Aggravation of a Preexisting Condition

Workers’ Compensation Attorney Serving Spartanburg and Greenville

Most people know that the workers’ compensation system is designed to provide financial assistance to employees who get hurt on the job. What some people may not know, however, is that it can also provide benefits in the event that your job results in the aggravation of a preexisting condition. While some jobs clearly pose more risks than others, even office work can aggravate injuries through repetitive tasks like typing or assembly line work. Although some claims go smoothly, many insurance companies will often contest a claim involving the aggravation of a preexisting condition, arguing that the employer is not responsible for the new harm. Knowledgeable workers’ compensation lawyer Patrick E. Knie has represented many individuals in Spartanburg and Greenville who have suffered an aggravation of a preexisting condition while at work.

Pursuing Benefits for the Aggravation of a Preexisting Condition

It is common for people to start a new job with a few preexisting injuries. Common examples include back, neck, knee, and other joint issues that they may have suffered at an earlier occasion or perhaps during childhood. It is important to inform your employer, if asked, about such injuries at the time you are hired. It is also important to keep track of these conditions so that you can recognize when your job may be making the condition worse. In the event that you think your job is creating additional stress for a preexisting condition, it is critical that you notify your employer immediately and initiate a claim for workers’ compensation benefits.

Under the workers’ compensation benefits system, an employer must compensate an employee for any aggravation of a preexisting condition. This requires a substantial evaluation of the worker’s injuries. After filing a claim for benefits, the worker will undergo a medical examination to determine what portion of the harm is attributable to the worker’s employment-related exacerbation of the preexisting condition. After the evaluation, the examiner will determine whether your injury is total or partial, and whether it is permanent or temporary. These two factors will determine the amount of benefits to which you are entitled and the duration of your benefit payments.

In response to claims involving the aggravation of preexisting injuries, many insurance companies will claim that the injury was degenerative and that the employer cannot be held responsible. They may also claim that the employee’s activities outside work contributed to the aggravation, rather than his or her job-related duties.

Consult an Injury Lawyer for a Claim in Spartanburg or Greenville

If you believe that you may have suffered an aggravation of a preexisting condition while on the job, you may be entitled to benefits. At the Knie & Shealy Law Offices, we have helped many injured individuals bring claims to assert their rights and ensure that they receive the compensation they deserve. Injury attorney Patrick E. Knie can advise residents of Spartanburg and Greenville as well as other communities across Greenville, Laurens, Cherokee, and Union Counties. Our team has handled a wide variety of preexisting condition claims, and we know what it takes to build a persuasive case in these complicated situations. Call us now at (864) 582-5118 or contact us online to set up your free consultation now.