Workers’ compensation protects the vast majority of employees in California. While many workers never need these benefits, they are critical for those who develop work-acquired medical conditions.
There are many scenarios in which professionals may be well aware that they are eligible for workers’ compensation. If someone gets hurt due to an altercation with a customer or an equipment malfunction, they may feel confident about pursuing a workers’ compensation claim. Other times, those with medical conditions related to their employment may feel unsure of their rights. Professionals could have pre-existing conditions that existed before their current employment.
When is it possible for a professional with a pre-existing condition to receive workers’ compensation benefits to cover their lost wages or pay for their medical care?
When their work worsens their condition
If a professional can show that their job responsibilities affected their pre-existing condition, then they may be able to file a claim for workers’ compensation benefits. Simply having a condition while employed does not mean a worker automatically qualifies. Employment must cause or worsen their symptoms.
When there are questions about the impact that their employment has had on their symptoms, the worker may need to undergo an evaluation to prove that their employment has caused their symptoms to worsen or to come back after they had successfully addressed them previously.
Repetitive strain injuries and other forms of cumulative trauma frequently worsen due to employment. As such, workers’ compensation claims related to pre-existing conditions are relatively common.
Although pre-existing conditions can qualify professionals for workers’ compensation benefits, there could be challenges along the way. Those anticipating a complicated claims process may benefit from having support as they apply for benefits and gather evidence that their employment has worsened their condition.