Repetitive strain injuries (RSI) can have a serious impact on your quality of life. When you think about work accidents, the first thing that comes to mind is a physical injury that could cause an open wound or trauma. But what about wounds that cannot be seen on the surface? Around 1.8 million workers a year suffer from repetitive strain-related injuries. These sorts of damages can have a serious impact on a worker’s quality of life. That’s why it’s essential that victims of these injuries receive help as quickly as possible. You may not consider it to be a work accident, but you could still claim compensation for your injuries.
Solicitors On Your Side can help you with any type of work accident claim. If you have suffered from repetitive strain injuries, contact us today by calling 0330 912 2124 or by visiting our work accident claims page.
What is a repetitive strain injury?
Let’s start off by defining repetitive strain injuries in general. RSI describes a pain in the muscles, tendons and nerves that occurs through overuse and repetitive movements. It’s most likely to appear in the upper body in areas like the wrists, hands, forearms, elbows, shoulders or neck. Your posture can also greatly affect the pain you feel. Usually, the pain will build up over time. Symptoms can include:
- Aching or pain in the limbs
- Cramps and throbbing sensation
- Stiffness or the feeling of a strains
- Numbness or a tingling sensation in the limb
Some people may get swelling in areas that have been affected by their repetitive strain injuries. If it is clear that a certain area of your body has been affected by RSI, you should speak to your employer and GP as soon as possible to change up your work schedule and receive medical advice.
What sort of workplace could cause these types of injuries?
Quite honestly, the types of workplaces that could cause repetitive strain injuries are extremely varied. Whilst you are most likely to become the victim of these injuries in an office where you are doing the same movements over and over again (such as typing on a computer or using certain technology constantly), you could easily get a repetitive strain injury through a more active job, such as on a building site or by being a professional vehicle driver.
You can receive repetitive strain injuries through using workplace equipment frequently or even through repetitive tasks that you do on a daily basis. Repetitive injuries can also come from sitting in an awkward position and having poor posture whilst doing an activity for a long period of time. This is why it is important to take time to take rests and breaks. If you were not allowed to take a break by your employer, you could be owed compensation for your damages.
Don’t be afraid to make a work accident claim with a solicitor if you have suffered from a repetitive strain injury. If you have been forced to do repetitive tasks in any line of work, it is likely that you could be a victim of muscle pain. Your solicitor will let you know if you have a valid claim and will make sure that you get the support you need to get the pay-out that you deserve.
Could my workplace equipment cause repetitive strain injuries?
Yes, it could! If you work in an office and are finding yourself typing on a computer on a daily basis, you could affect the muscles in your hands, fingers and wrist. The same could be said if you are forced to constantly handle heavy objects or sit in an awkward position without being able to move whilst using the equipment. Your manager should have a regular break schedule to ensure that you get time to rest your body and make sure you change your posture. That way you can avoid developing repetitive strain injuries.
If they don’t do this, it is likely that you could suffer from a work accident. Your employer owes you a “duty of care”. If you became hurt because of their negligence, you could be owed compensation. Your solicitor will be there to help you build your case.
Who do you claim from if you have suffered from a repetitive strain injury?
No matter what type of work accident you have suffered from, it’s important that you are able to claim compensation for the damages that you have experienced. You should still be able to claim from a company even if they are no longer in business due to their employer/employer’s insurance. Your employer is legally responsible for your health and safety when you are at work.
Therefore, if you have started suffering from repetitive strain injuries due to your employer’s negligence, they are responsible for providing compensation for your damages. This compensation will be ultimately paid from their employer’s liability insurance.
Speak to a work accident solicitor to ensure that you are eligible to make a claim. They can also help you understand what type of evidence you need to back up your claim and provide you with a larger pay-out.
How long will it take to make a work accident claim?
The main thing you need to understand about making work accident claims, or any type of public injury claims in general, is that each injury claim is going to be different. The amount of time it takes to sort out a claim depends on the complexity of the case. For instance, if your employer refuses to accept responsibility or will not move forward with your settlement agreement.
There is also a chance that the current pandemic and lockdown could cause an additional delay to your claim. Recently, the UK has been experiencing delays in the court system due to the lockdown.
So please try to be as patient as possible with your solicitor. It may take more time than expected to find important evidence and schedule virtual meetings with the other party. Your solicitor can let you know how far along your claim is and what still needs to be completed to get you your compensation.
How much could I claim from repetitive strain injuries?
Just like the previous point, the amount of compensation you receive from repetitive strain injuries depends on your individual circumstances. The worse your damages, the more likely it is that you are going to receive a larger amount of compensation. Damages can include:
- Physical damages
- Emotional damages
- Financial damages
- Loss of opportunity
- Technology damages
If you have only suffered from minor damages, you may not think it is worth trying to claim compensation. However, the best way to determine how much you could claim is by speaking to a solicitor. A work accident lawyer can give you strong advice on your eligibility and let you know a rough estimate of how much you could be owed. With this advice, you can then make your informed decision on whether or not you want to go ahead with your work accident claim.
How do I get started with a work accident claim for repetitive strain injuries?
Here at Solicitors On Your Side, we are proud that we are able to help our clients with their personal injury claims. If you have suffered from a work accident, you deserve to get compensation. That’s why we are determined to help you through this difficult time with the best advice possible.
The first thing you should do when you notice that you have started to struggle with a repetitive strain injury is to alert your manager or employer. That way they can try and change your schedule to accommodate your injury. If they refuse then this will give you grounds for a negligence claim. You should also seek medical attention as quickly as possible. That way you can claim a medical record and be treated for your injury by a doctor. You should also use this time to look for evidence that can back up your claim. Evidence can include:
- Photographs
- Videos
- Witness Statements
- Medical Records
- Police Records
- Diary Entries
- Financial evidence (i.e. receipts or your payslip)
- Communication between you and your employers (i.e. emails)
Once you have collected your evidence, you can speak with a solicitor to start getting your case sorted. From there, your solicitor can start organising the tricky paperwork and speaking with the other party about your case. They will organise a settlement agreement and time for you all to meet to get the compensation sorted. If the other party refuses the settlement agreement, there is a chance that your claim could be taken to court for a judge to decide.<?p>
Solicitors On Your Side can help you with your repetitive strain injury
When you have suffered from a work accident, the trauma of your injuries can have long-lasting effects that could affect your quality of life. A repetitive strain injury can make the smallest task difficult. That’s why you need to rest and have an experienced solicitor on your side ready to handle your case for you. Solicitors On Your Side experienced legal team are ready to support you.
Our law firm can provide you with free advice and consultations to get you started. If you are happy to move forward with your claim, they can offer their services on a “no win- no fee” basis. That means even if you do not win your case, you will always come out on top. There will be no hidden fees.
Talk to our work accident claim team today by calling 0330 912 2124, emailing [email protected] or by using our form. From there, one of our specialists will be in contact to answer your questions.
Learn more about work accident claims
If you’re interested in learning more about different types of personal injury claims, financial claims or medical claims, our blog is the best place to visit. We update it every week with new content for you to enjoy. You can also learn more about our law firm’s updates and seasonal events. This includes competitions and giveaways. So, make sure to keep an eye out to win a fun prize through our blog or social media.
We also accept suggestions for our blog. So, if you have a question that you would like to answer, feel free to send it to [email protected]. Our specialists will then address it in a new blog post so you can feel confident about making a claim.
We look forward to seeing you in the next latest news story from Solicitors On Your Side!
If you would like to be updated about our latest articles follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.