Does Surgery Increase Workers’ Comp Settlement in Connecticut?

Undergoing surgery for an injury you sustained on the job might have you asking, “Does surgery increase workers’ comp settlement in Connecticut?” In short, the answer is almost always yes. But how much the settlement increases with surgical intervention depends on several critical factors.

As one of the most important indicators of permanent impairment in Connecticut workers’ compensation laws, surgery often leads to higher ratings for permanent partial disability as well as larger settlements.

Why Surgery Typically Leads to Higher Settlements in Connecticut

Connecticut workers’ compensation laws tie the extent of permanent impairment to a medical professional’s assessment, which is based on the AMA Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment.

While non-surgical injuries might heal with little or no permanent loss of function, surgical intervention brings a whole new dimension to an injury. Scarring, reduced range of motion, anatomical hardware, and chronic pain all contribute to higher impairment ratings. The higher ratings translate to more weeks of compensation.

Shoulder and knee injuries, which are common in warehouse or physical labor environments, can sometimes be treated with physical therapy. When treatment for these injuries requires surgical intervention, the settlement often increases significantly. When workers face open repair or revision surgery, settlements tend to reach even further into the six-figure range.

When surgery is on the table, insurance adjusters and defense attorneys know the potential value of a claim skyrockets. They track the numbers closely and work to minimize your claim. As specialists in Connecticut workers’ comp law, we know the numbers, too. And we know how to maximize your claim to reach a just settlement for the injuries you’ve suffered.

Surgeries That Most Commonly Increase Settlement Value

Invasive, expensive surgeries that require prolonged recovery time and that result in long-term or permanent disability lead to a significant increase in workers’ compensation settlement values.  These include spinal fusions, brain surgeries, major joint reconstruction or replacement, and orthopedic surgeries involving plates, screws, or bone grafts, as well as amputations or complex reconstructive procedures.

Revision surgeries—multiple surgeries on the same body part—along with surgeries on multiple body parts, also compound the impairment rating. These aggravating factors often lead to significantly higher settlements.

Permanent Partial Disability Ratings Influence Compensation

Connecticut uses a scheduled loss of use or loss of function system for most body parts. Once you reach maximum medical improvement, your treating physician or an independent medical examiner assigns a percentage to your permanent impairment.

This percentage is then multiplied by a statutory number of weeks and the state’s maximum compensation rate—currently $1,575 per week for injuries occurring in 2025. Surgical cases routinely receive higher percentages than conservative treatment alone.

Morizio Law Firm Case Results

While every case is different, settlements our firm has recently obtained involving surgery include the following:

• $517,000 + $75,000 for future medical care – Construction worker requiring cervical and shoulder surgery due to an injury in the operation of a cement mixer
• $275,000 – Auto body tech requiring surgery for a combination of a twisting injury, as well as repetitive motion stress
• $140,000 – Truck driver with shoulder impairment following surgery
• $470,000 – Mechanic with medical and vocational disabilities following a work-related knee injury and bilateral knee surgeries

These numbers represent payouts to clients after attorney fees. The payouts are also in addition to medical bills or temporary disability benefits already paid.

Factors That Can Still Reduce Your Settlement—Even With Surgery

Insurance companies fight to minimize payouts by arguing that your injuries were pre-existing or that the injury is due to non-work-related causes. They’ll also say you’ve failed to reach your maximum medical improvement, which is required to determine your permanent impairment percentage.

You might even receive an offer for a light-duty job. They probably won’t tell you that by accepting the light-duty job, you limit or eliminate your claim to permanent disability benefits entirely.

These tactics are exactly why you need the representation of a tenacious, aggressive, and experienced workers’ comp attorney on your side. Both very specialized and very technical, invoking Connecticut workers’ comp law requires the expert stewardship of a board-certified workers’ compensation attorney.

When Should You Hire a Workers’ Compensation Lawyer?

Insurance companies already have attorneys and doctors working to limit your claim. If surgery is recommended or performed for your work injury, hire a workers’ compensation lawyer immediately. An attorney with workers’ comp expertise on your side promotes your case for the correct permanent partial disability rating, fights improper claims of pre-existing conditions, and negotiates the strongest possible settlement under Connecticut workers’ comp laws.

FAQs

Does Surgery Automatically Increase My Workers’ Comp Settlement in Connecticut?

When surgery is required to address a work injury, your workers’ comp settlement almost always results in an increased payout. Higher permanent partial disability ratings that accompany surgery correspond to a direct increase in your case’s settlement value. The exact increase, however, depends on the part of the body injured, the percentage assigned to the impairment, and whether the insurance company successfully argues a case for pre-existing conditions.

Does Having Multiple Surgeries Increase My Workers’ Comp Settlement?

Multiple surgeries absolutely increase your workers’ comp settlement. Each surgery you undergo due to the workplace injury adds scarring, anatomical hardware, and often, even more loss of function. Revision surgeries or procedures on multiple body parts routinely push settlement amounts high in Connecticut. This is especially the case when permanent work restrictions are involved.

What Is the Average Workers’ Comp Settlement After Surgery in Connecticut?

There is no official average workers’ comp settlement after surgery in Connecticut. The settlement amount for surgical cases often depends on the procedure performed and the body part involved. Spinal fusions and joint replacements often track at the higher end. Single-level repetitive stress injury or minor arthroscopic procedures may settle for less.

Which Body Part Typically Has the Highest Settlement Value in Connecticut Workers’ Comp Cases?

The spine is one of the body parts that typically carries the highest settlement value in Connecticut workers’ comp cases. When permanent restrictions prevent you from returning to heavy work, settlements for severe spinal injuries are often high. The head is another body part that often sees high settlement amounts in workers’ comp cases, especially if surgery is necessary.

Contact Morizio Law Firm Today

If you or a loved one has undergone or faces surgery for a work injury in Connecticut, our specialized workers’ comp firm can fight aggressively to win your case. Contact the Morizio Law Firm Stratford office today. We can sit down with you, hear you out, and give you our expert assessment.

As a board-certified expert workers’ compensation attorney, Lawrence F. Morizio has been fighting for injured Connecticut workers for over 20 years. He can fight for you, too, prioritizing your rights and recovery.