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Repetitive Trauma Claims in the Medical Profession

Posted by James Aspell | May 16, 2020 | 0 Comments

As a nurse, therapist, or other health care provider, you spend hours on your feet every day, and you perform intricate tasks with your hands day in and day out. You may also be routinely bending, squatting, or stretching to reach medical tools and supplies, and you probably spend several hours per week typing patient data into computers as well. In short, you perform several tasks that put you at risk for repetitive stress injuries. Eventually, you may find you have pushed your body beyond its physical limits.

A variety of types of repetitive trauma injuries  are common in the medical profession. While most people think about job-related injuries occurring on construction sites and in physically demanding jobs in factories and warehouses, the reality is that a significant percentage of on-the-job injuries involve wear and tear from overuse of a body part suffered by office workers and professionals. This includes individuals who work in all occupations within the health care sector, and medical professionals who are experiencing pain and physical limitations due to WEAR and TEAR injuries need to take the time to care for themselves.

Seeking Connecticut Workers' Compensation Benefits for Repetitive Stress  Injuries
Another common misconception about job-related injuries is that only traumatic injuries from discrete accidents and incidents are eligible for workers' compensation. While most people assume that they will be able to collect benefits if they suffer an injury like a severe strain or broken bone, many do not realize that repetitive stress injuries are covered as well. However, these injuries are covered under the theory of occupational exposure, or WEAR and TEAR. Whether your injury developed over weeks, months, or years, you owe it to yourself to speak with a workers’ compensation attorney about your legal rights.

Examples of WEAR and TEAR injuries that are common among nurses, therapists, and other health care professionals include the following:

Carpal tunnel syndrome
● De Quervain's tenosynovitis
● Degenerative conditions
● Disc abnormalities
● Impingements and labral problems
● Osteoarthritis
● Rotator cuff injuries
● Stenosing tenosynovitis (trigger finger)

So, if you are experiencing chronic pain or any other symptoms of these conditions (or any other repetitive stress injuries), what do you need to know about filing a claim for workers' compensation benefits? Use the links below to learn more about seeking workers' compensation benefits in Connecticut :

1. Understanding the “No Fault” Nature of Workers' Compensation in Connecticut 
In Connecticut, our  workers' compensation is a “no fault” system. This means that employees can seek benefits for all injuries sustained within the scope of their employment, regardless of the specific cause. If you are in pain because you are a devoted employee and you love doing what you do, you are well within your rights to file a claim for benefits.

2. The First Step Is to Provide Written Notice to Your Employer
In order to file for workers' compensation, you must first provide written notice of your injury to your employer and to the Connecticut Workers Compensation Commission by filing a Form 30C "Notice of Claim for Compensation."  This is something that the employee or her attorney must do.  You employer will not file a claim on your behalf in Connecticut.

3.  It Is Important to Thoroughly Document Your Repetitive Stress Injury
Due to the unique nature of Repetitve Trauma  injuries, there are some unique aspects to filing workers' compensation claims for these injuries as well. In particular, thorough documentation is key, as you will need to be able to demonstrate that your injury developed at work rather than at home.

4.  Preparing for the Workers' Compensation Claims Process
While some employees have relatively little trouble securing the benefits to which they are legally entitled, for others, collecting benefits can be a challenge. As a result, it is important to have a clear understanding of what to expect once you file your claim.

Contact Us for a Free and Confidential Consultation
If you have questions about your Connecticut workers' compensation eligibility or would like help filing your claim for benefits, we invite you to schedule a free initial consultation with Jim Aspell, a Board Certified Connecticut Workers Compensation Specialist.

As a valued client of our law firm, you can expect legal excellence when our proven Connecticut work injury team  handle your matter, regardless of the size of your case. Your case management will involve a comprehensive review of basic workers' compensation coverage – such as wages and medical coverage – along with more complex issues, such as work-related medical conditions, loss of function, and WEAR and TEAR injuries that may not show up until years after you have left a job.

We understand that some  injuries, such as WEAR and TEAR injuries, may not be evident immediately, but rather develop over time. No matter what the extent of your injuries are, you will always be treated courteously and professionally by our staff.

Our award-winning workers' compensation team is here to help when you need them  Our Connecticut  workers' comp attorneys have more than 30 years of experience, having successfully handled thousands of litigated workers' comp cases throughout Connecticut This experience and winning track record means that you are going to have a skilled Connecticut work injury lawyer who will work for you.

Our office is conveniently located in Farmington Connecticut and we handle work injury cases across the State. Calls are answered 24/7/365..

To discuss your WEAR and TEAR or other workers' compensation injury in confidence, call us or request an appointment online today.

About the Author

James Aspell

Principal since August 1, 2006 James F. Aspell is the principal and managing attorney of the firm which he started in 2006 following 20 years of litigation practice in a mid -size firm in Hartford, Connecticut. Jim focuses his practice in the areas of worker's compensation and personal injury l...

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