Workplaces in all industries have possible hazards that can cause accidents. Knee and leg injuries on the job are common, including broken bones, dislocated joints, and torn ligaments and tendons.
Most states require companies to have workers’ compensation insurance if a worker is hurt. You may be entitled to workers’ compensation if you suffered a knee or leg injury. Learn more about workers’ compensation in this article, then speak to a skilled New Jersey workers’ compensation attorney for a free case evaluation.
What Is Workers’ Compensation?
Workers’ compensation is required in most states, including New Jersey. The insurance program provides medical and income benefits to workers who suffer work-related injuries or illnesses.
It ensures that workers receive medical care, income replacement, and other support without needing to sue their employer, while also protecting employers from liability lawsuits. Essential features of workers’ compensation in New Jersey and most states include:
- No-fault system: Employees are entitled to benefits regardless of who caused the injury, as long as it occurred during employment. Exceptions include injuries due to intoxication, willful negligence, or self-inflicted harm.
- Covered benefits: Include medical expenses for all reasonable and necessary medical treatment related to the workplace injury or illness, with no deductibles or copays. Employers or their insurance carriers often direct care through approved providers.
There are also temporary disability benefits. Employees who can’t work due to the injury may receive 70 percent of their average weekly income. Payments begin after a 7-day waiting period, but if the disability lasts longer than 7 days, the waiting period is retroactively paid.
Permanent disability benefits are also available if the injury results in lasting impairment, compensation is sometimes awarded based on a schedule or a lump sum.
Death benefits may be paid if a worker dies due to a job-related injury, dependents may receive compensation up to 70 percent of the employee’s wages in many states, and up to $5,000 for funeral expenses.
Most employees in New Jersey and most states are covered, including full-time, part-time, and seasonal workers. Employers with one or more employees must carry workers’ compensation insurance through a private insurer or a state fund.
Check with your workers’ compensation lawyer about your state's specific rights and benefits.
Knee And Leg Injuries In Workers’ Compensation Claims
Knee and leg injuries are among the most frequent workplace injuries, often leading workers to seek compensation through workers' compensation claims. These injuries can arise from a single traumatic event, such as a fall or collision, or from repetitive stress over time, like prolonged standing or repetitive bending.
Examples include sprains and strains, which affect ligaments and muscles, and more severe conditions like torn ligaments, fractures, and knee dislocations. Workers in physically demanding fields, such as construction, nursing, or manufacturing, are particularly prone to these injuries due to the nature of their tasks, which may involve heavy lifting, awkward movements, or navigating hazardous environments.
Navigating a workers’ compensation claim for a leg or knee injury can be complex, especially when disputes arise over the injury’s cause or extent. Employers or insurance companies may question whether the injury is truly work-related, particularly with cumulative injuries like osteoarthritis exacerbated by repetitive tasks.
To succeed, workers must often provide medical documentation, incident reports, and sometimes witness statements to prove the injury occurred during job duties. Hiring a seasoned workers’ compensation attorney is invaluable in a claim and will ensure that you are fairly compensated.
Filing For Workers’ Compensation After A Knee Or Leg Injury
The injury must have occurred during your employment to qualify for workers’ comp for a knee or leg injury. This includes injuries from a single event, such as a fall or machinery accident, or those developed over time, such as repetitive stress injuries from kneeling or lifting.
You must notify your employer of the injury as soon as possible, ideally in writing, within 90 days of the incident or when you realized it was work-related. You must also file a formal claim with your state’s workers’ compensation department.
Potential knee or leg injury benefits after a work accident include the following. However, it’s essential to check with a qualified workers’ comp lawyer in your state for specific details in your jurisdiction:
Medical Benefits
Covers all necessary medical treatment to cure and relieve the injury, including doctor visits, surgeries, such as for a torn ACL or meniscus, physical therapy, and medications.
Your employer or their insurance carrier usually selects the treating physician, though exceptions may apply in emergencies or if treatment is delayed. Some states also allow the injured party to choose the physician.
Temporary Disability Benefits
If you cannot work for more than seven days due to your knee or leg injury, you may be entitled to 70 percent of your average weekly wage, subject to a state maximum, which for 2025 is likely around $1,100-$1,200 per week in many states. Payments begin after a 7-day waiting period until you return to work or reach maximum medical improvement (MMI).
Permanent Partial Disability Benefits:
You may receive a monetary award if your knee or leg injury results in a lasting impairment. An example would be if your torn ACL does not fully heal and limits your mobility.
The amount depends on the percentage of disability assigned to the leg, as determined by a medical evaluation, and is based on a statutory schedule. For example, a torn meniscus requiring surgery might range from 17.5 percent to 25 percent of the leg’s value in many states, translating to weeks of compensation at a set rate. For 2025, this can mean payments ranging from $20,000-$40,000 or more, depending on income, injury severity, and your state’s laws.
Permanent Total Disability Benefits
If your knee or leg injury, combined with other conditions, renders you unable to work, you may qualify for ongoing benefits. This can be 70 percent of your weekly income, up to the state maximum for up to 450 weeks, potentially longer with proof of continued disability.
Why Should You Hire A Workers’ Compensation Attorney?
After a knee or leg injury at work, you should report it to your employer immediately. Then, you can apply for workers’ compensation and receive the maximum benefits, right? Not necessarily. Retaining a seasoned workers’ compensation lawyer to help with your claim is almost always beneficial. Here’s why:
Hiring a workers' compensation attorney in New Jersey can offer several significant benefits, especially when handling the challenges of a workplace injury claim. Here’s a breakdown based on available information and general knowledge:
Knowledge of Your State’s Workers’ Compensation Laws
New Jersey has specific laws and regulations governing workers' compensation, such as those outlined in the New Jersey Workers' Compensation Act. An experienced attorney understands these rules, including deadlines (e.g., the two-year statute of limitations for filing a claim) and eligibility requirements, ensuring your case complies with state law.
Maximizing Your Benefits
A workers' comp attorney can fight to secure the full range of benefits you’re entitled to, including medical expenses, temporary disability payments (typically 70 percent of your average weekly income, capped by state limits), permanent disability benefits, and vocational rehabilitation if you can’t return to your previous job. Without legal help, you might settle for less than you deserve.
Handling Denied or Disputed Claims
Insurance companies often deny claims or undervalue injuries. An attorney can appeal denials, gather evidence (like medical records or expert testimony), and represent you in hearings before a workers' compensation judge.
Navigating Complex Cases
Suppose your injury involves third-party liability or aggravation of a pre-existing condition. In that case, an attorney can pursue additional claims beyond workers' comp, potentially increasing your compensation through a personal injury lawsuit.
For example, say that you suffered an injury in a machinery accident in a factory. You cannot usually sue your employer for negligence; you will file for workers’ compensation. But workers’ compensation is limited to medical expenses and partial lost income. You may file a personal injury lawsuit against the machinery manufacturer if your attorney can prove it was negligent. Always retain a workers’ comp and personal injury attorney to handle these complicated cases.
Reducing Stress and Paperwork
The process involves detailed forms (e.g., Employee Claim Petition or Notice of Motion), medical documentation, and negotiations with employers or insurers. An attorney manages this, letting you focus on recovery.
No Upfront Costs
Workers' comp attorneys work on a contingency fee basis in most states, often 20 percent of your award, capped by law and subject to judicial approval. This means no out-of-pocket costs; fees are only paid if you win.
Dealing with Employer Retaliation
It’s illegal in most states for employers to fire or retaliate against workers for filing a claim, but it happens. An attorney can protect your rights and pursue legal action if retaliation occurs.
Faster Resolution
Attorneys know how to push cases forward efficiently, avoiding delays from inexperienced handling. In NJ, claims can drag on if not properly managed, especially with disputes over injury severity or causation.
How Much Is My Workers’ Comp Claim Worth?
The value of your claim is affected by several factors that will decide your benefit level and possible settlement amount:
Severity of the Injury
More severe injuries leg and knee injuries will lead to higher medical costs, longer recovery times, and greater disability ratings, driving up the claim’s value. Minor injuries, such as sprains, typically yield lower payouts. For example, a broken leg will be worth more than a sprained knee and ankle.
Extent of Medical Treatment
The cost and duration of medical care, doctor visits, surgeries, medications, therapy, or assistive devices, directly increase the claim’s value. Ongoing or future treatment further boosts it.
Lost Income and Earning Capacity
The time you’re unable to work and any long-term reduction in earning ability are key. Higher pre-injury income mean higher weekly benefits, capped by state limits.
Degree of Permanent Disability
Permanent impairment increases value, especially if it’s “scheduled, such as the loss of a leg or foot. The percentage of disability assigned by doctors or a judge dictates the payout.
Pre-existing Conditions
If a workplace injury aggravates an existing condition, it’s compensable, but insurers may argue the injury isn’t fully work-related, reducing the value unless well-documented. Medical evidence linking the aggravation to work is critical.
Evidence and Documentation
Strong proof, like detailed medical records, workplace incident reports, and witness statements, supports higher valuations. Weak evidence risks denials or lower offers. Reporting the injury quickly and filing a claim within two years usually helps your case.
Employer and Insurer Response
Insurance companies often dispute causation, severity, or treatment needs to minimize payouts. Their resistance can lower the initial offer, though appeals or legal action can raise it.
Ability to Return to Work
If you can’t resume your old job or any job, benefits increase (e.g., vocational rehab or permanent total disability). Returning to work may reduce the claim’s value even at a lower capacity. For example, a construction worker retrained for desk work might see a smaller award than one permanently sidelined.
Legal Representation
A workers’ compensation attorney can negotiate higher settlements, appeal denials, and ensure all benefits are pursued, often doubling or tripling the value compared to going it alone. Attorney fees are usually capped to 20 percent of the award and must be court approved. So, their involvement doesn’t drastically cut your take-home.
Talk to a skilled workers’ compensation attorney for more information about your claim’s potential value.
Contact A Workers’ Compensation Attorney Now
Insurance companies and employers usually attempt to settle workers’ comp claims for pennies on the dollar. Not getting enough compensation for your knee or leg injury at work can make it much more difficult to recover and it can cause reduced physical capacity.
If your knee or leg was injured in a work accident, you need a free case evaluation with a skilled workers’ compensation attorney. Your attorney will safeguard your rights and outline your legal options. You do not pay legal fees unless your attorney obtains a settlement.