Compensation for workplace injuries isn’t just for completely healthy people. Many workers with pre-existing conditions or ailments experience accidents on the job and merit workers’ comp.
However, a question arises when the injury itself is not a new wound or trauma: Can you claim workers’ comp if you aggravate a pre-existing condition while on the job? In Indiana, the rules can be a bit tricky, so it’s important to understand what you might be able to claim.
Getting benefits for aggravated injuries
A pre-existing condition is any injury or illness that you had before experiencing a workplace accident. For example, a back injury from an automobile collision before you started working would be a pre-existing condition.
In Indiana, you can still get workers’ compensation benefits if your work causes you to aggravate a pre-existing injury. The key is proving that your job made the condition worse. For instance, if you had an old shoulder injury and lifting heavy boxes at work made it worse, you might be eligible for benefits.
Filing a claim
To qualify for benefits, you need to prove that your work contributed to the aggravation of your injury. Medical evidence and a detailed report from your doctor can help make your case. You can typically only claim amounts relative to the injury your work caused, so you need to be ready to counter an accusation that activities outside of work were responsible for the worsening condition.
Once you believe your job worsened your pre-existing injury, report it to your employer right away. Follow the company’s process for filing a claim. Continue to keep detailed records of your medical treatment and any work-related issues due to your injury.
Thankfully, workers’ comp can cover aggravated injuries, but getting coverage could require extra work. You should take prompt action if you discern that your employment made an existing condition worse.
