Springfield Repetitive Stress Injuries Lawyers
Representing Missouri Workers with Job-Related Repetitive Stress Injuries
When you think of a job-related injury, you may first think of an acute injury from an unexpected accident. However, many people suffer work injuries in the absence of a single event or accident. Many of these are repetitive stress injuries (RSIs), which can develop from jobs that require you to engage in the same motions over and over. An RSI can be surprisingly serious, and it can keep you from working just like any other type of workplace injury. Our Missouri workers' compensation lawyers have seen firsthand the effects of RSIs, and we represent workers to ensure they receive the full benefits they deserve while they recover.
Common Types of Repetitive Motion Injuries
There are different kinds of injuries that can result from repetitive motion and stress on the body. Some common RSIs that might lead to a workers' compensation claim include:
- Carpal tunnel syndrome - This occurs by the compression of the median nerve and can cause numbness and pain in the fingers and wrists.
- Tendinitis - This condition results from the inflammation or irritation of tendons, and can cause tenderness and pain in the shoulders, knees, wrists, or elbows.
- Bursitis - This results from the inflammation of the cushions between your muscles, bones, and tissue, and is common in the hips, elbows, shoulders, and knees.
- Rotator cuff injury - This happens when the tendons around the shoulder joint tear.
- Cervical radiculopathy - This is the inflammation or damage of the nerve root in the cervical spine, which can result in weakness, numbness, pain, or lessened reflexes in the arms, shoulders, and hands.
The above often develop when people make the same motions on the job, which can include reaching, lifting, bending, turning your arm, or even typing. Repetitive stress injuries can happen to anyone, though they are common in certain types of work, including the following:
- Assembly lines
- Construction
- Carpentry
- Driving
- Playing an instrument
- Painting
- Typing and computer work
- Electrical work
- Plumbing
- Milking animals
- Massage and physical therapy
- Packing and stocking
- Butchering work
If you work in a high-risk job and start to feel pain, numbness, or any type of discomfort, you should never ignore it. Instead, report the problem to your employer and see a doctor for a diagnosis right away. Often, the sooner you begin treating an RSI, the sooner you can fully recover. If you need medical treatment or must take time off work due to a job-related injury, you should seek the workers' compensation benefits you deserve under Missouri law.
Contact Our Missouri Workers Compensation Attorneys for Help Today
At the The Law Firm of Webster & Carlton, we help people in Missouri obtain the benefits they need for medical treatment and lost income.
If you have questions or concerns about a workers' compensation claim, call The Law Firm of Webster & Carlton for a free consultation today at (417) 545-3775 or reach out online.
Stay In The Know
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Why Do I Need a Missouri Workers’ Compensation Attorney?A workers’ compensation claim can take several months, even years, to resolve, especially if you continue to suffer from the effects of your work-related injury. Your employer and its insurance company will be represented by highly skilled attorneys who know how to exploit an injured employee. You need to level the playing field by hiring a Missouri workers’ compensation lawyer who will fight on your behalf.
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What Happens If My Employer Denies Me Workers’ Compensation Benefits?In many cases, your employer or their insurance company will promptly pay any workers’ compensation benefits. But if they deny benefits–or stop paying them before you receive what you believe you are entitled to under the law–then you have the right to file a claim with the Missouri Division of Workers’ Compensation. An administrative law judge appointed by the Division will review your claim and either conduct mediation between you and your employer, or alternatively hold a formal hearing to determine your right to compensation.
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What Kinds of Injuries Are Covered?
Under Missouri law, workers’ compensation only covers injuries that arise “out of and in the course of employment.” This includes accidents that occur during your work shift. It also includes “occupational diseases” contracted at work, provided workplace exposure was the “prevailing” cause.
Workers’ compensation is not necessarily limited to injuries suffered at your normal workplace. If your job requires you to travel–i.e., make deliveries or conduct on-site work with clients–you may be compensated for injuries sustained in the course of such travel. However, Missouri workers’ compensation law specifically excludes injuries sustained while commuting from home to work and back, even if you use a company-owned car.
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