Repetitive Stress Injuries Attorney in St. Louis, Missouri

If you fall off a ladder, get hit by falling objects, or suffer some other traumatic injury while you are at work, you may be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. However, some injuries take time to manifest, especially the ones that are caused by doing the same task or motion over and over again. Don’t you deserve compensation for those too? 

You do, but receiving fair compensation for repetitive stress injuries under the Missouri workers’ compensation program isn’t easy, because it's under a no-fault insurance program. This means that Missouri employees who suffer work-related injuries or illnesses are generally entitled to receive benefits regardless of who was at fault for the incident. In most cases, employees are eligible for benefits regardless of whether their own actions contributed to the accident. And no insurance company wants to pay benefits unless it has to.  

So, the best decision you can make is to team up with a workers’ comp attorney who has represented clients with these types of injuries before. Getting employers and their insurers to provide injured workers with the benefits they deserve is what we do at The Law Office of Steve Slough. If you are suffering from a repetitive stress injury caused by your employment in St. Louis, Madison County, St. Charles County, or St. Louis County, Missouri, or in St. Clair County, Illinois, we’re ready to go to bat for you.

What Is a Repetitive Stress Injury?

Repetitive stress injuries (RSI) or repetitive motion injuries are caused by doing the same motion repeatedly. They injure nerves, ligaments, tendons, or muscles and may be temporary or permanent. RSIs can cause pain, tingling, numbness, and limited mobility.  

For instance, carpal tunnel syndrome is perhaps the most well-known RSI. Pressure on the major nerve in the wrist and hand builds if the carpal tunnel narrows or the surrounding tissues swell as a result of repetitive motion. You may suffer numbness, tingling, pain, and weakness. If left untreated, the injury could become permanent and have harsh impacts on your daily life.  

More common RSIs include:  

• Repeated contraction of forearm muscles can lead to tennis elbow.  

• Bursitis, the inflammation of the bursa sacs, can be caused by repetitive motion in the wrist, elbow, shoulder, or knee.  

• If the sheath surrounding the tendons that move our fingers becomes inflamed due to repeating a motion, you can develop trigger finger.  

• Overuse over time of any tendon in the body can lead to the development of tendonitis and small tendon injuries that aren’t given time to heal can lead to tendinosis.  

Employees who do any type of repetitive motion that affects these areas and functions of the body are at risk for repetitive stress injury. You can sit at a desk all day typing, lift boxes all day, or use a slicer or a meat cleaver at your job and develop one or more of these common stress injuries.   

Can I File a Workers’ Compensation Claim for an RSI?

A common misconception is that sudden, traumatic injuries are the only types that qualify for workers’ compensation. Truthfully, repetitive stress injuries that develop over time because of your job responsibilities also qualify. However, it can be more challenging to prove that your employer is liable for your RSI.  

Because RSIs affect the soft structures of the body, insurance companies may allege that your injuries were caused by something you do outside of work. To protect your chances for receiving your rightful benefits, it’s crucial to seek representation and guidance from an experienced workers’ compensation attorney. At The Law Office of Steve Slough, we can deliver the support you need.  

How Long Do I Have to File a Claim?

Because RSIs occur over time and not in an instant, filing deadlines can be uncertain. If you suffer a traumatic injury, you must report it to your employer within 30 days of the injury. With an RSI, you must report your injury to your employer within 30 days of first noticing it.  

Your employer should pay for treatment of your injury and benefits upon your report of it. If you believe your employer and their insurer are not providing adequate treatment or compensation, you have two years from the date of reporting your injury to your employer to file a formal workers’ compensation claim.  

What Type of Benefits Am I Entitled To?

There are two broad categories of workers’ compensation benefits: temporary disability and permanent disability. These benefits are paid using a formula based on your average weekly wage. The formula can be complicated, which is why having a workers’ compensation attorney represent you is a wise decision.  

If the doctor says you cannot perform your job due to your RSI, you should receive temporary total disability benefits paid to you weekly. Because treatment for most RSIs involves resting the affected area, most employees receive these benefits for a period.  

If you can perform another job in the workplace, even though it is not the one you were hired to do, or part of your job, you may qualify for permanent partial benefits paid weekly. If you cannot return to work and perform any job due to your injuries, you may qualify for permanent total disability benefits.  

No matter your situation, consulting a knowledgeable legal representative is in your best interest. Reach out to our office in St. Louis, Missouri, to set up a time to chat with our injury attorney and start exploring your options.