How Much Is a Knee Injury Worth in Illinois Workers’ Comp?

How much is a knee injury worth in Illinois workers’ comp? There isn’t one “average” number that fits every case. A mild sprain that heals fully might settle in the low five figures, while meniscus or ligament tears with surgery often fall in the mid–five-figure to six-figure range. Severe knee injuries involving total knee replacement, permanent restrictions on standing and walking, or a loss of your old occupation can reach well into the six figures or more. The real value of your case depends on your diagnosis, treatment, long-term limitations, and how the injury affects your ability to work and earn a living.

Hurt your knee at work in Illinois and wondering what a fair workers’ comp settlement really looks like?

You’re not the only one asking. We regularly hear questions like:

• “What is the average workers’ comp settlement for a knee injury in Illinois?”
• “How much is a torn meniscus or ACL worth in workers’ comp?”
• “Does needing a knee replacement make my case worth more?”

The truth is, there’s no single “average knee settlement” that applies to everyone. Knee injury settlements in Illinois workers’ compensation cases depend on what was actually damaged (ACL, MCL, meniscus, cartilage, bone), whether surgery or even a knee replacement is needed, and how much the injury limits your ability to stand, walk, climb, and work. Cases with permanent restrictions on standing and walking can be some of the highest-value work injuries in Illinois, especially when wage differential or permanent total disability benefits are involved.

This guide, written by an experienced workers’ comp lawyer, explains how Illinois workers’ comp really values knee injuries, how twisting and fall injuries compare to degenerative knee claims that end in a joint replacement, and what to think about before you accept a settlement offer.

Common Work-Related Knee Injuries in Illinois Workers’ Comp Cases

The knee is one of the most vulnerable joints on the job. It takes the hit when you twist, slip, fall, kneel, climb, or carry heavy loads. We regularly see knee injuries from:

• Twisting injuries – foot planted, body turns, and the knee twists (common on uneven surfaces, ladders, getting in/out of trucks, or pivoting with a load).
• Falls and direct impact – tripping or slipping and landing directly on the knee, or banging the knee into equipment, stairs, or a vehicle interior.
• Repetitive kneeling or squatting – maintenance, construction, flooring, warehouse work, and delivery jobs that require frequent kneeling or crouching.
• Heavy lifting and awkward loads – lifting or carrying that forces the knee to torque or hyper-extend.
• Aggravation of degenerative joint disease – work activity that accelerates or worsens existing arthritis or cartilage wear, sometimes leading to a needed knee replacement.

Common diagnoses in Illinois work comp knee cases include:

• Meniscus tears
• ACL, MCL, PCL ligament tears or sprains
• Knee dislocation or subluxation
• Patellar (kneecap) fractures or contusions
• Chondromalacia and cartilage damage
• Bursitis and tendinitis
• Post-traumatic arthritis / degenerative joint disease
• Need for total or partial knee replacement

It doesn’t matter whether your knee injury came from one bad twist, a hard fall on concrete, or years of kneeling and climbing stairs. If your job caused it or significantly aggravated it, it may be covered under Illinois workers’ compensation.

How Illinois Law Treats Knee Injuries and Degenerative Knee Conditions

Knee injuries are covered under the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act, and disputes are handled through the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission (IWCC). That applies to both sudden injuries (like twisting and falling) and repetitive trauma or aggravation of pre-existing degenerative joint disease.

If you want to review the law and Commission resources, these are the key references:

• 
  Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act (820 ILCS 305)
  
• 
  Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission (IWCC) – Official Site
  

You don’t have to prove your employer was negligent, and you don’t lose your case just because you had some arthritis or knee problems before. Under Illinois law, if work aggravates, accelerates, or combines with a pre-existing knee condition to create a worse problem — including a situation where you now need a total knee replacement — that can still be a valid work comp claim.

Main Factors That Impact the Value of a Knee Injury Settlement

Illinois doesn’t use a one-line “knee chart” to tell you your case value. Instead, arbitrators and insurance companies look at a combination of factors, including:

• Diagnosis – sprain vs. meniscus tear vs. ligament tear vs. fracture vs. degenerative arthritis vs. total knee replacement.
• Treatment – conservative care only vs. injections vs. scope/arthroscopic surgery vs. ligament reconstruction vs. total knee replacement.
• Permanent limitations – difficulty walking, standing, climbing stairs, kneeling, squatting, or working on uneven surfaces.
• Work impact – whether you can return to your old job, have to move to lighter-duty or sedentary work, or can’t work at all.
• Average weekly wage (AWW) – your wage helps set your TTD and PPD rates, which heavily influence settlement numbers when we start plugging in sample calculations.

Two workers with similar MRIs can end up with very different settlements depending on how their injury affects their job future. That’s why we focus less on chasing some “average number” and more on how your knee actually affects your day-to-day function and earning power.

For a broader overview of how Illinois workers’ comp cases are valued, this guide is a good place to start:

What Is My Illinois Workers’ Comp Case Worth?

Illinois Knee Injury Settlement Ranges in 2025

These ranges are not promises, guarantees, or a calculator. They’re realistic patterns we see in Illinois knee cases when we factor in:

• How bad the knee looks on imaging or in surgery
• Whether surgery — or multiple surgeries — was required
• How much permanent loss of function you have
• Whether you can stand, walk, and climb for work
• Whether you can return to your old job or pay level
• Your AWW and benefit rates under Illinois law

1. Mild Knee Sprains, Strains, and Contusions (No Structural Tear)

These cases usually involve conservative care — rest, therapy, medications, maybe a brace — with no significant tear on MRI and no surgery.

• Lower AWW (~$500–$700/week):
  many of these cases settle in roughly the $3,000–$10,000 range if you recover well and return to full-duty work.
• Higher AWW (~$1,500–$2,000+/week):
  similar injuries can support settlements in the $10,000–$20,000+ range, especially with prolonged treatment or minor residual limitations.

2. Meniscus Tears and Ligament Sprains – No Surgery Yet

When MRI shows a meniscus tear or a partial ligament injury but you’re treated without surgery (therapy, injections, activity modification), value is usually higher than for a simple sprain.

• Lower AWW (~$500–$800/week):
  settlements often fall somewhere in the $5,000–$15,000+ range, depending on pain, swelling, and limitations with walking and stairs.
• Higher AWW (~$1,500–$2,500/week):
  similar injuries can reach $15,000–$35,000+, particularly if there are documented permanent restrictions or recurring flare-ups.

3. Meniscus, ACL, or MCL Tears With Surgery

Arthroscopic meniscus repairs or partial meniscectomies, ACL/MCL reconstructions, and other knee surgeries significantly increase the medical cost and recovery time, and often leave some degree of permanent loss of use.

• Lower AWW (~$500–$800/week):
  surgical knee cases frequently land in the $20,000–$40,000+ range, depending on long-term symptoms and functional loss.
• Higher AWW (~$1,500–$2,500+/week):
  similar surgeries can support settlements in the $35,000–$75,000+ range, especially if there are permanent restrictions on standing, walking, kneeling, or stair-climbing.

4. Aggravation of Arthritis and Total Knee Replacement Cases

Some of the biggest knee cases in Illinois involve workers whose job activity:

• Significantly aggravates degenerative arthritis in the knee, or
• Leads to a medically necessary total or partial knee replacement.

These cases are often high-value because:

• The surgery and follow-up care are expensive.
• Recovery is long and demanding.
• There is a high likelihood of permanent restrictions on standing, walking, and climbing.
• Many physically demanding jobs become unrealistic or unsafe long-term.

Broadly speaking, Illinois knee replacement and severe degenerative knee cases commonly resolve in the low to mid six figures, and in some situations can go higher — particularly where:

• You’re relatively young with many work years ahead.
• You can’t return to your prior heavy-duty job.
• You have major wage loss and may qualify for wage differential or even permanent total disability benefits.

To see real-world examples of significant work injury results (for knee injuries and other serious cases), you can review our Illinois case results here:

Illinois Workers’ Compensation Case Results

Why Knee Cases Can Have Very Large Settlements

Knee injuries don’t just affect one body part — they affect everything you do on your feet. Permanent restrictions on standing, walking, kneeling, squatting, or climbing can eliminate entire categories of work, especially:

• Construction and union trades
• Warehouse and factory jobs
• Amazon fulfillment and delivery work
• UPS drivers and package handlers
• Healthcare workers who are constantly on their feet
• Any job that requires prolonged standing or frequent stair use

When a knee injury forces you out of heavy work and into lower-paying, lighter-duty jobs — or keeps you from working at all — wage differential or permanent total disability (PTD) benefits can dramatically increase the value of your case. In those situations, it’s not unusual for Illinois knee cases to range anywhere from around $75,000 to well over $1,000,000+, depending on:

• Your age and remaining work life
• Your pre-injury wages and overtime
• How far your earnings drop after the injury
• How long wage differential or PTD benefits might be paid under Illinois law
• Whether you may need future surgeries or revision knee replacement

For more detail on how permanent restrictions and FCEs play into settlement value, this guide goes deeper:

How FCEs and Permanent Restrictions Affect Workers’ Compensation Settlements in Illinois

Amazon, UPS, and Other Knee-Heavy Jobs in Illinois

We see a lot of knee injuries from:

• Amazon warehouse workers – constant walking, squatting, stair-climbing, and working at pace on concrete floors.
• Amazon delivery drivers – in and out of vehicles, up and down stairs, carrying packages on uneven surfaces.
• UPS drivers and package handlers – loading, unloading, twisting with heavy boxes, jumping in and out of trucks.
• Construction and trades – roofing, flooring, carpentry, plumbing, and other work that requires kneeling, ladder use, and uneven surfaces.
• Healthcare and nursing – long hours on your feet, moving patients, and working on hard floors.

When kneeling, climbing, and walking are built into the job, a serious knee injury can be career-changing. That’s exactly the kind of impact Illinois workers’ comp is supposed to account for in valuing your claim.

For more on Amazon and UPS workers’ comp claims in Illinois:

• 
  Amazon Workers’ Comp in Illinois: Your Rights After a Warehouse or Delivery Injury
  
• 
  UPS Workers’ Comp in Illinois: Help for Drivers, Package Handlers & Seasonal Workers (2025 Guide)
  

What Illinois Workers’ Comp Benefits Are Available for a Knee Injury?

Your settlement is only part of the story. Illinois workers’ compensation can provide:

• Medical benefits – payment for reasonable and necessary treatment, including orthopedist visits, MRIs, injections, arthroscopic surgery, knee replacement, therapy, and medications.
• Temporary total disability (TTD) – wage replacement while you’re completely off work on doctor’s orders (generally 2/3 of your AWW, subject to state caps and minimums).
• Temporary partial disability (TPD) – partial wage replacement if you’re on light duty for less pay.
• Permanent partial disability (PPD) – compensation for permanent loss of use of the leg or “person as a whole,” based on Illinois’ schedule and your level of disability.
• Wage differential benefits – if you can’t return to your old job and have to work long-term at a significantly lower wage.
• Vocational rehabilitation – job retraining and placement help if you need to move into different work.
• Permanent total disability (PTD) – lifetime benefits if your injury keeps you from working in any stable, gainful job.

For a broader overview of the types of benefits available in Illinois workers’ comp, see our guide on Types of Workers’ Compensation Benefits in Illinois (Updated 2025).

What to Do After a Work-Related Knee Injury in Illinois

Whether your knee popped during one twist or gradually got worse from years of hard work, some early steps can protect both your health and your case:

• Report the injury to your employer as soon as you realize it may be work-related (Illinois law gives you up to 45 days, but sooner is better).
• Get appropriate medical care – including an orthopedist and MRI if your symptoms don’t resolve quickly.
• Tell your providers it’s work-related so that your records clearly connect the knee problem to your job.
• Follow restrictions – don’t ignore instructions about no climbing, limited standing, or no kneeling.
• Keep simple notes about your pain, swelling, difficulty with walking or stairs, and how the knee affects your daily life.

It’s also smart to get legal advice early, even if you’re still treating and not ready to think about settlement. These guides answer common questions about hiring a lawyer and fees:

• 
  Do I Need an Illinois Workers’ Compensation Attorney?
  
• 
  How Much Does a Workers’ Comp Lawyer Cost in Illinois?
  

When to Be Careful About a Knee Injury Settlement Offer

Insurance companies know knee cases can get expensive — especially when standing, walking, and stair-climbing are permanently limited. Be very cautious if you’re being pushed to settle when:

• You still have significant pain, swelling, or instability in the knee.
• Your doctor is still considering injections, arthroscopy, or a knee replacement.
• You have permanent restrictions on standing, walking, climbing, kneeling, or squatting.
• You work in a knee-heavy job (construction, warehouse, Amazon, UPS, healthcare, etc.) and aren’t sure you can safely continue.
• Your doctor has mentioned future arthritis or a likely need for knee replacement later in life.
• Your TTD checks stopped, but your knee is nowhere near back to normal.

Before you sign away your rights to future benefits or medical care, it helps to slow down and ask a few key questions:

5 Questions to Ask Before Accepting a Workers’ Comp Settlement Offer in Illinois (Updated 2025)

Frequently Asked Questions About Illinois Knee Injury Workers’ Comp Settlements

What is the average workers’ comp settlement for a knee injury in Illinois?

There isn’t a meaningful “average” that applies to every knee case. Milder sprains and contusions might resolve in the low five figures. Meniscus or ligament tears with surgery commonly fall in the mid–five-figure to six-figure range. Severe knee injuries — especially those involving total knee replacement, major wage loss, or permanent restrictions on standing and walking — can reach well into the six figures and sometimes higher, depending on your age, wage, and long-term work outlook.

Does knee surgery or a knee replacement increase my workers’ comp case value?

Generally yes. Arthroscopic knee surgery, meniscus repair, ligament reconstruction, or total knee replacement are major value drivers because they show serious structural damage, high medical costs, longer recovery, and a greater chance of permanent restrictions. That said, the ultimate value still depends on your AWW and your long-term ability to work.

Can I get workers’ comp if my job aggravated pre-existing arthritis or degenerative knee disease?

Yes. Under Illinois law, you can recover workers’ compensation benefits when work aggravates, accelerates, or worsens a pre-existing condition. If years of kneeling, heavy lifting, or stair-climbing at work significantly worsened your knee arthritis or made a knee replacement necessary sooner, that can still be a compensable work injury.

Can I still receive a settlement if my knee injury doesn’t require surgery?

Yes. Many workers with serious knee pain, meniscus tears, or ligament injuries are treated with therapy, bracing, and injections instead of surgery, and still receive a permanent partial disability (PPD) settlement for lasting limitations. The case may be worth less than a surgical or knee replacement case, but it can still have real value if your knee never returns to 100%.

Can I get a knee injury settlement if I return to work?

Yes. You don’t have to be off work forever to have a compensable case. Many workers complete treatment, return to their jobs, and still receive a settlement for permanent loss of use of the leg. However, if you end up in a lower-paying job or can’t work at all, your case may qualify for wage differential or permanent total disability, which can dramatically increase value.

How long does it take to settle a knee injury workers’ comp case in Illinois?

Most knee cases take several months to more than a year to resolve. The timeline depends on how long treatment takes, whether surgery or knee replacement is needed, when you reach maximum medical improvement (MMI), and how cooperative the insurance company is. With anything more serious than a minor sprain, it’s usually safer to wait until you’re at or near MMI and your restrictions are clear before negotiating a final settlement.

Talk to an Illinois Workers’ Comp Attorney About What Your Knee Injury Case Is Really Worth

If you hurt your knee at work in Illinois — especially if you’re dealing with a torn meniscus, ACL/MCL injury, or degenerative arthritis that now needs a knee replacement — your settlement is too important to guess at or leave to an insurance adjuster.

A proper evaluation of your knee case should include:

• Review of your MRI and exact diagnosis
• Analysis of whether surgery or knee replacement is recommended
• Assessment of your long-term restrictions on standing, walking, climbing, kneeling, and squatting
• Whether you can return to your old job, must change jobs, or can’t work at all
• Whether wage differential or permanent total disability benefits might apply
• An accurate calculation of your average weekly wage (AWW) and benefit rates under Illinois law

As an Illinois workers’ compensation attorney, I help injured workers understand the real-world value of their knee injury claims before they sign anything — and I push back when the insurance company offers far less than the case is worth.

If you have questions about your knee injury settlement, your current offer, or your rights after a work-related knee injury in Illinois, you can contact our office for a free, confidential consultation.