Repetitive Stress & Occupational Injuries

Not every workplace injury happens in a single, dramatic moment. Many workers develop injuries and illnesses gradually — the cumulative result of years of repetitive motion, awkward posture, or exposure to hazardous conditions. These “repetitive stress” and “occupational” injuries are covered by workers’ compensation across the Southeastern United States, but they are often harder to prove and more aggressively contested than traumatic injuries.

At Maples, Connick & Brendel, we represent workers across industries who have suffered injuries and illnesses from long-term job exposures.

Common Repetitive Stress Injuries

We handle workers’ comp claims involving carpal tunnel syndrome and other nerve entrapment injuries in the hands and wrists, rotator cuff tears and shoulder impingement from repeated overhead work, tendinitis and bursitis, lumbar and cervical degeneration from years of heavy lifting or vibration exposure, and knee injuries from constant kneeling, squatting, or climbing.

Occupational Illnesses

Beyond physical repetitive motion injuries, workers can develop serious illnesses from long-term occupational exposures, including hearing loss from prolonged exposure to loud machinery or industrial noise, respiratory conditions from chemical fumes, welding smoke, silica dust, or asbestos, skin disorders from chemical exposure, and other conditions where the workplace played a documented role.

Why These Claims Are Challenging

Unlike a traumatic injury with a clear date and cause, repetitive stress and occupational claims require proof that the workplace was the major contributing factor to the condition. Insurance carriers routinely argue that the condition is age-related, caused by hobbies or activities outside of work, or the result of a pre-existing medical problem.

Succeeding on these claims usually requires detailed medical opinions linking the condition to the specific job duties, a work history that establishes the length and nature of exposure, expert testimony when causation is disputed, and careful attention to the unique notice and filing deadlines that apply to gradual-onset injuries.

Notice and Deadlines Are Different

Because there is no single “date of injury,” the rules for when a repetitive stress or occupational claim is considered timely can be tricky. Generally, the clock runs from the date the worker knew, or should have known, that the condition was related to their job. Missing this window can bar the claim, so if you suspect a workplace condition is causing your symptoms, talk to an attorney promptly.

If you have developed a condition you believe is related to your work, contact us today for a free case review.