Bursitis claims

This is a painful condition which commonly affects people who have jobs where they are required to spend long periods of time on their knees. Bursitis can develop in the elbows as well.

Bursitis is also known as ‘housemaid’s knee’.

If you have developed bursitis as a result of your occupation and your employer has failed to provide adequate protection then you may be entitled to compensation.

Bursitis

This is the medical name for inflammation of the bursa. Bursa are a series of fluid filled sacs which act as a cushion between a bone and tendon. They help prevent any friction and enable the bones to move easily.

But these can become swollen due to excess pressure or repetitive movements. A good example of this is kneeling on a hard surface for a long period of time.

This swelling results in pain and discomfort.

Employer responsibility

Your employer has a responsibility to minimise the risk of bursitis but if they fail to put safeguards in place then they may be liable for a compensation claim.

The argument for this is that it is more than likely that the employer knew that this was a potential risk of the job and should have protected you accordingly.

Effects of bursitis

There is the physical pain to content with which can worsen over time. If this happens then it may restrict your ability to do your job and result in a change of occupation. In some cases it may force you to give up work altogether.

The impact of this upon your family is stress and anxiety due to the loss of earnings and resulting drop in living standards. Your family have to cope with your injury not only now but in the future.

This affects you and your family’s quality of life.

If you are awarded a compensation payout then this can be used to pay for treatment or any other additional expense incurred by your injury.

Making a claim for compensation for bursitis

Look for a personal injury lawyer or solicitor who has a long history of work related claims such as these. A claim for bursitis is a specialised affair which requires the services and expertise of a skilled lawyer who understands the complexities of these claims.

He or she should have knowledge and experience in this area and be able to advise you about all relevant issues regarding your claim.

They will conduct an initial assessment of your claim to see if there is enough evidence to proceed. If there is then you will go through the claims process.

This claims process is discussed in more detail in our making a claim for compensation section.

Time limit for claiming compensation for bursitis

There are time limits for personal injury claims which are usually set at 3 years from the date of the accident. However there are exceptions to this rule so ask your lawyer or solicitor about this deadline.

The rules are strict in regard to these time limits so ensure that you make an application within the time limit.