In many cases, the workers’ compensation claims process is straightforward. An employee gets hurt in a major incident on the job. They follow company procedure by reporting their injury. The company’s records help validate their assertion that their medical issues stem from their career. They can then obtain medical and disability benefits to help them until they can return to work.
Other employees may have a more challenging process ahead of them. Not all work injuries occur because of a specific precipitating incident. Some people get hurt by performing repetitive tasks for years. Workers in careers ranging from nurses and factory workers to administrative assistants can develop repetitive strain injuries. Pain from work functions can slow people down, decrease their strength and impact their range of motion.
Workers may experience chronic pain symptoms caused or worsened by their job functions. What rights do employees have when they have serious pain and/or other health issues related to work that have developed over time?
Workers’ compensation may still be available
Obtaining workers compensation may be easiest after acquiring a traumatic injury on the clock, but benefits are available for most medical issues directly connected to a worker’s employment. So long as an employee can establish that their medical condition started because of their work or that their job functions exacerbated pre-existing symptoms, they may be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits.
Medical benefits can help pay for their treatment. They may also be eligible for disability benefits if they need time away to recover or undergo treatment. The big challenge in such cases is the need to establish a clear connection showing that the job caused or worsened the symptoms.
Workers may need to undergo thorough medical evaluations to prove that job functions relate to their symptoms. They may also need help handling a complex claim. Chronic pain caused by job functions is unlikely to resolve quickly with basic treatment. Workers may have permanent medical issues to address. The claims negotiation process can be much more challenging in scenarios where the medical condition is unlikely to result in a full recovery.
Workers dealing with chronic pain related to their careers may be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. They have a right to secure legal support during that process. Working with a skilled legal team to review the medical and employment history of a professional can be a good starting point for those questioning whether they qualify for workers’ compensation benefits for chronic pain and other long-term symptoms.
