If you work in an industry like manufacturing or transportation in Kentucky, you already know the job can be hard on your body. What you may not realize is that workers’ compensation is not exclusive to sudden accidents such as slips and falls. Wear-and-tear injuries that build over time are just as compensable when you sustain them at work.
Recognizing compensable injuries
Workers’ compensation can cover more than sudden catastrophes. It can cover “cumulative trauma” injuries or injuries that develop over months or years. These injuries usually stem from repetitive motion, heavy lifting, and constant physical stress.
You can receive full compensation for conditions such as degenerative disc disease, carpal tunnel syndrome and chronic joint damage. Rather than assuming these are simply signs of aging, they may the direct result of the heavy physical demands of your career.
Your next steps
Proving a gradual injury requires different evidence than a sudden accident claim. If you suspect your job is wearing you down, you must act quickly. Here are a few steps you should take:
- Report as soon as you can: Even if you discover your injury later, you can still report your symptoms if you believe work is the cause. Waiting to inform your employer can jeopardize your claim.
- Seek medical assistance: Consult a doctor and enumerate your symptoms, as well as work conditions that may have contributed to them. For example, how often you lift, what movements trigger pain and the length of your shifts are pieces of important information.
- Document your work demands: Creating a record helps you establish a causal link between your job and your injury. Preserve or write down information such as your job tasks, shift length, lifting requirements and when symptoms flare.
You may hear your employer claim that your injury is unrelated to work or due to aging. However, your evidence may prove otherwise. If work substantially contributed, you may receive compensation for your injury.
Battling misconceptions
Kentucky’s workers’ compensation law recognizes wear-and-tear as a legitimate workplace injury. You do not need to prove a specific incident or pinpoint an exact moment when the injury occurred. Instead, you must only prove that your work caused or significantly contributed to your condition.
If chronic pain is affecting your daily life, you deserve compensation for medical treatment, lost wages and ongoing care. Your claim starts with clear documentation and sound legal advice. Consider contacting a Kentucky legal advocate with experience in workers’ compensation to discuss legal strategies for your repetitive injury claim.