Ohio workers’ compensation covers work-related injuries and illnesses, so you do not necessarily need to have had an accident to receive compensation.
Repetitive strain injuries do not result from one event but from sustained action over time. If they appeared dangerous to do, you would know to stop, but the first sign of a problem may be pain once the damage is already done.
Can repetitive strain injuries heal?
The body has remarkable powers of recovery and can mend with time, either alone or with the assistance of medical intervention. However, it cannot do so if you keep repeating the same action that caused the situation.
Rest is crucial
Let’s say you have wrist pain from typing in the office, or shoulder pain from the stiff steering wheel on the work vehicle you drive. You need to stop typing or driving, yet that may mean you cannot do your job. Workers’ compensation benefits should allow you to take time off work without sacrificing earnings and receive medical attention without digging into your wallet.
To get benefits, you will need to prove the injury is work-related. You can expect challenges to this. For instance, the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation might refuse to pay out if they examine your work role and discover you only type for an hour per day, yet have been spending your nights at home typing out novels for the past five years.
In the case of a driver with a shoulder injury, they may want to ensure it is the work vehicle that caused it, not spending their weekend swinging a golf club.
Even if an injury is not entirely work-related, it may still be possible to claim benefits if work aggravated it. Workers’ compensation claims can be complex, so it pays to have assistance to present your claim and answer any questions you face.