Workers’ Compensation for Knee Injuries

Knee injuries can either happen very suddenly and without warning or over time in occupations that require frequent bending, lifting, squatting, or climbing.

Here are a few common types of knee injuries that we have seen affect California workers over the years:

Strains and Sprains

Knee strains and sprains are common workplace injuries that occur when the ligaments or muscles around the knee are stretched or torn due to sudden movements or overexertion. This can happen during tasks that require repetitive bending, lifting heavy objects, or sudden twisting motions.

Knee sprains and strains can happen in just about any type of occupation, but our firm has noticed that they are particularly common with warehouse workers, retail employees, and agricultural workers. These injuries can result in pain, swelling, and limited mobility, impacting the individual’s ability to perform their job effectively.

Tendonitis

Tendonitis, inflammation of the tendons in the knee, often occurs in professions that involve repetitive movements such as kneeling, squatting, or climbing stairs. Workers in construction, plumbing, or carpet laying are particularly susceptible.

Overuse of the knee joint without proper rest can lead to irritation and inflammation of the tendons, causing pain and discomfort. For instance, a carpet installer who spends hours kneeling on hard surfaces may develop knee tendonitis due to the constant pressure on the knee joint, resulting in pain and stiffness.

Meniscus Tears

Meniscus tears are another prevalent workplace injury, especially in jobs that involve heavy lifting, bending, or twisting motions. These tears can occur when the meniscus, the cartilage that cushions the knee joint, is subjected to excessive force or pressure, often during activities like lifting heavy equipment or awkwardly twisting the knee while carrying loads.

Examples of employees that might sustain such an injury include a worker in a manufacturing plant bending down to pick up a heavy object or a salesperson attempting to pick up a floor model that was heavier than expected. Regardless of the context, meniscus tears require intensive and long-term treatment, sometimes extending six months.

ACL or MCL injuries

ACL and MCL injuries are common in workplaces where employees engage in physically demanding activities, sudden stops, or changes in direction. These ligaments provide stability to the knee joint, and injuries to them can occur due to twisting, hyperextension, or direct impact to the knee.

Jobs involving tasks like heavy lifting, manual labor, or sports activities increase the risk of ACL or MCL injuries.For instance, a construction worker may twist their knee while carrying a heavy load, leading to an ACL tear. Or a healthcare worker may suffer an MCL injury while assisting a patient in a sudden movement.

These injuries cause significant pain, swelling, and instability, and may require surgical intervention and extensive rehabilitation to restore function and mobility to the knee joint, impacting the individual’s ability to work effectively.

Bursitis

Bursitis, the inflammation of the bursae (small fluid-filled sacs that cushion the joints), can occur in the workplace due to prolonged pressure or repetitive movements that irritate the bursae around the knee leading to swelling, tenderness, and pain.

Occupations requiring prolonged kneeling or leaning on hard surfaces, such as carpet installers, roofers, or gardeners, are at a higher risk, due to the constant friction around their knees.

Dislocations

Knee dislocations are among the most serious types of knee injuries workers can sustain if not treated immediately. Knee dislocations happen when the bones in the knee joint are forced out of their normal position, often due to a sudden impact or trauma. This can occur in workplaces where employees are involved in accidents such as falls from heights, collisions with heavy machinery, or slips on wet or uneven surfaces.

Dislocations are severe injuries that require immediate medical attention and can result in significant pain, swelling, and instability of the knee joint. Many workers notice that once they have one knee dislocation, they’re prone to several more over the years and, at times, discomfort or pain throughout their life.

Fractures

Lastly, just like any other type of bone, knees can be fractured. The recovery time on knee fractures can be pretty intense and last as long as six months or longer.

These injuries can occur in workplaces where employees are exposed to high-impact activities, heavy machinery, or falls from heights. Construction workers, painters, warehouse workers, and retail employees commonly experience knee fractures, but as with any other type of knee injury, they can happen at nearly any time and in nearly any place.

Many workers filing for workers’ compensation are surprised to learn that there are several components to workers’ compensation benefits. Within workers’ compensation, there are several types of benefits that may or may not apply to you as an injured worker.

Here are a few benefits that may or may not apply to your specific knee injury case:

• State Average Weekly Wage (SAWW): Because recovery time can be very lengthy, the benefits an injured worker receives from a knee injury are often a percentage of their average weekly wage before the injury. To calculate the AWW, the earnings for the 52 weeks before the injury are typically considered. This includes wages, bonuses, and other forms of compensation. If the employee did not work the full 52 weeks or their wages fluctuated, a different method may be used to determine the AWW.
• Temporary Disability Benefits: If an employee’s knee injury results in a temporary disability and they are unable to work due to their condition, they may be eligible for temporary disability benefits. In California, temporary disability benefits are typically calculated at two-thirds (66.67%) of the worker’s AWW, subject to maximum and minimum limits set by state law. These benefits are paid bi-weekly and are intended to replace a portion of the wages lost during the recovery period.
• Permanent Disability Benefits: If the knee injury results in a permanent injury, the worker may be entitled to permanent disability benefits. The amount of permanent disability benefits is determined based on the nature and extent of the disability, as well as other factors such as age and occupation. In California, permanent disability benefits are typically calculated based on a disability rating assigned by a qualified medical evaluator (QME) or agreed upon by the parties involved.

Don’t forget that while some of the benefits listed above may not apply to your case, at the very least, you’ll be eligible to receive medical treatment under your employers’ workers’ comp insurance.