It’s Just Wear and Tear

It’s Just Wear and Tear

Many injured workers are told some version of the same thing after reporting a workplace injury:

“This isn’t from work. It’s just wear and tear.”

Hearing that can be frustrating and confusing, and many people fall into the belief that what the adjuster is telling them is correct.  I’ve never been 60 (or whatever age) before, I assume I will have more aches and pains-it is just part of the human condition. Workers often assume that if a doctor or insurance adjuster mentions degeneration, arthritis, or aging, then workers’ compensation benefits are no longer available.
Under Alabama law, that is not necessarily true.

Degeneration Is Common — and the Law Recognizes That

As people get older, medical imaging frequently shows:

• Degenerative disc disease in the spine
• Arthritic changes in knees, shoulders, or hips
• Prior strains, sprains, or joint damage
• General “wear and tear” from years of physical work

These findings are extremely common, even in people who are still fully capable of doing demanding jobs.
Alabama workers’ compensation law does not require an employee to be in perfect physical condition before an injury occurs.  It’s a fact, the older we get, the more preexisting medical conditions we have-but generally we are able to move forward and do our jobs without medical accommodations.  But it is also a fact that after years of labor, small injuries and problems accumulate, and their effects grow more problematic.

The Real Legal Question Is What Changed After the Work Accident

The key issue is usually not whether the condition existed before.
Instead, the focus becomes:

Did something at work make the condition worse or symptomatic?

If a worker:

• Was performing normal job duties before the incident, and
• After a workplace accident or repetitive stress can no longer do that work,

then the aggravation of the underlying degenerative condition may still be a compensable injury.

Alabama law generally requires only that the job activity be a contributing cause of the disability or need for treatment—not the sole cause.

“Wear and Tear” Does Not Automatically Defeat a Claim

Degenerative findings often appear in cases involving:

• Back and neck injuries
• Knee or shoulder problems
• Repetitive lifting or bending
• Long-term physical labor

Insurance carriers may point to these findings to argue the condition is unrelated to work.
But courts often look more closely at:

• The worker’s ability to function before the accident
• The sudden or measurable change afterward
• Medical opinions linking the worsening to work activity or trauma

When work clearly contributes to the decline, compensation may still be owed—even with preexisting degeneration.

Repetitive Work and Gradual Breakdown

Not all covered injuries come from a single accident.
Years of repetitive motion, lifting, vibration, or physical strain can gradually worsen degenerative conditions until a worker can no longer continue.

In those situations, the law may still recognize a compensable work-related aggravation, particularly when:

• Job duties involve stresses beyond ordinary daily life, and
• Medical evidence connects the worsening condition to the work performed.

Why Medical Evidence Matters So Much

Cases involving degeneration often turn on medical opinion.
Doctors may be asked:

• Whether the worker’s condition was stable before the work event
• Whether work activity accelerated or aggravated the degeneration
• Whether treatment or disability is related to the job

Clear, well-supported medical testimony frequently determines the outcome.

The Bottom Line

Being told your condition is “just wear and tear” does not automatically end an Alabama workers’ compensation claim.

What matters most is:

• Whether you could do your job before, and
• Whether work activity contributed to your inability to continue afterward.

Degeneration may be common, but when work makes that condition worse, painful, or disabling, Alabama workers’ compensation law may still provide protection.

Understanding that distinction can make the difference between an unjust denial and the benefits the law is meant to provide.

If you have suffered a job injury and you have questions about your rights and benefits under Alabama’s workers compensation laws -don’t hesitate to contact and speak with one of the experienced Alabama Workers Compensation and Social Security Disability attorneys at Powell and Denny today for a free consultation. Appointments are available in person, or virtually via Zoom if more convenient.  Powell and Denny would appreciate the opportunity to help.  And remember, there is no fee unless you win.

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Powell and Denny have been selected as one of the Best Law Firms by U.S. News and World Report for each of the last 7 years, have been selected as one of Birmingham’s Top Lawyers by B-Metro Magazine for the last 3 years, have been selected by The National Advocates as one of the Top 20 Workers’ Compensation Firms (plaintiffs) and Powell and Denny, P.C.-has been selected as one of the “Best of the Best” law firms by The American Registry

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+ Powell and Denny have successfully represented injured workers from Birmingham, Huntsville, Florence, Muscle Shoals, Tuscumbia, Athens, Decatur, Town Creek Ardmore, Hartselle, Madison, Toney, Scottsboro, Ft. Payne, New Hope, Guntersville, Albertville, Boaz, Ashville, Anniston, Gadsden, Cullman, Jasper, Gardendale, Morris, Kimberly, Centerpoint, Leeds, Tarrant City, Fairfield, Hueytown, Bessemer, Adger, Tuscaloosa, Cordova, Alabaster, Pelham, Harpersville, Opelika, Phenix City, Montgomery, Clanton, Calera, Enterprise, Monroeville, Mobile, Evergreen, Centreville, Brent, West Blocton, Woodstock, Brierfield, Lakeview and towns and cities in between.

“It’s Just Wear and Tear”