X-ray of both knees (front and side views) with red shading around the joints to indicate inflammation or pain.

When a Work Injury Makes an Old Knee Injury Worse

Publicado en Indemnización por accidente laboral.

If you tore your ACL at work but already had problems with that knee, you may be worried the insurance company will blame everything on your old injury.

A preexisting knee condition does not automatically prevent you from getting D.C. workers’ compensation benefits. If your work injury made the condition worse, caused new symptoms, or left you unable to do your job, you may still have a workers’ comp claim.

What If You Already Had a Knee Injury?

Maybe you had knee surgery years ago. Maybe you had arthritis, an old ACL injury, or occasional knee pain but were still able to work.

If an accident at work aggravates that condition and leaves you needing treatment, dealing with new restrictions, or unable to work, the insurance company cannot simply point to your medical history and say the new injury does not matter.

Watch Attorney Frank Kearney Explain

Attorney Frank Kearney explains how D.C. workers’ compensation can protect someone whose work injury makes an existing knee condition worse and why the medical evidence can be so important.

Why Your Medical Records Matter

When you already have a history of knee problems, the insurance company may argue that your pain or need for treatment comes from the old condition instead of what happened at work.

Your medical records and your doctor’s opinion can help show what changed after the accident and whether the work injury aggravated your knee.

Can an ACL Tear Keep You From Working?

Absolutely. A serious ACL injury can make standing, walking, climbing, lifting, kneeling, and other physical work difficult. If you need surgery, you may also be facing significant time away from your regular job.

If your employer offers light-duty work, whether you can safely do it depends on your injury and the restrictions given by your doctor.

Get Help With a D.C. Workers’ Comp Knee Injury

If you tore your ACL or made an old knee injury worse at work, do not assume your medical history means you are out of options.

Tell us what happened and talk with Attorney Frank Kearney about your workers’ compensation case. You can also call us at 202-393-3320.