When you think of workplace injuries, you likely think of limbs caught in machines, falls on wet walkways, and other injuries resulting from one-time incidents. Many workers suffer from repetitive stress injuries, which are caused by constant use and repetitive motions day after day. You may assume that you don’t qualify for workers’ compensation in Southern California after a repetitive stress injury, simply because it’s harder to prove that your injury is the result of your work conditions. However, that isn’t the case. The team of workers’ compensation lawyers at Pisegna & Zimmerman has helped many RSI patients get the compensation they are owed.
Repetitive stress injuries are more common than you may think. If your work relies at all on you doing the same tasks over and over, you’re at significant risk of overworking certain muscles. Additionally, overworking certain muscles can cause other muscles to overcompensate. This puts you at further risk of harm.
At Pisegna & Zimmerman, we understand how stressful a work injury can be. We strive to make this process as easy as possible. We make it easy to meet remotely, as our team is Zoom-ready. We use DocuSign for all document signing to ensure you don’t have to make unnecessary trips to our office. Set up your free consultation now by calling us at 818-888-8888.
What Are Repetitive Stress Injuries?
Repetitive stress injuries are musculoskeletal injuries that develop over time. They can occur with any type of repeated movement. The specific muscles, tendons, and nerves involved in the repetitive task are put under constant strain day after day without enough time to recover fully. You may not even notice that you have an injury until it’s reached a point where it’s causing debilitating pain and interfering with your work productivity—these injuries can develop so slowly that people just learn to tolerate the pain as it grows.
You may experience RSIs in any part of your body, although they commonly affect your hands, wrists, elbows, and neck. Injuries affecting the lower extremities are common in those who stand all day or routinely lift heavy items.
Repetitive Stress Injuries in the Workplace
Since many occupations have repetitive workflows and tasks, a large percentage of employees are at risk of RSIs. They occur everywhere from physically demanding construction jobs to retail jobs and office jobs. Those who work in manufacturing or construction may develop repetitive stress injuries as a result of lifting, operating vibrating tools, and using the same piece of equipment regularly.
Employees who work in office settings may develop repetitive stress injuries due to spending most of their time on computers. In this industry, RSIs tend to affect the wrists, hands, and arms. For those with poor posture or unsupportive chairs, these injuries may extend to the neck and shoulders.
Other industries prone to RSIs include healthcare and child care. Healthcare workers, especially frontline workers like CNAs and medical assistants, may develop injuries because of the repetitive and intensive movements required for patient care.
Workers’ Compensation and Repetitive Stress Injuries
Repetitive stress injuries are occupational injuries and should be covered by workers’ compensation. While it should be as easy as filing your claim with your employer and seeking medical care, there are some that make it more challenging than it should be. Unfortunately, this often affects those with repetitive stress injuries. Insurance companies or employers may insist that it’s impossible to know if your stress injury is a result of your work environment and should not be covered.
This is where it’s important to have a workers’ compensation attorney. Your lawyer can provide evidence that your daily work tasks stress the muscles that you’ve injured, creating a link between your work environment and your injuries. Your attorney can fight for the compensation you deserve, representing you in any hearings you have with the Division of Workers’ Compensation and handling all communication with your workplace.
Get Help With Your Workers’ Compensation Claim—Contact The Worker’s Comp Lawyers at Pisegna & Zimmerman
If you’ve developed a repetitive stress injury at work and your employer is pushing back on your claim, don’t wait any longer to talk to our team. We’re here for cases just like yours, and we’re ready to help. Set up a consultation right away by calling us at 818-888-8888 or reaching out to our workers comp attorneys online.
