Repetitive motion injuries are some of the most common types of work-related injuries. In many instances, they can sneak up on the victims because the damage builds up gradually instead of happening all at once. However, these injuries may still make workers eligible for workers’ compensation benefits.
The workers’ compensation lawyers at Stewart Law Offices have been helping injured employees claim their rightful benefits* for more than 25 years. If you want to know more, contact our office for a free initial consultation.
What Is a Repetitive Trauma Injury?
If you’re looking for a basic repetitive motion injury definition, you could describe these injuries as the gradual accumulation of low-level bodily trauma over time. In many jobs where physical labor is one of a worker’s primary duties, they might repeat the same motion over and over again. This can also happen at office jobs when workers perform the same task, such as typing. While a single iteration of this task might not hurt a worker, little tears or breaks in your muscle tissue joints and other areas can build up over time, leading to intense pain and other symptoms for injured employees.
Examples of Repetitive Trauma Injuries
Some of the most common examples of repetitive trauma injuries include:
- Carpal tunnel syndrome — The repetitive motion of typing all day, while seemingly benign, can cause intense pain in the hands and wrists. Over time, gradual pressure on one of the nerves in your wrists can cause numbness or tingling in your hands, as well as decreased grip strength and coordination.
- Back injuries — Workers who have to frequently lift or carry heavy objects as part of their jobs can suffer repetitive stress injuries as damage to the muscles and vertebrae in your back builds over time.
- Shoulder injuries — Performing the same repetitive motion with your arms over and over can gradually cause damage to your rotator cuff and other parts of your shoulder.
- “Tennis elbow” — Tennis elbow and similar injuries are caused by gradual damage over time to the tendons in your elbow.
Workers’ Compensation Benefits for Repetitive Trauma
Workers’ comp regulations state that repetitive trauma is one of the types of workers’ compensation injuries you can seek benefits for. However, getting those benefits can be tricky. You’ll have to prove that your injuries are work-related, and that can be a challenge if the damage to your body happened gradually instead of in an accident. Fortunately, an experienced workers’ comp lawyer who understands repetitive stress injuries could help build a convincing claim for benefits on your behalf.
Importance of Establishing the Date of Injury and Wage History
To help make sure you can claim the workers’ compensation benefits you need and maximize the value of those benefits, establishing the date of your injury and your wage history is crucial. If you can’t show the date the injury occurred or put a date on when the repetitive trauma started, your claim for benefits may be delayed or denied.
If you haven’t documented your wage history, your wage-replacement benefits may be below what you could have otherwise received. A workers’ compensation lawyer can help you gather and submit all the necessary documentation when you file your claim.
How Stewart Law Offices Can Help
The Carolina workers’ compensation attorneys at Stewart Law Offices have extensive experience handling workers’ compensation claims in both North Carolina and South Carolina. We would love the opportunity to assist you with your case. We know what evidence is necessary to show that a repetitive motion injury is related to your job, and we can help you file a claim to minimize your chances of a delay or denial. If your claim is delayed or denied, we can help you file an appeal with additional evidence and fight for the benefits you deserve. To learn more about how we can help you with a workers’ compensation claim, contact us for a free initial consultation today.
*Each case is different and must be evaluated on its individual merits. Prior results achieved are no guarantee that similar results will be achieved in future cases.
