to try and help them receive the full benefits they may deserve.
Who Is Most at Risk for Knee Injuries at Work?
Knee injuries can happen at virtually any job, but workers who kneel or carry a lot of weight on a regular basis are particularly at risk of knee injury:
- Janitors and housecleaners
- Auto mechanics
- Carpenters
- Nurses
- Factory workers
- Construction workers
Depending on the severity of your knee injury, it may not be possible to return to your pre-injury job. A janitor with a knee injury may no longer be able to clean hard-to-reach areas such as under cabinets or high places only accessible by ladders or steep steps. For auto mechanics, an injured knee may limit their ability to maneuver around and under vehicles.
Knee injuries at work can also affect the stability of a person trying to lift things or stand for long periods of time, as is required in many animal processing and manufacturing jobs. These injuries also can make it difficult for someone to operate foot controls in a forklift, heavy equipment, or a truck.
Have You Suffered One of These Common On-The-Job Knee Injuries?
Dislocations: When the knee bones come out of place – usually due to a heavy impact such as a fall or collision – it is dislocated. If the bones don’t go back into place on their own, a doctor usually readjusts the knee in a quick, fluid motion. Dislocations can sometimes lead to damage to the meniscus or ligaments, which are both discussed in more detail below.
Fractures: A fracture occurs when the kneecap breaks upon impact with another object. The kneecap protects the knee joints behind it, and knee fractures can take a long time to heal. Immobilization, and sometimes surgery, is required for healing.
Meniscus Injuries: Meniscus tears can cause intense pain and instability in the knee, depending on the severity of the tear. The knee will most likely swell to protect itself, which can be intensely painful and limit movement. Although physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medication, and cortisone injections can help reduce symptoms, an orthopedic doctor will often recommend arthroscopic surgery to repair the tear.
Ligament Injuries: Injuries to the cruciate ligaments – such as the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), medial collateral ligament (MCL), and posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) – are sometimes referred to as sprains. These injuries can require months of treatment to recover, and some cruciate ligament injuries, such as ACL tears, may require reconstructive surgery.
Chondromalacia: Chondromalacia is a disorder caused by softening of the articular cartilage of the kneecap (patella), which can be caused by traumatic injury, overuse, or repetitive motion on the job. Symptoms include dull, achy pain in the front of the knee, increased pain when walking up or down stairs, pain in the knee when kneeling or squatting for long periods of time, and a grating or grinding sensation when you extend your knee, and knee stiffness. Treatment options include rest, pain relievers, or physical therapy. In rare cases, arthroscopic or realignment surgery may be options.
What South Carolina Workers’ Comp Benefits Can I Get for a Knee Injury?
If you injured your knee at work, you may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits for the following expenses related to your work injury:
- Medical treatment
- Lost wages*
- Vocational rehabilitation
- Death benefits
- Payment for your permanent impairment
*Lost wages suffered are based on your Average Weekly Wage and can be temporary or permanent and partial or total.
Why Do I Need a South Carolina Workers’ Comp Attorney for My Knee Injury Claim?
There are many reasons why you may need legal assistance with your workers’ comp claim. The process is complicated, with many deadlines and procedures that must be complied with. An attorney can help you with a variety of tasks including:
- Keeping organized and on-time
- Filing accurate claim information
- Gathering relevant medical information
- Fighting for optimal compensation
- Maintaining objectivity when considering the right time to return to work
- Evaluating potential settlement offers
To help with your claim, enlist an attorney who has both the breadth and depth of experience to know how to fight for all the possible benefits to which you may be entitled, as well as how and when to potentially settle your knee injury workers’ comp claim.
Contact Recognized and Accomplished Attorneys About Your Workers’ Comp Knee Injury Claim
South Carolina workers’ compensation cases can be complicated. At the Law Offices of James Scott Farrin, we understand how to apply the law to workers’ compensation cases. And we fight hard to try and help our clients receive the maximum benefits they may be entitled to.
Since 1997, our firm has recovered more than $1.8 billion total for more than 65,000 people. And counting.1
Our firm was named to the 2024 Best Lawyers ‘Best Law Firms’ list, earning a Tier 1 ranking (the highest) for Workers’ Compensation law.4 And to help you protect your interests, we provide a risk-free guarantee.
Serious injuries demand serious attention. If you have sustained a knee injury from your job, call 1-866-900-7078 or contact us online today.
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