If you have worked in the same profession for several years, you might have encountered pain resulting from repetitive trauma and stress. As an example, continuous hand and wrist movements of the same nature can lead to wear and tear of tendons, joints, and muscles. These are painful injuries that can be debilitating. This repetitive motion and stress can cause serious damage that leads to pain and the inability to function as you once did. However, workers’ compensation laws vary from state to state, so in some states, repetitive trauma injuries might not have the same coverage or protection as they would in other states. Of course, repetitive trauma happens over time, and therefore, it is more difficult to prove when and how the injury occurred.

What is Considered a Repetitive Trauma Injury?

As previously mentioned, a single, specific event does not cause repetitive trauma injuries. Instead, the injury happens over time as the result of repetitive motion, strain, and pressure on a particular body part such as the wrist, the ankle, the knee, or the elbow. Pursuant to SC Code Ann. 42-1-172, repetitive trauma injuries can be covered by workers’ compensation. According to state law, an injury that has a gradual onset and that results from the cumulative effects of events that are traumatic is considered a repetitive trauma injury. The only reason that such an injury is not deemed a compensable injury resulting from repetitive trauma is that the Workers Compensation Commissioner uncovers information through a specific fact-finding effort that reveals that there is evidence showing that there is no connection established by the medical evidence between repetitive activities that happened while the employee was performing his regular employment duties and the injury that resulted. 

Find out if you should file a workers’ compensation claim by contacting Dan Pruitt Injury Lawyer.

In order to meet the qualifications for an injury to be covered by workers’ comp, the medical evidence that is provided must be presented through testimony or expert opinion that shows to a reasonable degree that the injury was work-related. Evidence can be provided through documents, records, and material provided by a qualified, licensed medical physician and that show to a reasonable degree of medical certainty how the injury occurred can be submitted to help in proving that an injury is indeed eligible for workers’ comp benefits. Basically, a licensed physician must state without a doubt that the injuries were sustained during the course of the individuals work day and while performing the assigned work duties. So, if you have suffered carpal tunnel or a similar injury from your job duties in Greenville, SC you might be eligible to claim workers’ compensation benefits.

What Are Some Common Workplace Repetitive Trauma and Stress Injuries in Greenville, SC?

There are different repetitive trauma and stress injuries that can be suffered from Greenville, SC work duties. Studies show that the number of workers suffering from repetitive stress injuries or disorders has increased significantly. The increased use of computers and technology in the workplace are being credited for the increased number of traumatic injuries. About 60% of work-related injuries are repetitive trauma. One out of every eight Americans is diagnosed with a repetitive stress injury at some time or another during his or her life. There are several different injuries that can result from work-related duties.

One of the most common repetitive trauma injuries is carpal tunnel syndrome. Any job hazard can cause carpal tunnel syndrome. Examples of work duties that can lead to carpal tunnel syndrome include using tools such as screwdrivers or hammers or typing and using a computer. The condition can lead to permanent and debilitating pain in your arms, wrists, and/or hands. Repetitive trauma can also lead to leg, neck, and back injuries and pain depending on the specific job duty requirements. It is imperative to get the proper treatment for your repetitive trauma injury, or the trauma might become permanent and irreversible.

There are several different work-related activities that lend themselves to repetitive stress injuries. Some of the professions that lead to repetitive stress injuries include assembly line jobs, sanding, painting, polishing, sawing, hammering, setting, cutting, writing, stocking shelves, packing, climbing, playing musical instruments, administrative tasks, secretarial duties, pipe setting, driving, packing, bending, massing, mechanic duties, or working construction.

What Are the Deadlines for Filing Workers’ Compensation Claims in Greenville, SC?

To file a timely South Carolina workers’ comp claim for repetitive trauma, you must provide your employer with notice of the injury or condition within 90 days of the injury being discovered or when it would have been discovered when exercising reasonable diligence. You will also need to show that your condition is compensable. Unless you can provide a valid reason to the commission for timely notice not being given, your claim must be filed within the specified time frame. You cannot be compensated unless the commission receives a claim within two years from the time you knew or should have known that the injury was compensable through workers’ compensation. It cannot be filed any longer than seven years after the last date of exposure to the situation that caused injury, even if you were not sure or aware of the injury stemming from your work duties. As soon as you realize you have been injured, you should consult with a Greenville workers’ compensation attorney to ensure your rights are protected.

Consult with a Workers’ Compensation Attorney in Greenville, SC

If repetitive trauma injuries from work have left you suffering, you deserve the medical attention required so you can recover. Because a repetitive trauma claim can be difficult to prove, you need an experienced attorney skilled in work injuries fighting for you. If you have suffered injuries that you believe are the result of repetitive trauma or stress from your job duties, call the office of Greenville workers’ compensation lawyer Dan Pruitt. The Dan Pruitt Injury Law Firm has helped injured workers throughout the Greenville area for more than 20 years. Offering a free case evaluation, you have nothing to lose when you call us for guidance on your work-related injury. Call (864) 280-7660 today to schedule your appointment. Remember, time is of the essence so seek help from our experienced legal team today!

Every job has its own risks. Regardless of your work duties, you can suffer an on-the-job injury that will leave you sidelined for a while. Actually, work-related injuries are rather common. Thousands of people suffer injuries while working every year. Most employers across the United States are required to maintain workers’ compensation insurance coverage for their employees. Workers’ compensation offers no-fault protection, providing medical benefits and covering a portion of lost wages while the worker recovers. The laws for workers’ comp vary from state to state. South Carolina has its own specific workers’ comp laws.

What Happens After I Get a Workplace Injury?

According to the South Carolina Workers’ Compensation Act, every employer and employee in the state is assumed to have workers’ compensation coverage. There are some exclusions to the provision, however. Railroad companies and their employees, federal employees working in South Carolina, some real estate salespeople, employees in the agricultural industry, corporate officers by-election, and employees of businesses with less than four employees are not covered per the Act. The Act states that employers who are required to maintain workers’ compensation coverage to keep adequate coverage so they can pay the required compensation in the event that a worker is injured or becomes ill. The employer must provide the Commission with proof of the ability to pay compensation that an employee is owed in such situation or proof of the proper coverage to cover the costs of such work-related incidents. The South Carolina Department of Insurance oversees workers’ compensation coverage in Greenville and the rest of South Carolina. 

Find out how you can file your workers’ compensation claim by contacting Dan Pruitt Injury Law Firm.

If you are a worker in Greenville, SC who suffers an illness or injury while working, you can expect compensation for your personal injury or illness or the loss of life resulting from employment. Workers’ compensation insurance coverage is very precise in what is covered for injured workers. It will cover the costs of necessary medical care to treat the injury, take care of a portion of the lost wages while you are recovering and unable to work, and provide compensation for any permanent disabilities and scarring or disfigurement resulting from the Greenville work-related accident.

When it comes to determining how much you will be compensated for being unable to work, South Carolina workers’ compensation laws are pretty precise. If you cannot work for longer than seven days because of your work-related injury, you are to receive compensation equal to 66 2/3% of your average weekly pay. Your pay, however, cannot exceed more than 100% of the state’s average weekly wage which the South Carolina Employment Security Commission determines every six months. If your total disability period exceeds 14 days, you can start receiving compensation backdated to the initial day of your Greenville work injury.

If the accident results in total disability or death, the state has a maximum award limit. In such cases, you can receive up to 500 weeks of your pay. Once again, the compensation rate is determined by the average wages for the worker every week, but the average weekly wage for the state cannot be exceeded. If both arms, both feet, both hands, both legs or the vision in both eyes are lost or if the accident was so severe the individual has two of those losses combined in any form, total and permanent disability is warranted per the state guidelines. Other disability determinations that are based on the impairment or losses resulting from the injuries are made by the commissioner on a case by case basis.

What Procedures Should I Follow If Injured While Working in Greenville, SC?

If you suffer an injury while on the job, it is normal to be nervous, scared and shaken. However, you need to know what protocol to follow to protect your rights and to ensure that you have everything in order to file a Greenville workers’ compensation claim so you can recover compensation for the damages and losses that you suffer. You should report the accident to your employer as quickly as possible. If you fail to notify a supervisor as quickly as possible, you could lose your benefits. The work-related injury must be reported within 90 days of the date of the accident, per the South Carolina regulations.

Any workers’ compensation claims seeking compensation must be filed within two years of the death of the worker or the date of the work accident. After an employer is notified of an injury or made aware of a work accident, a representative of the employer must inform the commission of the accident and injury within ten days. The commission is responsible for monitoring the payment of the medical expenses and the lost wages. The commission will monitor the employer or the insurance company to ensure proper protocols are followed and that the worker gets the benefits that he or she should receive.

When injured on the job, don’t delay getting medical care. Seek treatment from a medical professional right away. If you have life-threatening injuries, don’t hesitate to call 911 and get an ambulance transport. Take note of any witnesses so they can be contacted for a statement regarding what they saw. When your employer is notified of your Greenville work injury, make sure you are honest and straightforward in explaining what happened and how it happened. A no-fault program, your workers’ compensation benefits are payable even if you are partly to blame for what happened.

What If My Greenville Workers’ Compensation Claim Is Denied?

There are instances where workers are denied the workers’ compensation benefits they are entitled to receive. If you have suffered a work-related injury in Greenville and your claim has been denied, you can request a hearing. There are several valid reasons to file a petition to request a hearing before a commissioner. Some of the more common causes of hearings are caused by the employer trying to deny that the injuries were sustained during the employee’s workday or because the employer neglected to properly and promptly report the work accident and injury to the commission. Another reason to request a hearing is if the worker is not receiving the full benefits that he or she is entitled to receive after having been injured on the job. You can also ask for a hearing if you are your employer don’t reach an amicable agreement in regards to your compensation within 14 days of the employer being notified of your injury or if you have a disagreement regarding your pay being continued as you recover.

When the commissioner’s decision is not satisfactory, you can appeal the decision to the State Commission for further review. The panel will consist of anywhere from three to six commissioners and will not include the original commissioner who rendered the initial ruling. If you are still unhappy with the appellate panel’s decision, you can continue the appeals to the Court of Common Pleas and if necessary, onto the State Appellate Courts.

Consult with a Greenville Workplace Injury Lawyer to Discuss Your Case

If you suffered an injury in a work-related accident in Greenville, SC, you need to enlist the help of experienced legal representation. With more than two decades of experience helping injured workers, the Dan Pruitt Injury Law Firm has helped dozens of injured workers get the benefits that they are entitled to receive. If you have been hurt on the job, call the offices of Dan Pruitt at (864) 280-7660 today for a free initial consultation.