The Law Office of Alice A. Strömbom can help you through a workers’ compensation claim after a knee injury on the job in Sacramento. One of the most common, yet challenging injuries you can go through involves your knee. Workers’ comp is supposed to help when you get hurt on the job—but anyone who’s gone through the process knows it’s not always simple. There’s paperwork, phone calls, and waiting, all while you’re trying to rest a knee that doesn’t want to bend or bear weight. That’s where we come in. Our Sacramento team knows how to make this process less stressful and help you get the support you need to move forward.
Why Talk to a Lawyer After a Knee Injury?
A knee injury can change everything. Maybe you felt a sharp pain lifting something at work, or maybe your knee’s been getting worse over time from being on your feet all day. Either way, it can make working—or even getting around—really tough. Add in the worry of missing paychecks or feeling like your boss is frustrated with you, and it’s a lot to handle.
You have the right to file for workers’ compensation just by being employed here in Sacramento. But getting the most out of your claim often takes someone who’s been through it before. That’s where we can help. Our job is to make things clearer, calmer, and easier for you. We’ll:
- Explain how the whole process works and what to expect
- Help gather the medical records and evidence your claim needs
- Look into what caused your knee injury and how it ties to your job
- Deal with the insurance company so you don’t have to
- Keep your claim moving and make sure you’re not left waiting
A lot of people think workers’ comp is only for people with dangerous jobs, but that’s not true. Anyone can end up with a serious knee injury—teachers, nurses, warehouse workers, delivery drivers, office staff. No matter what your job is, though, it’s important to know how to build your claim for benefits. That often starts with evidence.
What Evidence Can Make My Benefits Stronger?
Knee injuries aren’t always dramatic, but they can change your day-to-day life in a big way. You might think you just tweaked it and that it’ll get better with time—but when it keeps swelling, locking, or giving out, it can stop you from doing your job safely. That’s why you would need workers’ comp benefits, but what you can actually get is going to depend on evidence like:
- Photos or video (if you have them). Pictures or security camera footage can show how the injury happened or what conditions led up to it. Having a visual record helps strengthen your case.
- Medical records and doctor’s notes. These connect your knee injury directly to your job. They show your diagnosis, treatment plan, and how long recovery might take. Be sure to save every record from your first visit to your latest check-up.
- Accident report. This is your proof that the injury happened on the job, when it happened, and where. It creates a record that your employer and the insurance company can’t ignore later on.
- Witness statements. If coworkers saw you twist your knee, slip, or notice unsafe work conditions, their statements can back up your claim. It helps confirm that the injury happened exactly how you described.
- Pay records. Your pay history helps calculate how much you should receive while you’re out of work. It’s also used if you can’t return to the same job and need partial or long-term benefits.
Gathering this information might sound like a lot, especially when you’re dealing with pain or just getting better—but that’s exactly where having help makes a difference. We can help you put all this together, then move on to the next phase: actually filing your claim and getting benefits.
What Benefits Can I Get With a Workers’ Comp Claim After a Knee Injury?
One of the biggest protections workers have in California is that you don’t have to prove your employer did anything wrong to qualify for workers’ comp. If you got hurt while doing your job—even if it was an accident—you’re most likely covered.
But filing the claim is just the beginning. What really matters is knowing what help is available and making sure you actually receive it. If your knee injury claim is approved, here’s what workers’ comp can provide:
- Medical care that’s covered. That includes your doctor visits, MRIs, physical therapy, surgery, medications, and even braces or mobility aids if you need them. You shouldn’t have to worry about medical bills while you’re trying to heal.
- Temporary disability (TD) benefits. If your knee injury keeps you off the job for a while, these payments help replace a portion of your lost income while you recover.
- Permanent disability (PD) benefits. Some knee injuries don’t fully heal, even after surgery or therapy. If that’s the case, you may qualify for long-term benefits based on how much your injury limits your ability to work.
- Job retraining. If you can’t go back to the same type of work, workers’ comp can sometimes cover retraining or education to help you start a new role.
It’s also important to know the deadlines. In most cases, you have one year from the date of your injury to file a workers’ comp claim in California. Temporary disability benefits usually last up to 104 weeks (about two years).
What Would Require a Workers’ Comp Claim For a Knee Injury?
You don’t have to be doing heavy labor to end up with a bad knee injury. However it happens, it can take you out of your routine fast. So, even if you know you can file for workers’ comp, it’s helpful to look at what can cause you to need to after a knee injury:
- Lifting or carrying heavy things. Even if you’ve done it a hundred times before, one awkward lift or twist can strain or tear a ligament in your knee. It only takes one wrong move.
- Slip and falls. A slick floor, a cluttered walkway, or a loose cord—it happens in an instant. You land hard, your knee twists, and suddenly you’re limping.
- Repetitive strain or wear and tear. Sometimes it’s not one big accident. It’s months or years of bending, kneeling, or climbing that finally catch up with you. By the time the pain shows up, it’s hard to ignore.
- Quick twists or turns. Jobs that keep you moving fast—like delivery or warehouse work—can lead to ACL or meniscus tears if your foot plants and your body keeps turning.
- Equipment or vehicle accidents. For people who drive or use machinery, a collision can send force straight into your knee, causing bruising or worse.
You might not think much of it at first—maybe it just felt sore, and you figured it would go away. But when it doesn’t, and it starts keeping you from doing your job or even walking comfortably, it’s time to get it checked out and file a claim. Once you reach that point, our team will be there to support you.
Contact a Sacramento Workers’ Compensation Lawyer
When you face a knee injury at work, you’re already dealing with enough pain and uncertainty. At the Law Office of Alice A. Strömbom, we’ll be there to answer your questions and guide you through a workers’ compensation claim to get the benefits you’ll need to get back to work. Set up a free consultation today to get started.