Why Work-Related Wear-And-Tear Injuries Are Difficult To Prove

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When you suffer a sudden injury at work, such as an accident involving machinery that leads to an amputation, your injury is very clear-cut and obvious. However, many injuries at work are more subtle and develop over time. These are referred to as wear-and-tear injuries and can be very difficult to prove without the help of a workers' compensation attorney.

What Causes Wear and Tear?

Wear-and-tear injuries occur over time as a result of repetitive stress. They can occur at almost any workplace when workers must perform the same motions over a long period. They can lead to pain that is severe enough to be debilitating. For example, you might not be able to lift heavy objects or even perform sedentary work for a long period of time. You may find that you're unable to remain productive enough to remain employed at your current line of work. However, you will be entitled to workers' compensation if your repetitive stress injury was the result of meeting your workplace responsibilities.

If you aren't sure if your injuries would fall under workers' compensation, the first step should be to speak with an attorney. You may feel uncomfortable bringing your injury up with your employer if you're not certain if you would actually be covered. However, at some point, you will need to tell your employer as part of the workers' compensation claim process.

Common Causes of Wear and Tear

If you use a computer every day, you may begin to suffer from carpal tunnel syndrome. Other forms of wear-and-tear include tendonitis, pinched nerves, neck and back injuries, knee and joint injuries, and shoulder injuries. 

Challenges With Proving That Wear and Tear Is Work-Related

You may struggle to prove that wear these injuries are work-related because they often develop over time. You may have worked more than one job and your wear-and-tear injuries may have started at your previous place of employment.

Legal Representation for Wear-and-Tear Injuries

You are not required to hire an attorney to represent you after you have become injured at work. However, you will have a much easier time fighting for your rights when you have an experienced workers' compensation attorney representing you. Your attorney will know the common justifications that are used by workers' compensation insurance providers to deny claims and will help you build a case for why your claim shouldn't be denied. To learn more about your options, contact a workers compensation attorney today.


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