You have an accident at work and get hurt. You are well aware that you have the right to file a worker’s compensation claim. But what if you don’t have an accident? What if you are injured, and you know it is caused by your job, but you cannot point to a specific incident? What many people do not understand is that there does not have to be a traumatic accident at their workplace in order to file a claim.
If you perform the same tasks repetitively at work and sustain an injury, you do have a worker’s compensation claim. That’s because this type of injury is called repetitive trauma. And it is an injury that would not have occurred if you were not performing your job.
A key to having a successful claim is how you explain things to your doctor. Let’s take a look at how two very different visits could go:
Visit #1
I work in data entry.
Visit #2
I work in data entry. I sit in front of a computer for 7 hours a day, entering information on a keyboard. My keyboard sits flat on my desk, and my chair is not in the best shape. I began to notice that my wrists hurt about three months ago, and that it is worse in the evening when I get home. I am here because it hasn’t gotten any better.
Do you see the difference? The second example paints a clear picture of what could have led to your problems. Simply telling your doctor what your job title is is not going to help you in a worker’s compensation claim. Your doctor does not have time to guess what you do or how long you do it.
When you visit your doctor for what you believe to be a work-related injury, be very clear about what you believe may have caused the injury. Your doctor may very well look at your injuries in a different way if he or she knows that there may be a specific underlying cause.
If you have been injured at work, whether in an accident or due to repetitive tasks, call our offices today. We are ready to help you file and win your worker’s compensation claim. Call now for your free initial case evaluation.
