If you have suffered a work-related illness or injury, you may need to rely on workers’ compensation to cover your related medical expenses and lost income. However, preexisting conditions for workers in Levittown can complicate such claims.
Obtaining the compensation you deserve is a challenging legal matter, and a preexisting condition may make it even more difficult. For help, turn to the professional legal counsel of our experienced workers’ compensation attorneys at The Law Office of Kaitlin Files, LLC today.
In the context of your Levittown workers’ compensation claim, “preexisting condition” refers to any significant injury or medical condition that you had before you were injured at work. These are injuries or conditions you suffered either before starting your current job or before the work-related incident or illness worsened it.
Preexisting conditions tend to be chronic illnesses or prior injuries that have a lasting impact. Common examples include the following:
While a preexisting condition can complicate your workers’ comp claim, it may not bar you from obtaining compensation for a newly acquired work injury or aggravation to your prior condition. You will, however, be required to demonstrate a connection between your job-related duties and the worsening of your preexisting condition that is equal to a new injury.
To receive benefits, you must show that your preexisting condition was aggravated as a result of a work-related accident or your job duties. This generally means demonstrating that your work duties or environment directly contributed to your prior condition becoming significantly more serious.
For example, consider a construction worker with a history of back pain. A significant worsening of their pain could be attributable to the heavy lifting they do at work. This direct connection between work and the exacerbation of the employee’s preexisting condition could support a workers’ compensation claim in Levittown.
Workers’ compensation is designed to protect employees, such as you, who are injured at work. Employers are required to provide their employees with workers’ compensation insurance. In return, employers avoid the expense and inconvenience of personal injury claims.
In exchange for no-fault benefits, employees give up the right to file personal injury lawsuits against their employers. However, employees may then expect workers’ compensation to pay their necessary medical costs and recompense a specific percentage of their lost income should they become injured at work.
Unlike personal injury claims, negligence does not play a role in workers’ comp claims. This helps strike a balance between employees’ rights and employers’ responsibilities, streamlining the claims process. However, when Levittown employees have prior injuries or medical conditions, the process becomes more complicated.
To successfully settle a Levittown workers’ compensation claim that involves a preexisting condition, you must establish a direct correlation between your work duties and the worsening of your condition. Further, your health must have declined to the point that you have what constitutes a new injury.
Establishing this connection requires evidence, including your related medical records, your doctor’s reports, and potentially the testimony of medical professionals with relevant expertise. The insurance company involved is motivated by profits and will do what it can to limit your compensation or deny your claim outright. Having the skilled legal guidance of a trusted workers’ compensation lawyer from our firm, however, could help ensure the success of your claim.
Workers’ compensation claims can be much more challenging if you have a preexisting condition. At The Law Office of Kaitlin Files, LLC, our trusted workers’ compensation attorney regularly handles claims involving preexisting conditions for workers in Levittown. We have a decade of experience advocating for our valued clients’ rights and benefits and welcome the opportunity to represent you. Contact us today for more information.
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