Boston Lawyer for Work-Related Knee Injuries and Pain
Lots of people have jobs that require some form of physical labor. Over time, the demands of the job might be more than your body can handle, and knee injuries might put you out of work and in a lot of pain.
The knee is a complex joint, and injuries might affect various body parts, including muscles, tendons, bones, and ligaments. When suing for a work-related knee injury, it is important to consider how it occurred to determine who should be held responsible. Depending on your situation, you might be eligible for Workers’ Compensation. Alternatively, you can file a lawsuit to recoup losses and damages. Speaking of damages, they may be significant, especially if they prevent you from returning to work for the foreseeable future. Various factors might affect the outcome of our injury case, including alleged contributory negligence and pre-existing medical conditions or injuries.
To schedule a free review of your legal claims, call the Law Office of John J. Sheehan at (617) 925-6407 and speak to our lawyers for work-related knee injuries and pain.
Possible Work-Related Knee-Injuries and Pain in Boston
Knee injuries are often painful and take time to heal because the knee is a complicated joint. Your knee is comprised of muscle, bone, ligaments, and tendons, all working together. If even one part of the knee is injured, your entire knee might be affected.
While many injuries are caused by sudden and unexpected physical trauma, they can also happen over a long period of time from repetitive movements. For example, you might suffer an on-the-job knee injury because you fell on uneven stairs at the office. You could also be injured because your job requires you to work on your feet for long hours, and your knee might be injured over time.
A common knee injury is a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). This ligament keeps your femur connected to your tibia, and torn ACLs often come with severe knee pain. Torn ACLS typically result from people coming to a sudden stop or changing direction too quickly, usually while running. People who have experienced torn ACLS often report a popping sensation in their knee followed by swelling and intense pain that prevents them from walking.
Knee injuries, including torn ACLs, often require a lot of rest and possibly surgery to fix the problem. A work-related knee injury could prevent you from returning to work, and you might lose income as a result.
Suing for Work-Related Knee Injuries and Pain in Boston
Work-related injuries are often eligible for Workers’ Compensation. In Massachusetts, Workers’ Compensation is the sole legal remedy for eligible claimants, meaning they cannot sue their employer for damages. It is important to discuss your case with a qualified attorney who can help you determine if you have to file a Worker’s Compensation claim or a personal injury lawsuit to get your damages covered.
If the injury occurred during your normal job duties, there is a good chance you are eligible for Workers’ Compensation. This also means you might be barred from suing your employer for damages. However, under certain circumstances, you might be able to get around the Workers’ Compensation rules and file a lawsuit.
Generally, Workers’ Compensation does not cover injuries caused intentionally. If a coworker, your boss, or someone else purposefully caused you to injure your knee, you can sue them for damages. You can also file a lawsuit if a third party injures you. For example, if your knee was injured because of a defective tool you use as part of your job, you can sue the tool’s manufacturer as a third party.
Damages for Knee Injuries and Pain in Boston
Your damages for a work-related knee injury might be quite high since knee injuries are known to be very painful and debilitating. Victims often require extensive medical care, lose income from missing work, and endure deep physical pain.
As discussed above, knee injuries can be very complex because the knee is a complicated joint. Often, multiple components of the knee, including bones, ligaments, and tendons, are affected by an injury. You might incur steep medical costs for emergency room visits, x-rays, surgery, and pain medicine. If you experience long-term complications, you might also need to pay for physical therapy and mobility aids like crutches or wheelchairs.
Additional economic losses stem from missing work because of your injuries. People who experience work-related knee injuries often perform labor-intensive work, and a knee injury prevents them from returning to their jobs. No work means no income, making keeping up with the rising costs of medical care even more difficult. Our attorneys for work-related knee injuries can help you add the value of your lost income to your already steep medical costs when calculating your damages.
Knee injuries are physically very painful. Many injured victims endure great pain for a lengthy period. This intense pain might accompany more emotional pain, as victims often must learn to accept long-term mobility complications. While these experiences are often unrelated to monetary expenses, they deserve compensation.
What Might Affect Your Damages in Boston Work-Related Knee Injury Cases
Various factors might affect the value of your claims and damages. Depending on your situation, you might maximize your damages or see them reduced based on these factors. Contributory negligence is a significant factor in many injury cases. If a plaintiff is found to have contributed to their own injuries, even a little bit, their overall damages may be reduced proportionally to their negligence. However, if the plaintiff’s negligence exceeds the defendant’s, the plaintiff might be barred from recovery.
You should also talk to your attorney about any pre-existing medical conditions or past injuries involving your knee. For example, if you already had mobility issues because of a past knee injury that has nothing to do with work, you can only claim damages related to how your condition was made worse.
Talk to Our Boston Lawyers for Work-Related Knee Injuries and Pain
To schedule a free assessment of your case, call the Law Office of John J. Sheehan at (617) 925-6407 and speak to our attorneys for work-related knee injuries and pain.