REPETITIVE WORK OR OVERUSE INJURIES

REPETITIVE WORK OR OVERUSE INJURIES

Most people understand that worker’s compensation insurance covers direct or traumatic injuries at work. For example, a direct or traumatic injury occurs when an employee falls off of a ladder and breaks an ankle. However, repetitive or overuse injuries are also covered by worker’s compensation insurance. These injuries may include:

1. Shoulder rotator cuff tears from many years of heavy lifting at work.

2. Bulging discs in the low back from many years of heavy lifting, twisting, turning, or bending at work.

3. Knee surgery from a career involving kneeling, climbing, and work on concrete.

4. Hearing loss from many years of working around loud noises.

5. Elbow or wrist problems from repetitive grasping over a long period of time at work.

Such work injuries are entitled to the same benefits as the worker who fell off of a ladder, but often times employees do not realize that overuse injuries, called occupational disease injuries in the legal world, are worker’s comp injuries. Overuse injuries are no less serious than the traumatic injury, because they often lead to spine fusion surgeries, knee replacements, and the inability to work.

The information contained on this website is intended as an overview on subjects related to the practice of law. Each individual case is different, and laws do change, so please be aware that the circumstances and outcomes described may not apply to all cases and should not be interpreted as legal counsel. Please seek the advice of an attorney before making any decision related to legal issues.