Salisbury Repetitive Stress Injury Lawyer

Salisbury Repetitive Stress Injury Attorney

Having secure employment lets people feel in control of their finances and life. When an employee experiences a workplace injury, it can jeopardize that sense of security. Working with a Salisbury repetitive stress injury lawyer during this time can help you regain that control.

An Experienced Workplace Injury Law Firm in North Carolina

Here at Ayers, Whitlow & Dressler, our team understands the devastation that a long-term injury can cause. When clients come into our office for their initial consultation, they’re given the empathy that they deserve.

We never dismiss your pain or lived experience. As proud long-time North Carolina residents, our four legal professionals are confident in their abilities to represent injured clients throughout their workplace injury cases.

What to Do After a Workplace Injury in Salisbury

Major industries in Rowan County include health services, retail, K-12 education, and manufacturing. Repetitive stress injuries in these environments can take months to start showing symptoms. Because of the gradual nature of these injuries, it can be difficult to know what to do when the sufferer starts feeling consistent pain.

Seek medical treatment as soon as possible. It’s common for these injuries to be ignored by the victim. However, if left untreated, a repetitive stress injury can become permanent. The long-term treatment for a repetitive stress injury can vary, depending on the type, but it can include:

• Rest
• Using medical devices, such as a wrist brace or kinesiology tape
• Physical therapy
• Medication, either through prescription pills or injections
• Surgery

After seeking medical care, inform your employer of your injury. You’ll need to do this within 30 days of first noticing symptoms, both verbally and in writing. They’ll either approve your claim or deny it.

Almost every worker has the right to workers’ compensation benefits in North Carolina. You do not need to prove fault in the incident, only that your injury was caused directly by your work environment.

This can be difficult to do for a repetitive stress injury, as the symptoms are gradual. They are often contested as being caused by something in your home life. It’s important to hire a repetitive stress injury lawyer to argue for the benefits you deserve. Evidence that can bolster your repetitive stress injury claim can include:

• Medical records
• Medical bills
• Prescriptions
• Eyewitness statements
• Detailed notes of the dates and times when you experience pain, along with how it affects your daily life

Salisbury Workers’ Compensation Benefits

Repetitive stress injuries are incredibly common. In 2021, a National Health Statistics Report was conducted on adults in the United States with repetitive stress injuries. Over a three-month period, it was observed that 9% of adults had a repetitive strain injury. This was around 23.247 million people.

Luckily, many employers understand this and don’t make the workers’ compensation process unnecessarily difficult for their employees. If your employer approves your workers’ compensation claim in Salisbury, you’ll start receiving workers’ compensation benefits, which include:

Partial Wages

Typically, these wages are paid weekly to the injured worker and are two-thirds of their average weekly wage. These payments are made until the employee can return to the workplace.

In North Carolina, there were 28,000 instances where an injured worker needed time away from work to heal in 2023. Partial wage payments may continue indefinitely if the injury results in permanent disability.

Medical Treatment

Your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance will provide you with medical care and pay for any treatment you may require. This can include chiropractic services and rehabilitation. You may also be reimbursed for travel up to 20 miles for medical treatment.

FAQs About Salisbury, NC Repetitive Stress Injury Laws

What Are Common Repetitive Stress Injuries?

Common repetitive stress injuries include tendonitis, tennis elbow, and carpal tunnel syndrome. Tendonitis happens when the tissue that connects muscle to bone gets swollen after repetitive use. Tennis elbow feels like a pins-and-needles sensation that may travel from outside your elbow down into your forearm. It often happens when the irritated tendon puts stress on nearby nerves.

Carpal tunnel syndrome happens when swelling in your wrist squeezes a nerve, causing pain or numbness. It can become permanent if untreated.

How Long Do Repetitive Stress Injuries Take to Heal?

Depending on the type of repetitive stress injury you have, healing time can vary. These injuries can happen anywhere in the body and from any type of motion. The injury may become long-term if the initial motion or posture isn’t corrected. This can be hard when the injury was caused by your work environment. It’s recommended to see what can be adjusted to prevent further pain, such as using a wrist brace or changing your posture at work.

Can My Employer Force Me to Go Back to Work in North Carolina?

In North Carolina, an employer can’t force an injured employee to go back to work before a doctor approves it. The doctor who sees the injured employee has the final say on returning to work. The doctor may also recommend returning to work with restrictions or accommodations. These can include lighter duties or shorter work hours. Employers have to respect these restrictions.

What Do I Do If a Third Party Caused My Injury in Salisbury?

If a third party caused your workplace repetitive stress injury in Salisbury, you have the option to open a legal claim against them. If, for example, a faulty work tool led to your injury, you could file a claim against the tool’s manufacturer. An experienced Salisbury repetitive stress injury attorney can analyze your situation and determine the appropriate course of action. These cases are typically overseen at the Rowan County Courthouse, located at 210 North Main Street in Salisbury.

Hire a Repetitive Stress Injury Lawyer Today

The team at Ayers, Whitlow & Dressler entirely focuses on injury law. Our four lawyers have over 100 years of combined professional experience in repetitive stress injury cases and other claims. We’re proud to be part of the North Carolina legal community.

We operate on a contingency fee basis and only accept payment if we secure compensation for your case. Contact our office today to schedule your initial consultation and learn how we can help you.