A meniscus tear is an injury to part of the cushion in your knee. A meniscus tear is a fairly common injury and can happen easily at work. If you hit your knee against something hard or twist it in an awkward way, you might feel a pop or a burning sensation. These are clues that you may have a torn meniscus.
The first thing you should do is get medical attention. Left untreated, this type of injury to your knee can lead to early onset of arthritis. Your doctor will likely recommend that you see an orthopedic surgeon to assess the extent of your injury and suggest a treatment plan. You may need surgery to repair the tear.
You’re probably wondering whether your insurance will cover all of this, and how you can possibly afford to miss work. Maybe you are considering toughing it out. This is where Illinois workers’ compensation comes in. If you injured yourself at work – even if it was your fault and not your employer’s – you can and should file a claim for workers’ compensation benefits. Most employers in Illinois are required to carry insurance to cover things like this, so you won’t be asking your employer to directly pay for your medical bills. There is no need to tough it out.
The first steps are notifying your employer that you were injured on the job and filing a claim for workers’ compensation with the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission. If your injury is covered (it happened at work and was related to your job) then you are entitled to the benefits set by law, which include 100% coverage of your related medical costs, as well as checks for lost wages while you’re out of work due to your injury. These checks are generally 2/3 of your regular pay. If your injury is serious or permanent, you may also get a settlement once your injury is stable.
Sometimes the insurance company denies a claim. Many times, their reason is flawed. An Illinois work injury attorney can help you sort it out.
We are workers’ compensation attorneys who help people with Illinois work injuries anywhere in IL via our statewide network of attorneys. Contact us and we will answer your questions or find the right lawyer for your situation.
