When most people think of workplace injuries, they think of one-time accidents. However, repetitive motion injuries are the source of many workers’ compensation claims. This is because many work activities involve performing the same motions repeatedly throughout the day or week, such as typing, working on an assembly line, and overhead lifting. Of course, you may use the same muscles outside of work during personal activities. So, how do you prove your injury is related to your job? A Glendale, repetitive motion injury lawyer could help you establish your work duties caused or contributed to your harm. Reach out to our firm today to speak with a hard-working workplace injury attorney.
Have you noticed tingling, stiffness, tenderness, cramping, or muscle weakness? Are these symptoms worse when you are performing duties related to your job? If so, you may have a work-related repetitive motion injury. Repetitive motion injuries, or repetitive stress injuries, are overuse injuries. As the name suggests, repetitive motion injuries include any damage caused by repetitive movement.
These injuries can impact muscles, tendons, ligaments, and nerves. Overuse is the primary cause of repetitive stress injuries. However, improper technique can contribute to those injuries as well. Repetitive motion injuries occur in all parts of the body. Common examples include:
Continuing to work with a repetitive stress injury is a bad idea. These injuries are cumulative and only get worse if you ignore them. At the very least, you must rest so the injury heals. You may need surgery and physical therapy to address the issue in more severe cases. In the worst-case scenarios, the injuries are so extensive that medical treatment will not reverse them, and you may end up with a long-term disability.
Seeking medical treatment and the advice of a Glendale repetitive motion injury attorney as early as possible when you notice symptoms is the best way to ensure a smooth recovery as well as maximize your chances of approval for workers’ compensation benefits.
Workers should notify their employers as soon as they notice signs of a repetitive motion injury. Making ergonomic changes to a workspace can help to prevent these injuries from worsening. Employers may also assign an employee to a different type of work to avoid exacerbating future harm.
In addition, employees may be eligible for workers’ compensation for repetitive stress injuries, even minor ones. Workers’ compensation may cover medical care and physical therapy. In addition, if an employee needs to miss work to rest and recover from an injury, workers’ compensation short-term disability benefits may apply.
When a worker is concerned they are experiencing a repetitive motion injury, our Glendale attorneys could provide information about potential workers’ compensation claims and whether the employee should be eligible for assistance with medical bills or disability payments.
When you are worried about a repetitive stress injury, the first person you should see is a doctor. The next person you should contact is an attorney. A Glendale repetitive motion injury lawyer could help you determine whether the injury is work-related and assist you with exploring your options, including filing a workers’ compensation claim.
