Atlanta Knee Injury Lawyer
The knees are two of the most important joints in the human body, allowing us the ability to walk, climb, jump, lift, and otherwise use our legs to their full capacity. A knee injury can be extremely debilitating, painful, and entail extensive recovery. When knee injuries happen in the workplace, it’s vital for injured workers to understand how to use the Georgia Workers’ Compensation Law to secure compensation for their medical expenses and lost wages from work.
The Atlanta knee injury attorneys at Cruz & Associates have extensive experience handling all types of workers’ compensation cases in Atlanta, and we know how devastating some knee injuries can be. Knee injuries are some of the worst injuries possible to a worker including back injuries, foot and ankle injuries, and head injuries. If you have recently sustained a knee injury at work, our knee injury lawyers can provide more information about the state’s workers’ compensation system and how to maximize your recovery.
Types of Knee Injuries
Most knee injuries fall into one of two categories:
Acute – Acute injuries happen due to trauma, such as a broken bone from a fall or a laceration from a piece of machinery. Additionally, some acute injuries may eventually develop into degenerative injuries.
Degenerative – Degenerative injuries develop gradually over time. Arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, and chronic back pain are a few examples of degenerative injuries. There are many parts to the human knee joint, and injuries of both types can cause serious problems for victims.
A broken knee from a traumatic blow is incredibly painful and entails extensive recovery time. The patella, or knee cap bone, is the most commonly broken portion of the knee. Dislocation occurs when a violent impact causes the bones of the knee to pop out of their proper locations, either partially or completely. The femur in the upper leg or the tibia in the lower leg may dislocate from the joint, or the patella may slip out of place.
Ligament damage in the knees can occur from sudden directional changes, landing from falls, or other high-impact incidents. Athletes often suffer injuries to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) from playing physically demanding sports like football, basketball, and baseball. The posterior cruciate ligament and collateral ligaments are also susceptible to traumatic injuries and sudden stress.
How Workers’ Compensation Can Help With Your Knee Injury
After a work-related injury, the injured employee can rely on the workers’ compensation system for his or her medical expenses, as well as weekly benefit payments, if the employee cannot work for more than seven days. Benefit payments generally continue for up to 400 weeks, or until the employee is fit to resume work. The weekly amount is two-thirds of the employee’s average weekly salary, up to $575 per week. If a knee injury prevents the employee from resuming his or her previous job, and the employee must take a lower-paying position, the workers’ compensation system allows for partial weekly benefit payments of up to $383 per week for 350 weeks.
Some catastrophic knee injuries may entail a degree of permanent impairment. In these situations, injured employees may receive a partial impairment award or even job training to learn a new job. Despite all the ways that the workers’ compensation system can help, there are still countless issues that injured employees might face during the claims process.
The Atlanta knee injury attorneys at Cruz & Associates are here to help. We have the experience and resources necessary to help our clients secure the most compensation possible from the workers’ compensation system and handle difficult employers or insurers. Contact our team today to learn more about your rights as an employee in Georgia, and schedule a free consultation with one of our attorneys.