SOUTH CAROLINA WORKERS’ COMPENSATION FOR REPETITIVE STRESS INJURIES

The number of workers suffering from a repetitive stress is steadily increasing. As some employers speed up their manufacturing lines, the demand for an employee to keep up increases which can lead to repetitive trauma claims.

There are many types of repetitive motion injuries like tennis elbow or golfer’s elbow but by far the most common form of repetitive trauma injury is carpel tunnel syndrome. Carpel tunnel syndrome can be caused by any repetitive job. People that type on a keyboard frequently may develop carpal tunnel. Workers that use pneumatic or vibratory tools can also develop carpal tunnel. Often repetitive trauma claims are denied by the insurance company because of a law change in 2007, which now requires a doctor to say the job is sufficiently repetitive to have caused the injury.

TIME DEADLINES FOR A REPETITIVE INJURY CLAIM

In order to report a claim for repetitive trauma, notice of the injury or condition must be given by the employee within 90 days of the date the employee discovered, or could have discovered by exercising reasonable diligence, that his condition is compensable, unless reasonable excuse is made to the satisfaction of the commission for not giving timely notice, and the commission is satisfied that the employer has not been unduly prejudiced thereby.

Like other South Carolina workers comp injuries, if an injured worker does not file a formal claim with the South Carolina Workers’ Compensation Commission within 2 years after the employee knew or should have known that his injury is work related then they can be barred from getting any benefits whatsoever.

CONTACT GREENVILLE AND COLUMBIA WORKERS’ COMP LAWYER

If you believe you have a work related repetitive trauma injury, then contact Ryan Montgomery Law in Columbia or Greenville to set up your free consultation.

It is important to protect your rights and yourself because if you don’t then who will? In the Columbia area call (803) 999-1111 and in Greenville (864) 373-7333.