Norcross, GA Pre-Existing Condition Workers' Compensation Lawyer

Experienced Workers' Compensation Attorney Helping Clients With Pre-Existing Conditions in Norcross, Georgia

After a workplace injury, you may be facing considerable health complications. This can be even worse for workers with pre-existing health conditions. Some people assume that having an existing condition automatically excludes you from eligibility for workers' compensation, but this is not the case. If you or somebody you love has been injured on the job, reach out to a Norcross workers' compensation lawyer today.

At The Law Offices of John Morrison, we are well-versed in the rights of injured workers. We can review your case to understand how your pre-existing health condition factors into the benefits available to you.

Common Pre-Existing Conditions in Workers' Comp Claims

Many workers already live with some kind of physical condition before a job injury happens. That does not automatically block a workers' compensation claim. This issue comes up often in jobs involving lifting, bending, standing, repetitive motion, driving, or other physical strain. Common pre-existing conditions in workers' compensation cases may include:

• Back injuries, herniated discs, and chronic neck pain
• Knee damage, arthritis, and joint problems
• Prior shoulder injuries or rotator cuff tears
• Repetitive stress conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome
• Degenerative disc disease
• Old fractures or other past orthopedic injuries

Insurance companies often try to point to these earlier conditions and argue that the worker was going to have pain anyway. That is not always a fair interpretation of the facts. A worker may have been doing the job without major limits until a lifting accident, fall, or sudden strain made the condition much worse. When that happens, the claim deserves a serious review.

What Is the Aggravation Rule in Georgia Law?

In Georgia, workers' compensation can cover an aggravation of a pre-existing condition when work activities make that condition worse. In other words, an employer generally takes a worker as they are. A claim may still be valid if a job injury worsens an old back problem, speeds up a joint condition, or turns a manageable issue into a disabling one.

The worker still has to show that the employment contributed to the worsening condition, not just that symptoms returned for reasons unrelated to work. Georgia workers must also report the injury within 30 days.

What Payment Is Available Through a Georgia Workers' Comp Claim?

Workers' compensation can provide several forms of help after a covered injury. Depending on the facts, benefits may include authorized medical care, rehabilitation services, and income benefits if the worker misses time from work or returns at reduced pay.

In more serious cases, permanent partial disability benefits may also apply. If the injury is fatal, certain dependents may receive death benefits. Georgia's State Board of Workers' Compensation explains that job-related injuries may qualify for medical, rehabilitation, income, and death benefits, and its benefits materials also describe temporary total disability, temporary partial disability, and permanent partial disability benefits.

Navigating Wrongly Denied Claims Involving a Pre-Existing Condition

Claims involving a pre-existing condition are often denied for predictable reasons. The insurer may say the worker was already hurt, that nothing new happened on the job, or that the need for treatment came from age or degeneration instead of work. In some cases, the insurer may accept that an accident happened but still deny wage benefits or refuse medical care. A denial does not always mean the claim is over.

To fight back, a worker may need medical records, imaging results, accident reports, witness statements, and a clear timeline showing how the condition changed after the job incident. Georgia workers can file a WC-14 with the State Board of Workers' Compensation and send copies to the employer and insurance carrier. That formal process can be important when the insurance company refuses to do the right thing. Our firm is here to help you contest a denied claim, whether through mediation or a hearing.

Contact a Norcross Workers' Compensation Attorney Today

A pre-existing condition should not give an insurance company a free pass to ignore a real workplace injury. At The Law Offices of John Morrison, we can help you pursue benefits and push back when the insurer tries to blame everything on an old medical issue. Call 770-951-8900 or contact our Norcross, Georgia workers' compensation lawyer today to set up a complimentary consultation.