Damaging or tearing the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is a serious knee injury that can significantly impact your ability to work, as well as your mobility and long-term knee function.
Surgery and physical therapy are considered the gold-standard medical treatment for ACL injuries, but they are costly. Fortunately, most employees in Georgia are covered by the state workers’ compensation system.
Obtaining workers’ comp benefits for a workplace knee injury can provide crucial payment for medical bills, lost wages, and vocational rehabilitation services — but first, you need approval from the insurance company and the State Board of Workers’ Compensation (SBWC).
Are you concerned about getting a fair workers’ comp settlement for an ACL injury?
The Law Offices of William F. Underwood, III, P.C. can assist with your application and represent you during settlement negotiations with your employer’s insurer. Call or contact us today for a free consultation.
Can You Get Workers’ Compensation for Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Injuries?
ACL injuries are typically covered by workers’ compensation in Georgia as long as they occurred in the course and scope of your employment.
This means your injury must have happened while you were performing your job duties. For example, if you tore your ACL after a fall while working, you are likely entitled to workers’ comp benefits.
Workers’ comp is a no-fault insurance system. That means you don’t need to prove your employer was at fault for your injury. However, you still need evidence demonstrating the extent and severity of your injury and its direct connection to your work. Potential evidence can include medical records, MRI results, surveillance footage, eyewitness statements, and incident reports.
It’s also worth noting that you can receive workers’ comp benefits even if the accident aggravated or worsened a pre-existing injury. In that case, you must demonstrate the accident’s impact on the pre-existing injury to recover benefits.
How Our Albany Workers’ Comp Lawyers Can Help You
For the past 15 years, the Law Offices of William F. Underwood, III, P.C., has provided residents of Albany and nearby communities with comprehensive legal support for their workers’ compensation cases.
We’ve recovered millions for satisfied clients, including multiple workers’ comp settlements worth six figures. Check out our client testimonials to learn more about what it’s like working with our attorneys. Past client Chris Moody, who was injured on the job, writes:
“Everyone at Underwood Law had the reassurance and the confidence in doing their job that made me feel like everything was going to be okay, and I think that’s the most irreplaceable quality in a firm.”
When you work with our law firm, we can handle your workers’ compensation claim from start to finish. We will:
- Gather evidence to support your case for a fair ACL workers’ comp settlement
- File your workers’ compensation claim accurately and on time
- Work to negotiate a full and fair settlement with your employer’s workers’ comp insurance company
- Identify any bad-faith tactics the insurer may attempt to lower the value of your knee injury claim
- Appeal denied claims and represent you in hearings before the SBWC if necessary
Workers’ Comp Benefits for Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Injuries
After a workplace ACL injury, you may be eligible for various types of workers’ compensation benefits, including:
Medical Expenses Coverage
Workers’ compensation will cover all reasonable and necessary medical treatment for your work-related ACL injury. This includes hospital stays, ACL reconstruction surgery, doctor’s visits, prescription medications, medical devices like knee braces, physical therapy, and other medical costs.
Be warned that your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance provider may dispute the necessity of some of your medical treatment. You can prepare for this situation by having extensive medical documentation detailing the severity of your injury, why your treating doctor prescribed it, and the progress you’ve made toward recovery.
Partial Wage Replacement
If you can’t work due to your ACL tear, you may receive two-thirds of your pre-injury average weekly wage. If you can return to light-duty work for reduced pay, you may receive compensation for two-thirds of the difference in your pre-injury and post-injury wages. These wage loss benefits can last for up to 400 weeks or until you return to your pre-injury employment.
Vocational Rehabilitation
In some cases, a torn ACL can leave you with permanent disabilities. For example, if you worked in a physically demanding role, such as on a construction site, in a warehouse, or on a loading dock, you may be unable to return to your pre-injury duties, even after completing your treatment.
If this is the case, you may be entitled to vocational rehabilitation benefits. Vocational rehabilitation provides job training and education to help disabled employees find employment that fits within their work restrictions.
Symptoms of an Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Injury
ACL injuries can range in severity from minor sprains to partial ruptures to complete tears. These injuries are often sudden and occur during physical activities that involve the legs. However, some ACL injuries may result from repetitive stress caused by your work.
Common symptoms of ACL injuries include:
- A popping sound or sensation at the time of injury
- Sudden, intense knee pain
- Swelling within the first 24 hours
- Instability or feeling like the knee is weak
- Limited range of motion
- Tenderness around the joint
In the worst cases, employees may suffer what is called the “unhappy triad” — a tear of the ACL, medial collateral ligament, and medial meniscus. This catastrophic injury can keep employees out of work for six to nine months.
If you experience any problems with the knee joint following a workplace accident, you must report your injury to your employer within 30 days. The sooner you report a workplace injury, the better. Delays in reporting a work-related knee injury and filing an ACL injury claim could hurt your chances of receiving the full benefits you need.
In some cases, injured employees can file more than just a workers’ compensation claim for a work injury. If a third party’s negligence caused the incident that hurt you, you may be able to file a personal injury lawsuit as well. Our attorneys can discuss whether this avenue is a potential option for your ACL injury case.
Get Help with Your Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Workers’ Compensation Claim
ACL injuries are painful and can have a devastating career impact. If you need help seeking a workers’ comp settlement for a knee injury at work, contact the Law Offices of William F. Underwood, III, P.C. for a free consultation.
Our experienced workers’ compensation attorneys will review how your injury occurred, explain the Georgia workers’ compensation process, and answer any questions you may have.
Reach out today to get started. There’s no charge and no obligation, so there’s nothing to lose.
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