Workers' compensation is extremely helpful for injured Maryland workers, so they can pay for medical care to get better and get back on the job again. However, there is one kind of injury that could prove more challenging to get workers' compensation benefits for injuries related to pre-existing conditions. A lot of workers mistakenly assume that they cannot receive workers' compensation benefits if they are suffering from problems relating to a pre-existing condition, but this is not the case.
If a pre-existing injury is aggravated or made worse through the act of performing your job duties, then you may be able to qualify for workers' compensation. Some of the most common types of pre-existing conditions that are included in a workers' compensation claim are aggravated injuries related to a back injury, knee injury, shoulder injury, other kinds of injuries and pre-existing medical conditions like asthma.
Let's say you suffered a serious injury in a car accident 10 years ago, and sitting in an uncomfortable chair at the office eight hours a day, seven days a week has caused this old injury to flare up again. The fact is, your current job activities have aggravated and worsened your old injury, and you may be entitled to benefits.
Just because you have a pre-existing injury does not mean you are disqualified from benefits. At McGowan & Cecil, LLC, we help Maryland workers overcome hurdles that are preventing them from receiving workers' compensation benefits. In our more than 60 years of combined experience, we have seen numerous cases turned around to receive a favorable award of benefits -- even when the injured workers did not believe that they could qualify for workers' compensation.
Our law office offers free, no obligation, initial consultations to injured workers. We will listen to your story and advise you of the best next steps to take your case.