Whether we like it or not, we’ll suffer injuries due to repetitive job duties. A job that’s all about doing the same tasks time and time again leads to critical and lasting physical injuries. Several other physical injuries that happened due to repetitious duties entitles injured employees to worker’s compensation benefits. We can help you file a claim and get to the process with fewer worries.
If you suffered injuries due to repetitive job duties, you’re certainly entitled to three definite worker’s compensation benefits. This includes temporary disability benefits and a financial award depending on the extent of permanent injury. Your employer should also provide you with the necessary medical treatment.
Repetitive Stress Injuries in the Workplace
Injuries due to repetitive job duties are commonly known as repetitive stress injuries (RSIs). It’s also called repetitive strain injuries or repetitive motion injuries. According to the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA), this is one of the most abrupt occupational injuries. Any work that demands sitting or standing in the exact position for several hours puts a worker at risk of developing RSIs. The same thing goes if you are performing similar manual tasks day after day.
Most workers don’t seek treatment immediately until the condition worsened. It’s because RSIs develop slowly, and can lead to serious conditions. If left untreated, it can become excruciatingly painful and exhausting. Moreover, it can impair your ability to perform usual tasks such as brushing your teeth or combing your hair.
RSIs necessarily don’t have to be due to work only. The courts request evidence that the work caused the intensification or worsening of the injuries.
Most Common Types of Injuries Due to Repetitive Job Duties
Doing your tasks repeatedly on a daily basis makes you a candidate for having injuries due to repetitive duties. We listed some of the most common types of injuries in the workplace because of repetitious work:
CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME
Carpal tunnel syndrome is a condition where the median nerve becomes squeezed while it flows into the hand. This nerve is found on the palm of the hand also known as carpal tunnel, hence the name. It provides sensitivity to all fingers except for the smallest finger or pinkie. Moreover, it delivers the impulse to the muscle that goes to the thumb. This syndrome can affect one or both hands.
What causes the compression in carpal tunnel syndrome is a swollen wrist. This can lead to a lack of sensation, fatigue, and prickling on the side of the hand near your thumb. Workers, on the other hand, suffer injuries due to repetitive job duties.
BURSITIS
Bursitis is a swollen bursa which is a fluid-filled sac located about your joints. It covers the areas where skin, tendons, and muscle tissues link bones. The lubrication it provides helps minimize the friction when the joint moves. Sore bursae cause shooting pain and affliction in the affected area. In addition, it limits the movability of your joints, caused by injuries due to repetitive job duties.
TENNIS ELBOW
Lateral epicondylitis, most commonly known as tennis elbow, is a throbbing pain due to repetitive stress. The pain is usually felt on the outside part of the elbow. However, it may spread out to the back of your forearm. You’ll feel the pain when you smooth down or extend your arm fully.
TENDONITIS
Also known as tendinitis, this condition pertains to inflamed tendons. It occurs due to the overuse or injuries to tendons. It usually affects fingers, elbow, thigh, wrist, and other parts of the body. This condition can affect any age group but is generally common in adults with demanding jobs. Older people are more vulnerable because their tendons become less elastic and more susceptible as they age.
Workers’ Compensation Benefits You Can Get for Injuries Due to Repetitive Job Duties
Health or medical conditions that have developed or sustained injuries due to repetitive job duties entitle a worker for compensation. These benefits are the following:
Medical or Health Benefits
If your condition is work-related, the worker’s compensation will cover all of your medical or health necessities. This includes surgeries, physical therapies, follow-ups, diagnostic tests, prescriptions, treatments, rehabilitation, and others.
Travel Compensation
As of this writing, the rate for travel compensation is 57.5 cents per mile. The rate became effective on the 1st of January this year whatever is the date of injury. This is applicable to all kinds of medical treatment which include prescriptions, physical therapy, and chiropractic treatment.
Wager Replacement
If you sustained injuries due to repetitive job duties makes you qualified for wager replacement benefits. Other qualifications include missing work due to injury and partial disability. This is what is known as time-loss compensation. You’ll get reimbursement, however, it’s only 60-70% of your pre-injury income. This depends, by the way, on the number of your dependents.
Facing the Challenges with the Help of a Worker’s Compensation Attorney
You must expect that filing a worker’s compensation claim for injuries due to repetitive job duties has many challenges. We, at the Oktanyan Der-Grigorian Law Group perfectly understand how difficult it can be. We work on a contingency basis to ease your burden financially. Call (818) 975-3080 and allow us to help you to go through the entire process.
