Attorneys
Last Updated: 9/28/2023
A torn tendon can riddle your life with pain. Commonly torn tendons are in the elbow and the heel. Regardless of the torn tendon’s location, tendon injuries forever alter mobility. When a worker suffers a tendon injury on the job in Iowa, it should be the employer’s responsibility to compensate the worker for the injury.
Tendon tears result in expensive emergency room visits, hospital and doctor bills, and treatments and/or surgeries. In addition, tendon tears and injuries can alter a worker’s ability to perform basic tasks and could limit employability.
Torn Tendons
Tendon tears can happen in many places in the body. In addition to the elbow and the heel, other sites in the body where tendons can tear, according to WebMD, include:
- shoulder;
- wrist; and
- knee.
Although many tendon tears happen gradually over time, some can happen instantaneously. Regardless of how your tendon was torn on the job, the constant aching and stiffness can cause you to need pain pills or discontinue use of the injured area.
When your job depends on your ability to use a joint where the tendon is torn, you may no longer be able to work. Treatments and surgeries range in cost and effectiveness and are the behest of your company’s doctor.
Tearing a Tendon on the Job
While it may not be difficult to prove that your tendon is torn, it may be difficult to prove that your job was responsible for the injury, especially if the tendon was simply worn down over time.
That is why it is extremely important to know the rules of Iowa workers’ compensation. You may become embroiled in a battle to prove that your job is liable for your torn tendon.
There are important considerations when making a workers’ compensation claim for any injury, including time limitations. If you have been injured on the job in any way, including tearing a tendon, you must inform your employer within 90 days of the injury, or benefits may be denied.
Keep a personal file of your work injury, including items such as:
- date, time, and place of injury;
- witness information;
- who you notified within the company, for example, your supervisor;
- who authorized medical care;
- dates of medical appointments and treatments; and
- meals, lodging, and any expenses incurred due to medical treatment.
Your employer is responsible for providing medical treatment for the work-related injury and disability benefits if you miss more than three days of work. You could be entitled to temporary total or partial disability, as well as a permanent partial disability if your injury causes permanent impairment.
Remember that just because you’ve followed the rules of reporting your on-the-job injury doesn’t mean you will get your desired outcome. Often, it takes the involvement of attorneys like those at Walker, Billingsley, and Bair in Iowa to get workers with torn tendons the compensation they deserve. Call (888) 435-9886 to set up a consultation, or use our contact form to schedule your appointment.
