It is important for employees to understand what their rights are in the workers’ compensation system. If you are injured while working, your employer is required to compensate you for your injuries. They must fully cover your medical bills, any wages you lost due to not being able to work, future wages lost, and any other expenses that resulted from the injury. Of course, the specific details of the program can be a lot more complicated than that. Additionally, workers’ comp functions a little differently in each state, so you need to understand what the specific laws are for your local area. Speaking to a workers’ compensation lawyer is a great way to get your questions answered. If you are like many employees, you may be wondering if all types of injuries are covered, including injuries that result from repetitive motions.

You Are Covered

You are never disqualified from workers’ comp based on the type of injury you sustained. The circumstances surrounding the injury may exclude you from workers’ comp, but an injury of any kind is always covered as long as it is the result of work-related activities. This does include carpal tunnel syndrome and other injuries that come from repetitive motions, which are called repetitive stress injuries. Repetitive stress injuries include:

  • Carpal tunnel syndrome
  • Epicondylitis
  • Trigger finger
  • Tenosynovitis
  • Tendinitis
  • Bursitis
  • Ganglion cyst

As you can see, there are many different kinds of repetitive stress injuries, although carpal tunnel syndrome is the most common and well-known. These types of injuries affect office workers and assembly line workers most often. Additionally, you can be covered even if your injury does not fall into any well-defined category. If your muscles or nerves hurt from the repetitive motion and it is severe enough that you cannot complete your job duties, you most likely can receive workers’ comp.

Repetitive stress injuries usually develop over long periods of time, rather than happening suddenly like most workplace injuries. This aspect of the injury does not change anything; it is still possible to receive compensation for injuries that accrued over months or years.

Your Workers’ Compensation Rights

Workers’ comp is designed to protect you from dangerous work environments or responsibilities, no matter what they may be. If you do not receive the workers’ comp you deserve, you should speak with a workers’ comp lawyer. This is the best first step you can take to get what you are owed. Many workers’ comp lawyers offer a free consultation.

 

Source: NY Workers Compensation Lawyer, Polsky, Shouldice & Rosen, P.C.