Many injuries in the workplace happen suddenly, and there is a very clear chain of events showing that someone was hurt on the job. For instance, suppose a worker is climbing a ladder to install trim around a new window when they slip and fall. They suffer a traumatic brain injury when they hit the ground. The chain of events is clear, and it is not difficult to demonstrate that the accident occurred at work while they were performing their job duties, and that it directly led to the TBI.
Things can be a bit more complex, however, when looking at repetitive motion injuries or repetitive strain injuries. These injuries do not start after a sudden event, in most cases. Instead, they are the cumulative effect of making the same motion repeatedly, perhaps for years or even decades in a row. This can cause a lot of stress on tendons, ligaments, muscles and other tissues, leading to inflammation, mobility problems and significant pain.
What are some examples of these kinds of injuries?
One example of a repetitive strain injury is tennis elbow. This happens when someone has to swing their arm in a similar motion repeatedly, leading to inflammation in the connective tissues every time they move their elbow.
Another example could be carpal tunnel syndrome. This is inflammation in the hands and wrists, perhaps from typing or other such activities. The inflammation can put pressure on nerves, leading to significant pain and an inability to work.
But in both of these cases, it can be a little more difficult to determine that the injury is directly related to workplace activities and to assess just how serious it is. It can also be harder to determine when a worker actually needs treatment or when their condition is so significant that they can no longer return to work. While navigating this type of complex workers’ comp claim, it can be beneficial to have experienced attorneys on your side.
