What is the first thing you think of when someone mentions a work injury? If you are anything like us, your mind probably jumps to mishaps with tools, falls from scaffolding, knife injuries, or maybe vehicle accidents. Certainly, these traumatic incidents happen all the time in the workplace, but there are also other work injuries that people do not think about as often – repetitive stress injuries.
Work-related injuries happen in many different ways and not all of them are obvious traumatic events. Have you ever heard of carpal tunnel syndrome?
You probably have because it is one of the most common workplace injuries. At Russell & Hill, PLLC, we want to help you if you have been denied workers’ compensation coverage of a repetitive stress injury. When you need a Seattle work injury attorney, we will fight to secure the compensation you deserve.
What Can Happen?
It is hard to deny workers’ compensation coverage for an injury that has an obvious cause, as many traumatic work injuries do. It is not as hard to deny coverage for an injury that happens over time and whose symptoms take a long time to manifest.
Repetitive stress injuries are common amongst the 2.8 million nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses reported to the Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2017.
Carpal tunnel syndrome happens to people in many industries. Yes, one of the main causes is typing. An average typing pace is 6,000 keystrokes per hour. Think about how many hours a person types in a single shift. Now think about how many shifts there are in a year.
“Cumulatively, small amounts of force add up to big amounts of force on the body,” says Alan Hedge, director of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Laboratory at Cornell University.
Did you know that 2.7 percent of the US population suffers from carpal tunnel syndrome? It does not just affect those who type. It can also affect people who work on assembly lines, stock shelves, cashiers, and many other professions. Your barista may be in serious pain while they are making your drink due to the sheer amount they make daily.
There are ways to alleviate CTS, but first workers’ compensation insurance needs to cover the expenses. For the most severe cases, surgery may be necessary and this can become expensive and unaffordable as an out-of-pocket expense.
Do you know where to turn for help?
What You Can Do Now
You do not have to take on your employer or the insurance company alone. At Russell & Hill, PLLC, we will be by your side, working to make sure you get all the compensation you need for your work injury expenses. This can include the following:
- Coverage of your medical bills
- Lost wages and benefits
- Pain and suffering damages
- And more
If you need a Seattle work injury attorney, you can contact us for a free consultation by clicking here or calling 800-529-0842. Our knowledgeable and experienced team will work tirelessly on your behalf.