If you have a pre-existing condition and get injured at work, you may wonder how this affects your workers’ compensation claim. Pre-existing conditions can complicate your case, but they don’t automatically disqualify you from benefits. Understanding how your condition plays a role is key to receiving the benefits you deserve.
Pre-existing conditions and workers’ comp eligibility
In Delaware, workers’ compensation is available to anyone with a work-related injury, regardless of pre-existing conditions. However, the situation becomes more complex when a pre-existing condition contributes to your injury or recovery. For example, if you have a back injury from a previous accident and suffer a work-related back injury later, the insurer may argue that the second injury wouldn’t have been as severe without the pre-existing condition.
How pre-existing conditions affect claim approval
A pre-existing condition doesn’t automatically disqualify you from workers’ compensation, but it can affect how your claim is evaluated. If your injury worsens a pre-existing condition, it may be harder to prove the workplace injury caused the new problem. The insurance company may argue that your condition is unrelated to your job or reduce your compensation by claiming the pre-existing condition is the main cause.
Proving a connection between the injury and your condition
In cases with pre-existing conditions, it’s important to show that your work injury is the main cause of your disability. Medical records, expert testimony, and a detailed history of your condition can help establish the connection. Demonstrating how your job duties contributed to your injury is essential, even with a pre-existing condition.
What you can do to strengthen your claim
To strengthen your workers’ comp claim, provide clear medical documentation of both your pre-existing condition and work injury. Keep records of treatments and follow-up visits, and ensure your healthcare provider understands how your job may have contributed to the injury. Seek advice on presenting your case to counter arguments that the pre-existing condition is the main cause.
If you’re facing a workers’ comp claim with a pre-existing condition, understanding your rights and gathering the right information will help protect your benefits.