A report from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration shows that repetitive stress injury (RSI) is affecting over 1 million workers per year. Repetitive stress injuries are also called repetitive strain injuries, motion injuries, overuse injuries, cumulative trauma injuries, occupational overuse syndrome or regional musculoskeletal disorder.
Workers’ compensation covers RSI if the employee can prove they were caused by work. According to a repetitive lifting injury lawyer from Diefer Law Group, P.C., there is limited time to file a workers’ compensation claim after a job-related repetitive motion injury. Usually, you must notify your employer within 30 to 90 days of the injury. If the injury is not reported quickly, benefits may be lost.
Proving work-related repetitive motion injuries is difficult because they develop gradually. Worker’s compensation claims for these injuries require medical reports, symptoms, and an obvious connection to job duties.
Let’s look at how you can deal with repetitive motion injuries and the process of filing a claim:
Definition of Repetitive Motion Injuries
When certain movements are repeated excessively, they cause strain and damage. This injury is common in repetitive tasks like typing, assembly line work, and lifting heavy objects. These repetitive movements can cause inflammation, muscle strain, tendonitis, and carpal tunnel syndrome.
Repetitive motion injury symptoms must be identified early to prevent further damage. Pain, stiffness, weakness, numbness, and tingling may occur. Ignoring these signs could have long-term effects on your work and daily life.
If you suspect a repetitive motion injury, see a doctor immediately. If you’re seeking workers’ compensation, a doctor can diagnose the injury, suggest treatment, and provide documentation.
Eligibility for Workers’ Compensation
To receive workers’ compensation for a repetitive motion injury, you must meet employment and injury criteria. This means your injury was caused by your job or workplace. Report the injury to your employer and see a doctor immediately.
Failure to notify your employer promptly may result in a denied workers’ compensation claim.
Your repetitive motion injury must also be related to work. Your job’s repetitive movements should have caused the injury. Detailed documentation of your job duties and how they caused your injury will strengthen your workers’ compensation claim. Follow your employer’s workplace injury reporting procedures and state workers’ compensation deadlines.
Phoenix workers compensation lawyer Weston S. Montrose says consulting a workers’ compensation attorney early will ensure that you’ll meet deadlines, document your injuries properly, and improve your chances of getting medical and disability benefits.
Types of Repetitive Motion Injuries Covered
Workplace injuries caused by repetitive motion are covered by workers’ compensation. These injuries include carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis, bursitis, and epicondylitis.
A common repetitive motion injury, carpal tunnel syndrome compresses the median nerve in the wrist, causing hand and wrist pain, numbness, and weakness. Another common injury is tendonitis, which causes pain and limited movement due to repetitive use.
Bursitis occurs when repetitive motion inflames the bursae, small fluid-filled sacs that cushion the bones, causing pain and swelling. Epicondylitis, also known as tennis elbow or golfer’s elbow, causes elbow pain and discomfort from repeated gripping and wrist movements.
Workers’ compensation covers certain repetitive motion injuries, so knowing them can help you identify and treat them quickly.
Process of Filing a Claim
The first step for filing a claim is to report your injury to your employer. Fill out the paperwork accurately and describe how repetitive motion at work has affected you. Your employer should then provide the workers’ compensation claim forms.
Submit completed forms to your state’s workers’ compensation office. Please keep copies of all claim documents for your records. The insurance company will review your claim and approve or deny it after receiving it.
Medical and lost wage benefits will begin if your claim has been approved. If denied, you may need to consider appealing the decision, which will be discussed in the next section.
Challenges and Appeals in Coverage
Understanding how to appeal a denied workers’ compensation claim is important for getting the benefits you deserve. When a repetitive motion injury claim is denied, you usually appeal to your state’s workers’ compensation board. This appeal starts a formal review where you can present more evidence. You must meet deadlines and provide complete documentation to support your appeal.
You may have the chance to argue before a judge during the appeals process. You need to have a lawyer to help you deal with the process and to inform you about the necessary steps to take for your repetitive motion injury appeal.
Conclusion
Repetitive motion injuries may be covered by workers’ compensation, but those who are eligible and what is covered may vary. It is important to know what kinds of injuries are covered, how to file a claim, and what problems might come up.
If you have suffered a repetitive motion injury at work, its advisable to consult with a legal professional to determine if you’re eligible for compensation.
