Can I Get Workers' Compensation for a Repetitive Motion Injury at Work?

Yes, you can collect workers’ compensation for a repetitive motion injury at work. People typically think about serious, often life-threatening injuries when thinking about receiving workers’ compensation. However, many workers’ compensation claims are due to repetitive motion injuries at work and are one of the common types of work injuries.

Repetitive motion injuries occur within the context of your job even if your job is not physically grueling. An example of a repetitive motion injury at work would be developing carpal tunnel syndrome. Repetitive motion injuries can alter your life and livelihood as much as sudden accidents can. They can alter, or even impede, your ability to function normally and gain employment in the future. And you deserve full compensation for your damages if you are suffering from repetitive motion injuries just like you would if you had an accident.

Symptoms of Repetitive Motion Injuries

There are a variety of symptoms related to repetitive motion injuries depending on the type of work you do. If your career involves a lot of typing and using a computer, you may develop carpal tunnel syndrome. People experiencing repetitive motion injuries often cite rotator cuff syndrome, tendonitis, and bursitis among their ailments. And lower back pain is a common ailment as well. No matter where your repetitive motion injury manifests, it is likely that you are dealing with one of the following ailments:

• Loss of strength and coordination
• Numbness
• Tingling
• Pain from tenderness in the affected area
• Poor range of motion

People at risk of developing repetitive motion injuries

These ailments develop from a diverse group of tasks and careers. And they can develop even in people who do not realize their career makes them at risk for it. This is why many people do not realize they are eligible for workers’ compensation for repetitive motion injuries at work. And it is also how many employers argue that these ailments did not develop due to the tasks related to your duties. The following are among the jobs from which many people develop repetitive motion injuries:

• Bus drivers
• Plumbers
• Doctors and nurses
• Stock clerks
• Musicians
• Professional athletes
• Janitors and housekeepers

The tasks associated with each of these jobs generally do not put employees at great risk for a single traumatic injury. Rather, these constant movements lead to wear and tear which causes cumulative injuries that may not manifest for years. The delay in experiencing the pain of the wear and tear occasionally makes it difficult to collect workers’ compensation benefits. But that is where S. Burke Law can help you.

Proving Repetitive Motion Injuries

Repetitive motion injuries can be as debilitating as a sudden traumatic injury leading to your injury. Unfortunately, employers and insurance adjusters are not always as willing to compensate you for repetitive motion injuries even if you are just as deserving.

So, collecting benefits requires demonstrating how your duties at work directly contributed to your injuries. That involves evaluating your job’s physical demands and the effects it can have on your body. Employers and insurance adjusters may argue that you suffered your ailment on your own time during your own personal activities.

S. Burke Law can help you demonstrate that you did not suffer these injuries on your own time. That may include documenting how you spend your personal time away from work. It may also involve pulling up medical records which show that you were in great physical condition prior to working this job.

Benefits Available for Repetitive Motion Injuries

Workers’ compensation is a form of insurance, and it covers repetitive motion injuries. Workers’ compensation guarantees you certain benefits and provides a safety net for victims.

• Lost income: Workers’ compensation covers up to two-thirds of your lost income up to $575 per week.
• Medical expenses: Workers’ compensation fully covers your medical expenses. You should not receive a bill for any treatments or doctor’s visits as workers’ compensation should cover those bills directly.

Call an Atlanta Workers’ Compensation Lawyer

If you are suffering from a repetitive motion injury, you may be due compensation. And if you believe you are not getting the compensation you deserve, we encourage you to call S. Burke Law. Our team will walk you through your options and provide the guidance you need during a difficult time.