As an employee in Pennsylvania, you may be entitled to financial compensation for injuries that you sustain at work. This includes not only injuries from traumatic accidents but also repetitive strain or stress injuries. If you suffer one of these injuries from work-related tasks, such as typing on a keyboard or working on an assembly line, a specialized personal injury lawyer in Pittsburgh can help you file a workers’ compensation claim.
Common Types of Repetitive Strain Injuries
A job that requires a lot of repetitive motions can eventually take a toll on a worker’s body. Constant bending, squatting, lifting, hammering, typing or other physical movements can place a strain on the part of the body involved. Over time, repetitive motions can cause painful and even debilitating injuries.
Common examples include:
- Back strain
- Bursitis
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Herniated disks
- Muscle sprains and strains
- Neck strain
- Tendinitis (e.g., trigger finger and tennis elbow)
Repetitive strain injuries often affect the knees, hips, lower back, hands, wrists, elbows, shoulders and neck. They can cause temporary or permanent damage to ligaments, muscles, tendons and other soft tissues. These injuries are often caused by repetitive motions at work combined with issues such as bad ergonomics, a lack of protective gear and inadequate employee training.
What Workers’ Compensation Benefits Are Available for Repetitive Strain Injuries?
In Pennsylvania, the workers’ compensation system provides financial compensation to eligible employees who are injured or become ill while performing job-related tasks.
Workers’ comp offers various types of financial benefits:
- Medical expenses: all reasonably necessary medical costs related to a repetitive strain injury, including required surgeries, medications, physical therapy, rehabilitation and specialized care.
- Lost wage replacement: compensation to replace the equivalent of about two-thirds of your average weekly wage for all shifts or days missed because of your repetitive strain injury.
- Disability benefits: temporary or permanent partial or total disability benefits if you’re unable to work because of your repetitive stress injury.
- Vocational rehabilitation benefits: if you are unable to return to the job you had prior to your injury, you may be eligible for compensation to help you transition into a different line of work.
This compensation is available regardless of whether an employer or another party was negligent, or failed to use proper care to protect you from injury.
How to File a Workers’ Compensation Claim in Pennsylvania
Recovering financial compensation for repetitive strain injuries in Pennsylvania involves several key steps. In general, here’s what you should do:
- See a doctor. You may have a repetitive strain injury if you experience symptoms such as pain, tingling, muscle weakness or a loss of function. Seek medical attention as soon as possible and document your diagnosis and care.
- Notify your employer. You have 120 days to report a work-related injury to an employer to be eligible for workers’ comp in Pennsylvania. However, you should do so much sooner.
- File a claim. Your employer is responsible for submitting a First Report of Injury to its insurance provider. You typically need to provide medical evidence proving the existence of your repetitive strain injuries and their connection to your job.
- Contact an attorney. If your claim gets denied, an insurance company is alleging that your injuries are pre-existing or you encounter other challenges, contact an attorney for assistance.
Every workers’ comp case in Pennsylvania involves unique issues and legal elements. For tailored advice that you can trust, contact the Pittsburgh workers’ compensation lawyers at Dallas W. Hartman, P.C. to request a free case consultation.