Repetitive trauma injuries don’t happen from one sudden accident. Instead, they develop gradually from repeating the same motion or task day after day. Over time, this stress can lead to long-term damage to your joints, nerves, and muscles. These injuries are common among individuals who work in jobs that involve repetitive tasks such as lifting, typing, scanning, assembling, or prolonged standing. They may result in chronic conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis, or degenerative joint disease.
At Joye Law Firm Injury Lawyers, we’ve helped thousands of injured workers in South Carolina since 1968. In that time, we’ve grown to become one of the largest and most respected workers’ compensation firms in the state. Our experienced attorneys are considered leaders in the field, with several included in South Carolina Super Lawyers, Best Lawyers in America, and National Trial Lawyers’ Top 100. Both Attorney Matt Jackson and Managing Partner Ken Harrell are Past Presidents of Injured Workers’ Advocates (IWA), the state’s premier legal organization for injured workers and their families. Attorney Davis Rice currently serves on the group’s Executive Committee, and several of our other attorneys are active members.
With seven offices in Charleston, Columbia, Myrtle Beach, North Charleston, Summerville, Clinton, and Greenville, our skilled attorneys are nearby and ready to help. We know many workers don’t realize their pain is from repetitive trauma until it becomes hard to do their job. If you’re experiencing pain from repetitive work duties, call us to find out if you qualify for workers’ compensation benefits.
What Counts as a Repetitive Trauma Injury?
A repetitive trauma injury can result from repeating the same small movements many times a day over weeks, months, or years. It’s not about how heavy the item is or how fast you move; it’s the repetitive nature of the task that wears down your body. Over time, these repeated movements can damage specific body parts, such as the wrists, elbows, or shoulders.
Warehouse workers, truck drivers, cleaners, factory workers, and office staff all face risks tied to repetitive motion injuries. The injury may begin with tingling, stiffness, or swelling and gradually worsen over time.
Thankfully, South Carolina law allows injured workers to file repetitive trauma claims even if no single event caused their injury. These injuries are real, but to qualify for workers’ compensation benefits, you’ll have to get proper medical evidence to support your claim.
Signs You May Have a Repetitive Stress Injury
It’s essential to recognize the early signs of repetitive stress or cumulative trauma injury. These injuries often go unnoticed because they happen slowly. You may not realize they are serious until the pain begins to affect your everyday life. Common symptoms include:
- Tingling or numbness in your hands, wrists, elbows, or shoulders
- Weak grip or trouble holding tools or typing
- Sharp or burning pain after certain repetitive motions
- Pain that worsens during or after work
- Swelling, stiffness, or reduced movement in a particular body part
If any of these symptoms interfere with your ability to do your job, you may be dealing with a repetitive trauma injury. Unfortunately, if these injuries are left untreated, they can get worse over time.
That’s why you should seek medical treatment right away. A doctor can help identify the injury, start treatment, and connect the dots between your injury and your work-related activities. This documentation plays a major role in supporting your workers’ comp claim.
Repetitive Trauma Injury Claims and Workers’ Compensation in South Carolina
Filing repetitive trauma injury claims in South Carolina requires specific steps.
- You must report your injury to your employer. In SC, you typically have 90 days from when you knew or should have known that your injury was work-related to file an accident report, tell your supervisor, or report your injury to HR. That starts the clock on your deadline to file a workers’ comp claim. In most cases, injured workers in South Carolina have up to two years to bring a claim for workers’ compensation.
- The injury must be tied to your work tasks. That’s where medical records become crucial. You need proof that your work duties caused the injury and that it’s not related to aging or other jobs. Doctors must confirm the injury with a reasonable degree of medical certainty.
- Once the proof of your claim is submitted, the workers’ compensation insurance company your employer uses will approve or deny benefits such as medical care, therapy, and partial wage replacement. Since insurance companies are often trying to limit payouts, they may unfairly deny your claim or site missing evidence as the grounds for denial. Don’t give up, you still have options!
Don’t get pushed around by a greedy insurance company. At Joye Law Firm, we can help build your claim and appeal unfair denials in order to get you what you’re owed. Our lawyers will work with your medical providers to gather the records and opinions needed to strengthen your claim. This includes evaluations, diagnostic tests, and an analysis of how your injury resulted from your repetitive activities at work. Our attorneys will guide you every step of the way to help protect your rights and make sure the claim is handled fairly.
Here is a real-life example of an injured worker we helped with a repetitive injury claim:
Charles spent nearly 20 years working as a heavy-duty diesel mechanic. Sadly, repetitive stress on his arms forced him to undergo multiple surgeries, leaving him unable to return to physical work. At 60 years old, facing permanent restrictions and no job prospects, his former employer’s insurance company offered a low settlement. After they claimed $63,000 was their “top dollar”, Charles turned to Joye Law Firm Injury Lawyers. Attorney Ken Harrell took on the case. Harrell challenged the insurer’s valuation and brought in a vocational expert who confirmed Charles was unlikely to find new employment. Through strategic negotiations and legal action, Ken secured a final settlement of $156,000, nearly $100,000 more than the insurer’s “best” offer, along with over $14,000 in additional benefits and settlement terms that boosted Charles’ Social Security disability payments.
We’re proud to have secured millions in workers’ compensation benefits for injured workers across South Carolina. While past results don’t guarantee a future outcome, our successes do illustrate legal skills and a winning track record.
