You may recover damages for lost wages and medical bills, but what about the cost of living during recovery? As a worker, you and your family’s financial security may be at risk and even more so if you don't receive workers’ compensation benefits.
Workers’ compensation benefits can help you continue to pay your bills while you are recovering from a work-related injury and cannot work. Many injured workers rely on these benefits to provide them with a source of income.
The amount of workers’ compensation benefits you may be entitled to receive is based on the type and severity of your injury. But what if you already have pre-existing conditions at the time you suffer a work-related injury?
Workers' Compensation Benefits and Pre-Existing Conditions: Is It Still Possible to Make a Claim?
In most states, if you suffer a work-related injury, you can recover wages and medical benefits for the time you are out of work as a result of that injury. But an injury that occurs at work may also result in a new or worsened condition, known as a pre-existing condition.
You may be entitled to receive workers’ compensation benefits for these pre-existing conditions as long as your injury occurred in the course and scope of your employment.
What are the Types of Pre-Existing Conditions?
A pre-existing condition is a medical condition that existed before you suffered an injury at work. A pre-existing condition can be an illness, injury, or other ailment for which you sought treatment or received treatment prior to the time you suffered an injury at work.
Some examples of pre-existing conditions include:
- Herniated disks
- Torn ligaments
- Fractures
- Arthritis
- Spine degeneration
- Knee injuries
- Sprains and strains to legs or arms
How to Support Your Pre-Existing Injury Claim
As a worker with a pre-existing injury, you should understand your rights to workers’ compensation benefits and the potential to receive additional benefits if you suffer an aggravation or increase in severity of your pre-existing injury.
If you believe you may be suffering from a pre-existing condition and you have been injured at work, you should talk to a lawyer. An experienced attorney can help you navigate the workers’ compensation benefits system and can help you get the financial relief you deserve.
How Can We Help You?
Workplace legalities are incredibly complicated, so as an employee dealing with such situations, it's best to ask for a hand from a reputable workers' comp attorney in California.
Pacific Workers', The Lawyers for Injured Workers offer legal services, such as workers' compensation for all injured workers, airline workers, firefighters, healthcare workers, police officers and union workers. Give us a call today at 800-606-6999 and get a free consultation!