A knee injury can make nearly every part of your workday more difficult.

Standing, walking, climbing stairs, kneeling, lifting, driving, or simply getting from one side of a workplace to another can become painful after an injury. And for employees whose jobs depend heavily on physical movement, a serious knee injury can make working impossible.

Work-related knee injuries happen in many ways. Some occur suddenly when a worker slips, falls, twists, or is struck by equipment. Others develop over time because of repetitive movements and physical demands.

If your knee injury is related to your job, you may be entitled to benefits through Missouri’s workers’ compensation system.

Understanding how knee injuries are handled, what treatment may be available, and what steps you should take after an injury can help protect both your health and your workers’ compensation claim.

What Knee Injuries Commonly Happen at Work?

The knee is a complex joint made up of bones, cartilage, ligaments, tendons, and other tissues. Damage to any of these structures can cause significant pain and loss of mobility.

Common workplace knee injuries include:

• Torn meniscus
• ACL or MCL tears
• Sprains and strains
• Tendon injuries
• Patella or kneecap injuries
• Fractures
• Bursitis
• Cartilage damage
• Aggravation of arthritis or other pre-existing conditions

The severity can range from an injury that improves with rest and physical therapy to one requiring surgery and months of rehabilitation.

How Do Workplace Knee Injuries Happen?

You don’t necessarily have to suffer a dramatic accident to injure your knee at work.

Knee injuries can result from:

• Slipping on a wet or uneven surface
• Falling from a ladder or elevated work area
• Twisting while lifting or carrying something
• Being struck by equipment or materials
• Repeated kneeling or squatting
• Climbing stairs or ladders throughout the workday
• Repetitive lifting and carrying
• Motor vehicle accidents while working
• Years of physically demanding work

Construction workers, healthcare employees, warehouse workers, manufacturing employees, delivery drivers, mechanics, landscapers, and many others may be particularly vulnerable to knee injuries because of the physical demands of their jobs.

Does a Knee Injury Qualify for Missouri Workers’ Compensation?

A knee injury may qualify for workers’ compensation when it arises out of and in the course of your employment and meets Missouri’s requirements for a compensable work injury.

Importantly, workers’ compensation is generally different from a traditional personal injury claim. You usually do not have to prove that your employer was negligent in order to pursue benefits.

The circumstances surrounding the injury still matter, however. Establishing the connection between your work and your knee condition is an important part of the claim.

That is one reason promptly reporting the injury and seeking appropriate medical treatment can be so important.

What If My Knee Was Already Bad Before the Work Injury?

This is a common concern, particularly for workers who have arthritis, an old sports injury, or a previous knee surgery.

Having a pre-existing knee condition does not automatically mean you have no workers’ compensation claim.

The key question may be whether a work-related accident or occupational exposure caused a new injury or significantly aggravated your existing condition under Missouri workers’ compensation law.

Medical records can become especially important in these cases because they may help show how your condition changed following the workplace injury.

If an insurance company points to arthritis or an old injury as the reason for your current symptoms, that doesn’t necessarily settle the issue.

What Should You Do After Hurting Your Knee at Work?

If you injure your knee while working, protecting your health comes first. The steps you take afterward can also affect your workers’ compensation claim.

Report the Injury

Tell your employer or supervisor about the injury promptly.

Be specific about what happened and which part of your body was injured. If you slipped while carrying something and twisted your right knee, for example, make sure those details are documented accurately.

Whenever possible, keep a copy of your written injury report.

Seek Medical Treatment

Don’t assume knee pain will simply disappear.

Some injuries initially seem manageable but worsen over time. Torn ligaments and meniscus injuries, for example, may require imaging and treatment before the full extent of the damage becomes clear.

Follow Your Work Restrictions

Your physician may limit standing, walking, lifting, kneeling, climbing, or other activities while you recover.

Following those restrictions protects your knee from further injury and provides documentation of how the condition affects your ability to work.

Keep Your Records

Save medical paperwork, work restrictions, correspondence about your claim, mileage to authorized medical appointments, and information about any time you’ve missed from work.

Who Chooses the Doctor for a Missouri Workers’ Compensation Knee Injury?

Under Missouri workers’ compensation law, the employer generally has the right to select the medical provider who treats your workplace injury.

That makes it especially important to report your injury and follow the proper process for obtaining authorized care.

Depending on the injury, treatment may include:

• Diagnostic imaging such as an MRI
• Physical therapy
• Medication
• Injections
• Bracing
• Arthroscopic surgery
• Ligament reconstruction
• Knee replacement in severe cases

If you believe you’re not receiving appropriate treatment or necessary care is being delayed or denied, it may be time to speak with an experienced workers’ compensation attorney about your options.

What Workers’ Compensation Benefits May Be Available?

Benefits depend on the facts of your claim and the severity of your injury, but Missouri workers’ compensation may provide several forms of assistance.

Medical Treatment

Authorized and necessary medical treatment for the work injury may be covered through workers’ compensation.

Temporary Disability Benefits

If your authorized treating physician says you’re unable to work while recovering, you may qualify for temporary disability benefits.

Permanent Disability Benefits

Some knee injuries result in permanent loss of function, pain, weakness, or restrictions.

Once you’ve reached Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI), the lasting effects of the injury may be evaluated to determine whether permanent disability benefits are appropriate.

What If You Can’t Return to the Same Job?

A severe knee injury can permanently change what you’re physically capable of doing.

Someone who spent years working on their feet may suddenly have restrictions involving:

• Standing
• Walking
• Lifting
• Kneeling
• Squatting
• Climbing
• Using stairs

If those restrictions prevent you from performing your previous job, your workers’ compensation claim may become more complicated.

The effects of a workplace injury don’t necessarily end when medical treatment ends. Your ability to return to work and the lasting impact of your restrictions can become important issues in your case.

Related: What Happens If You Can’t Return to Your Old Job After a Missouri Work Injury?

How Much Is a Workers’ Compensation Knee Injury Claim Worth?

There’s no standard dollar amount for a knee injury.

The value of a claim depends on factors such as:

• The type and severity of the injury
• Whether surgery was required
• How long you were unable to work
• Your wages
• Whether you have permanent impairment
• Permanent work restrictions
• Future medical needs
• Your ability to return to your previous employment

A knee sprain that resolves with several weeks of treatment is very different from a torn ACL requiring reconstruction or a serious injury resulting in permanent restrictions.

Be cautious about websites promising an “average knee injury settlement.” Those numbers rarely tell you what an individual claim may actually be worth.

When Should You Talk to a Workers’ Compensation Attorney?

Not every knee injury requires an attorney.

But it may be worth seeking legal guidance if:

• Your claim is denied.
• Your medical treatment is delayed or denied.
• The insurance company says your condition is pre-existing.
• You’re being pressured to return to work before you’re medically ready.
• Surgery has been recommended.
• Your injury has resulted in permanent restrictions.
• You’re unable to return to your previous job.
• You’ve been offered a settlement and aren’t sure whether it’s fair.

Understanding your rights before making major decisions about treatment, work, or settlement can help you protect your future.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get workers’ compensation for a torn meniscus in Missouri?

Potentially. If the meniscus injury arose out of and in the course of your employment and meets Missouri’s requirements for a compensable injury, workers’ compensation benefits may be available.

Can repetitive work cause a compensable knee injury?

Some occupational injuries develop gradually rather than from one specific accident. Whether a repetitive-use knee condition qualifies depends on the circumstances and the medical evidence connecting the condition to your work.

Will workers’ compensation pay for knee surgery?

If surgery is reasonable, necessary, related to your compensable workplace injury, and authorized through the workers’ compensation process, it may be covered.

What if my employer says my knee injury is just arthritis?

A pre-existing condition doesn’t automatically rule out a workers’ compensation claim. A work injury may aggravate an existing condition, but the specific medical and legal circumstances matter.

What happens if my knee never fully recovers?

Once your condition has reached Maximum Medical Improvement, any lasting impairment or restrictions may be evaluated as part of your workers’ compensation claim.

The Hines & Wilson Law Firm Is Here to Help

A knee injury doesn’t have to be catastrophic to disrupt your life. When your job depends on your ability to stand, walk, lift, climb, or move comfortably, even an injury that sounds relatively simple on paper can have serious consequences.

The attorneys at The Hines & Wilson Law Firm have spent decades helping injured Missouri workers understand their rights and navigate the workers’ compensation process.

If you’ve suffered a knee injury at work, your treatment has been denied, or you’re concerned about how permanent restrictions may affect your future, contact The Hines & Wilson Law Firm to discuss your options.