Knee injuries can prevent you from performing manual labor or walking independently for months at a time, and they can also be very difficult to treat, even with cutting-edge medical care. This is one of the most serious forms of harm you can suffer in the workplace, which means that knee injuries can lead to uniquely complicated workers’ compensation claims.
Fortunately, support is available from workers’ comp attorneys with years of experience handling cases like yours. From establishing that you qualify for workers’ comp in the first place to ensuring you get the maximum amount of benefits available, your Reno workplace knee injury lawyer from Shook & Stone can help you through every stage of the claims process.
What Kinds of Knee Injuries Are Covered by Workers’ Comp?
If you are classified as an employee in Nevada and suffer any kind of injury to your knee—or any other part of your body—while performing work-related tasks, you should have access to workers’ comp benefits through your employer. While there is some room for interpretation of what qualifies as “work-related,” you are generally covered for any injury that happens while you are on shift and doing anything related to your employment—from performing work tasks to running errands such as picking up lunch orders for your coworkers.
Knee injuries can affect workers in almost every industry, since they often stem from slips or falls. Some of the more common forms of knee trauma that end up justifying workers’ comp claims include:
- Deep cuts on or around the knee that affect mobility
- Fractures of the patella (kneecap)
- Fractures of the lower femur or upper tibia where they come together at the knee
- Damage to the meniscus or other knee cartilage between the femur and tibia
- Strains or tears to the anterior cruciate ligament or posterior cruciate ligament inside the knee
- Strains or tears to the medial collateral ligament or lateral collateral ligament on the sides of the knee
If you have any questions about whether you can seek benefits over your specific injury, a Reno workplace knee injury attorney from our team at Shook & Stone can provide the answers you need during a private consultation.
Basic Steps in the Workers’ Comp Process
To start a workers’ comp claim over a knee injury in Nevada, you must first notify your employer about the injury you have suffered and how it happened by filling out an Incident Report. You have a maximum of seven days to do this after initially getting hurt. You then have a maximum of 90 days after your injury to seek initial medical care from an employer-approved doctor and to provide your employer with a completed Employee’s Claim for Compensation form.
Once your employer completes their part of this form and sends it to their insurance provider—along with additional forms that you, as the injured employee, are not responsible for filing—that insurance provider has 30 days to either accept or deny your claim. Getting help from a qualified lawyer can be especially vital if your claim over a workplace knee injury in Reno is denied for any reason, or if it is accepted, but you are not given all the benefits you need.
Discuss Recovery Options with a Reno Workplace Knee Injury Attorney
Knee injuries can be painful, debilitating, and potentially life-altering if they end up causing harm that cannot be fully repaired naturally or with help from medical professionals. Even if your knee injury is minor and will only keep you out of work for a few days, you still deserve workers’ comp benefits if you were hurt while working.
A Reno workplace knee injury lawyer from Shook & Stone can help you achieve the positive case result you want. Call us today to schedule a free initial consultation.
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