Many workplace injuries happen suddenly, such as a fall from a ladder, a machinery accident, or a slip on a wet floor. However, some of the most debilitating injuries develop gradually over weeks, months, or even years of performing the same tasks repeatedly.
If you are questioning whether you can get workers’ comp for a repetitive motion injury, rest assured that our team at Williams & Roche, LLC, with over fifty years of combined legal experience, can help you understand your rights and options for obtaining the benefits you deserve.
Schedule a free consultation with a Columbia workers’ compensation lawyer today.
Can You Get Workers’ Comp for a Repetitive Motion Injury?
The answer is generally yes, though proving these claims can be far more challenging than documenting a single accident. Most states recognize repetitive motion injuries as compensable under workers’ comp laws if the worker can demonstrate that the injury arose from their employment duties. An attorney familiar with your state’s laws can navigate these specific requirements and ensure your repetitive strain injury claim meets all necessary criteria.
What Constitutes a Repetitive Motion Injury?
Workers in various industries face different risks for developing repetitive stress injuries based on their specific job duties. Whether in manufacturing, office settings, healthcare, or construction, job duties often involve motions that can strain the body over time. Workers’ comp repetitive motion injury claims are commonly filed for the following:
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Tendonitis
- Bursitis
- Trigger finger
- Rotator cuff injuries
- Back strain
- Tennis elbow
- De Quervain’s syndrome
- Back and neck strain
- Stress fractures
A lawyer can help identify whether your specific condition qualifies for workers’ compensation benefits in your state. They can also work with medical professionals to ensure proper diagnosis and documentation of your injury.
Many repetitive motion injuries require ongoing treatment, and an attorney will fight to ensure your repetitive motion injury workers’ compensation claim covers both immediate and future medical needs. They will also guide you through the entire process, from filing the claim to potential appeals, providing you with the experience and support you need during this challenging time.
Proving Your Repetitive Motion Injury Claim
Proving a repetitive motion injury workers’ compensation claim frequently demands more extensive evidence than a standard workplace accident case. Employees must show that their job duties directly caused or substantially worsened the condition. A Columbia workers’ compensation attorney can gather and present key evidence, including:
- Medical Documentation: Your lawyer will work with your healthcare providers to obtain detailed medical reports linking your condition to your work activities. These reports should clearly state that your repetitive work motions caused or aggravated your injury.
- Work History Evidence: An attorney will help document your employment history, including how long you’ve performed repetitive tasks and any changes in job duties that may have contributed to your injury. They’ll also gather information about similar injuries among your coworkers, which can strengthen your claim.
Comprehensive records become essential when handling insurance companies that may claim your injury stemmed from non-work activities like sports or recreational pursuits.
Your attorney will foresee these disputes and develop rebuttals backed by medical evidence and professional testimony when needed.
Workers’ Comp Benefits for a Repetitive Motion Injury
When a workers’ comp repetitive motion injury claim is approved, workers become eligible for several types of benefits designed to help them recover and manage their financial obligations during treatment. The specific benefits and amounts vary by state, but most programs provide comprehensive coverage for work-related repetitive stress injuries. Workers’ compensation benefits typically include:
- Medical treatment coverage
- Temporary disability payments
- Permanent disability compensation
- Vocational rehabilitation services
- Death benefits for dependents
- Mileage reimbursement for medical appointments
- Coverage for prescription medications
- Payment for medical equipment and devices
Your lawyer will work to maximize your benefits by ensuring all aspects of your injury are properly documented and presented to the insurance company. They will also monitor your repetitive strain injury claim to prevent premature termination of benefits and appeal any denials or reductions in coverage.
Filing Deadlines and Legal Requirements
Each state also has different statutes of limitations for filing repetitive motion injury claims.
Some states start the clock from when the injury occurred, while others begin from when the worker discovered or should have discovered the connection between their condition and their work. Missing these deadlines can result in losing your right to benefits, making timely legal consultation essential. An experienced lawyer can help determine the appropriate reporting date and ensure you meet all legal deadlines.
Contact a Reputable South Carolina Workers’ Comp Lawyer
If you are suffering from a repetitive motion injury caused by your work duties, do not wait to seek legal help. The attorneys at Williams & Roche, LLC have been on both sides of the table, spending a combined 14 years as South Carolina Workers’ Compensation Commissioners presiding and ruling on cases between injured workers and their employers and insurance carriers.
Our insider knowledge proves invaluable for injured workers seeking workers’ comp for a repetitive motion injury. Contact our firm today to schedule your free consultation and take the first step toward securing the workers’ compensation and medical care you deserve for your workplace injury. We work on a contingency fee basis, ensuring no upfront costs to injured workers. We only get paid when you do.
