Workplace injuries are somewhat common in New Jersey, but not all result from traumatic and sudden accidents or events. Some New Jersey workers suffer harm over time, slowly developing medical conditions that require treatment and impact their abilities to work. These injuries are called repetitive stress injuries and can be painful, disabling, and challenging to treat.
This post will discuss repetitive stress injuries and how they fall into workers’ compensation law. No part of this post should be read as medical or legal advice. If a worker suffers a repetitive stress injury while on the job, they may wish to seek a workers’ compensation attorney for advice and counsel on how to potentially secure benefits.
What Is a Repetitive Stress Injury?
Repetitive stress injuries do not result from single traumatic events. They develop as time passes and a worker performs their duties. They result from repetitive motions, such as moving items off a conveyor belt or sitting and working in the same position all day. When a person’s body repeats the same motions over and over, the parts of the body involved in the movement may become stressed and suffer injuries as a result. Depending upon the type of work performed to come in a worker may suffer serious repetitive stress injuries as a result of doing their job.
How to Address Repetitive Stress Injuries
Repetitive stress injuries can be disabling and painful. When a worker incurs one on the job, they may be unable to go on with their tasks and may need time to recuperate in order to return to their duties. When their injuries are caused by their job, though, they may have options for seeking workers’ compensation benefits during their period of convalescence.
Getting benefits often depends on following certain procedures, such as providing notice to one’s employer and seeking medical treatment to identify losses and options for healing. A workers’ compensation lawyer can be a valuable asset to a worker who has suffered a repetitive stress injury as they can help them keep their workers’ compensation claim on track.