It’s possible for workplace injuries to happen in many ways, and while some workers suffer acute traumatic injuries from unexpected accidents, injuries can also manifest gradually over time. If you have developed such an injury from your job, an experienced Gastonia repetitive stress injury lawyer at Bridgman Gantt Law Offices can help you pursue benefits that can assist with your recovery.
The attorneys at Bridgman Gantt Law Offices have years of experience helping injured workers in Gastonia and the surrounding areas of North Carolina with all types of work injury cases. We understand that you are likely to have many difficult questions when it comes to securing workers’ compensation benefits, and we will do everything we can to help you approach your case with confidence.
A repetitive stress injury is any injury that develops gradually over time. These injuries often affect the musculoskeletal system and soft tissues. They may involve joint damage that can limit mobility, and they can also be increasingly painful as they worsen. Many people in Gastonia work in manufacturing, and this type of work often requires completing the same physical tasks consistently each day, eventually deteriorating the body due to continuous stress.
Over time, the debilitating effects of these injuries can become severe, limiting the ability to work. These cases, often called cumulative trauma claims, are common causes of workers’ compensation claims in Gastonia. It’s possible for anyone working in Gastonia’s retail, manufacturing, hospitality, or healthcare sectors to develop repetitive stress injuries simply from performing their job duties.
The National Safety Council reported in 2021 that repetitive stress injuries accounted for more than one million cases in the United States, requiring affected workers to miss days from work, follow job restrictions, or make job transfers. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that there were more than 40,000 such injuries in North Carolina in 2023.
Workers’ compensation insurance can provide valuable benefits to an injured worker in Gastonia, covering the cost of their medical treatment and providing ongoing disability benefits while they are unable to work while recovering. Most workers in most industries in North Carolina are covered by their employers’ workers’ compensation insurance policies.
To qualify for workers’ compensation, you must prove that your injury resulted directly from performing your job duties. This is one issue that is sometimes difficult for repetitive stress injury claims; an employer could dispute your injury, claiming that it did not result from you performing your job duties. A Gastonia repetitive stress injury lawyer can be an invaluable asset for ensuring you are treated fairly in the claim filing process.
You will need to undergo a functional capacity evaluation as part of your workers’ compensation claim. A physician approved by your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance carrier will need to evaluate you and assign a disability rating that reflects your ability to work. If your claim is approved, you can receive medical expense coverage and ongoing disability benefits based on your functional capacity.
Many workers in Gastonia who develop repetitive stress injuries from work are unable to return to their previous positions. Some will require surgery to correct their injuries and may face long-term medical complications. It is important to have an experienced Gastonia personal injury attorney helping with your claim so you have the greatest chance of maximizing your workers’ compensation benefits.
Ultimately, these can be difficult workers’ compensation cases, so it will be important to work with an experienced Gastonia repetitive stress injury lawyer to have the greatest chance of success. Bridgman Gantt Law Offices can help you prove the cause of your injury if any disputes arise with your claim, and we will do everything we can to maximize your workers’ compensation benefits. Reach out to us as quickly as possible so we can start working on your case.
A: The amount of compensation you can receive for a repetitive stress injury will depend on the severity of your condition and how much it limits your ability to work. A successful workers’ compensation claim in Gastonia can yield full coverage for your medical expenses; you can also receive disability benefits based on how much functional capacity you retain following the injury. Your Gastonia repetitive stress injury lawyer can help you maximize your benefits.
A: You do not need to prove fault for a repetitive stress injury in Gastonia if you are filing a workers’ compensation claim. Workers’ compensation functions on a no-fault basis, so it is not necessary to prove negligence to qualify for benefits. Additionally, fault rarely comes into question for repetitive stress injuries due to the fact that these injuries naturally and gradually manifest over time simply from performing job duties.
A: It is possible for a repetitive stress injury to have permanent effects. Many of these injuries are treatable in various ways, but due to the fact that they deteriorate affected areas of the body over time, it can be very difficult to repair the damage done. Some such injuries can be managed with appropriate care and ongoing therapeutic treatment, but some people who suffer repetitive stress injuries will need to find new jobs.
A: Vocational rehabilitation is essentially new job training that can be provided by a workers’ compensation insurance carrier if an injured worker is not able to return to their previous position due to their injury. If they are still able to work in a different capacity, their employer’s insurance carrier may cover the cost of training them for a new position.
A: The cost to hire a Gastonia repetitive stress injury lawyer will be a percentage of your total case award if you choose Bridgman Gantt Law Offices to represent you. We take these cases on contingency, meaning our client only pays our firm a fee if and when we win their case. There are no upfront fees for our representation, and there is no fee at all if we are unable to secure compensation for you for any reason.
The attorneys at Bridgman Gantt Law Offices can help you make sense of your legal options if you are struggling with a repetitive stress injury from work in Gastonia. You need to start your case as quickly as possible to have the greatest chance of success, so contact our team today and schedule a free consultation with an experienced Gastonia repetitive stress injury lawyer.
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