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    Your knees carry the weight of every step, lift, or climb you make at work. A sudden twist, a heavy landing, or years of kneeling can lead to serious injuries that keep you out of work for weeks or months. South Carolina’s workers’ compensation system is meant to cover medical expenses and partial wage replacement when a work-related knee injury happens, but the rules are strict, and deadlines come fast.

    At Joye Law Firm Injury Lawyers, our workers’ compensation lawyers work daily to lift that burden. We file the claim, fight any denial, and push for a settlement that covers all treatment, including the wages you miss while you heal. Book a free consultation to learn how workers’ compensation for knee injuries protects you and your family.

    How Joye Law Firm Helps Employees Who Sustained Knee Injuries and Get Workers’ Compensation Benefits

    1. Thorough claim set up: We make sure your workers’ compensation claim lands on the South Carolina Workers’ Compensation Commission docket before time runs out. Missing the two-year statute can end a knee injury case before it starts.
    2. Immediate medical treatment coordination: Although the insurer chooses your doctor, we make certain that they order the right scans and therapy. We can also arrange for you to get a second opinion if your treating physician wrongly declines to recommend treatment, determines that you can return to light or full duty when you aren’t ready, or asserts you have reached maximum medical improvement prematurely.
    3. Correct average weekly wage calculation: Many injured employees are shorted at this step. We gather pay stubs from all of your jobs, overtime records, and bonuses to prove every dollar you earned before the workplace accident. That figure sets the size of your temporary checks and the value of any future workers’ comp settlement.
    4. Tracking all medical bills and mileage: Workers’ comp must pay for every medical appointment, including all trips to physical therapy, follow-up visits, and prescription refills at the pharmacy. We audit insurer payments and stop balance bills from reaching your mailbox.
    5. Preparing for maximum medical improvement (MMI): Once doctors say you have healed as far as expected, they assign a rating. A low number slashes permanent disability benefits. We fight to correct bad ratings.
    6. Negotiating lump-sum or structured settlements: We document future medical expenses, wage replacement, and any . Well-supported files convince most insurance companies to raise offers and avoid public hearing.
    7. Checking for third-party liability: If your work injury was caused or worsened by someone or something other than your employer, like defective scaffolding, a careless delivery driver, or another subcontractor caused your workplace knee injury; we may file a separate personal injury lawsuit to recover pain and suffering damages not available under workers’ comp.

    This comprehensive support lets you focus on healing while we focus on maximizing your benefits.

    Can I File for Workers’ Compensation Because of a Knee Injury?

    South Carolina allows benefits for accidents, illnesses, and injuries that arise out of and in the course of employment. You must give notice to your employer within 90 days and file within two years. Here are some examples of types of common events where we helped our client qualify for workers’ comp benefits:

    Event Example
    Traumatic injury $300,000 settlement for a steel worker who suffered a knee injury from a fall from a ladder at work.
    Overexertion $178,860 settlement, partial disability award with lifetime medical coverage for a diesel mechanic who injured both knees.
    Repetitive stress $350,000 settlement for a restaurant worker injured while cleaning, requiring knee surgery.
    Vehicle crash on duty $270,000 settlement for a law enforcement officer who was hit by a car while directing traffic injuring her left wrist and both knees requiring surgery and physical therapy.

    Conditions that can qualify without an accident:

    • Bursitis from constant kneeling on concrete
    • Osteoarthritis that worsens after long shifts climbing ladders

    If you are dealing with ongoing knee pain caused by your job or have experienced an acute knee injury at work, seek medical care right away. Waiting lets the insurer argue that your injury did not occur at work or it isn’t as severe as you claim.

    How Much Does Workers’ Comp Pay for a Knee Injury?

    The National Safety Council reports an average workers’ compensation settlement cost of about $36,581 for knee injuries, with roughly $18,388 for medical treatment and $18,193 for indemnity that replaces wages. But actual payouts depend on the following:

    Factor Impact on payout
    Severity of damage Severe knee injuries that need total knee replacement surgery add hospital bills, rehab stays, and home mods.
    Average weekly wage Checks equal two-thirds of gross pay up to the state cap. Higher pay means larger temporary benefits and higher settlement.
    Permanent disability benefits An impairment rating after MMI multiplies the weekly benefit by set weeks in the statute.
    Future medical costs Ongoing injections or revision surgery increase the insurer’s risk, raising the offer.
    Ability to return to pre-injury job If a doctor restricts ladder climbing or heavy lifting for life, the value rises to cover the long-term loss of income.

    Comparing the average compensation amounts to real case examples we have handled illustrates the difference working with a lawyer at Joye Law Firm can make. In addition to maximizing your workers’ comp benefits, we investigate every file for a possible third-party claim that can compensate you for the damages that workers’ comp doesn’t cover, like pain and suffering.

    What Should Injured Workers Expect During the Claims Process?

    Every workers’ compensation claim is different, but there is a set process that most claims follow.Person holding an inflamed knee highlighted in red, indicating joint pain or injury, possibly from an accident

    1. Report and employer filing: Tell a supervisor the same day and insist the company file Form 12A.
    2. Medical evaluation: The employer-chosen doctor orders X-rays, MRIs, and physical therapy, then sets work limits.
    3. Workers comp benefits start: If you miss seven calendar days, wage checks begin; if you miss fourteen, the first week gets repaid.
    4. Ongoing treatment: Attend all appointments. Skipped visits can stop checks.
    5. Re-check and MMI: The doctor says you have reached maximum medical improvement and assigns an impairment rating.
    6. Settlement talks: We compare the rating to job duties, age, and future care. A lump sum settlement often follows.
    7. Commission review: If needed, a hearing officer decides on unpaid medical bills, rating disputes, or vocational benefits.
    8. Return to work or be designated permanently disabled: You may resume your old duties, take light duty, or enter skill training paid by the carrier. Alternatively, if you are too badly injured to return to meaningful work, you may receive a Total and Permanent Disability designation, which allows us to settle you case.

    Throughout these steps, your Joye Law Firm attorney and case manager will keep you updated  and we encourage you to reach out if you have questions, we pride ourselves on answering all client calls within one business day.

    How Do You Handle a Denied Workers’ Comp Claim?

    An insurer may say the knee injury is not job-related, notice was late, or was a pre-existing condition. We respond by:

    • Collecting sworn statements from co-workers who witnessed the event
    • Securing independent medical exams that link the condition to work duties
    • Filing Form 50 or Form 53 to request a hearing
    • Presenting vocational professionals on job limits such as kneeling or squatting
    • Appealing to the full Commission or higher courts when needed

    Most insurance companies reevaluate once clear evidence appears and penalties for bad-faith denial loom.

    How Common Is a Knee Injury at Work? Statistics, Common Knee Injuries, and High-Risk Jobs

    According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, musculoskeletal disorders account for about one-third of days away from work nationwide, and knee injuries account for a large portion of those cases. Construction, transportation, and health care see the highest rates.

    • Knee fractures, common for roofers and truck drivers in crashes.
    • Meniscus tears often hit warehouse pickers who pivot while carrying loads.
    • Repetitive squatting leads to patellar tendonitis in flooring and plumbing trades.

    Immediate reporting protects benefits, even when pain seems minor.

    What Is the Importance of Medical Documentation in a Workers’ Compensation Claim for Knee Injuries?

    • Diagnostic imaging. MRIs prove internal tears. Keep copies on a flash drive.
    • Operative reports. Surgeons describe each step and confirm work causation.
    • Therapy progress notes. Show objective gains or continued limits.
    • Medication logs. List every injection and refill; insurers must pay these medical expenses related to the injury.
    • Functional capacity evaluations. Detail why you cannot kneel or climb for long periods.
    • Mileage sheets. Reimburse every trip to treatment.

    Accurate records help prevent insurers from declaring you reached maximum medical improvement too soon.

    Tips to Maximize Workers’ Comp Benefits After a Knee Injury at Work

    • Photograph swelling, braces, or crutches on the first day.
    • Obtain written job-duty restrictions to prevent unsafe assignments.
    • Keep a pain journal to share with your doctor.
    • Consult an attorney before accepting any settlement offer. Fractures settle differently than ligament tears, and most clincher agreements cannot be reopened.
    • Save every receipt, from braces to ice packs, because reasonable medical costs must be reimbursed.

    Frequently Asked Questions About Workers’ Compensation Knee Injury Cases

    WC Knee Injury

    How long can wage checks last?

    Up to 500 weeks for permanent total disability, but many cases close sooner through a settlement.

    Will I pay income tax on benefits?

    In South Carolina, workers’ comp benefits are generally not taxable.

    What if I can do light duty but earn less?

    You may receive temporary partial checks to cover two-thirds of the wage gap.

    Is filing a personal injury claim a double recovery?

    No. A third-party case can add pain and suffering damages, though the comp carrier may assert subrogation on amounts that duplicate medical or wage benefits.

    Call Joye Law Firm After Sustaining Knee Injuries at Work

    A knee injury can end overtime opportunities, limit hobbies, and send medical expenses soaring. South Carolina law promises coverage, yet workers’ compensation cases involve strict deadlines and complex rules.

    Joye Law Firm is one of the largest and most experienced workers’ compensation law firms in South Carolina.  Our lawyers stand ready to secure medical care, replace wages, and negotiate the full value of your case so you can walk back into life without financial strain. Call us at (888) 324-3100 or book a free consultation online. Our workers’ compensation lawyer in South Carolina will fight for the compensation you deserve while you focus on recovery.

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