The Illinois Worker’s Compensation Act covers accidents an employee suffers because of their work and within the course of their employment. It protects an employee’s right to compensation when they get into an accident at work. Accidents can happen in single and shocking instances, where the employee suffers a back, head or neck injury. This can result in broken limbs, concussions, sprains, contusions, or other sudden injuries. The government enacted the law to provide relief whenever these unexpected events happen. However, employees also experience repetitive trauma because of their job. Fortunately, the Worker’s Compensation Act includes injuries due to repetitive trauma.
How does an injury develop from repetitive trauma?
Repetitive or cumulative trauma injuries develop over time because of using a specific body part too often. The Illinois Worker’s Compensation Act explicitly includes carpal tunnel syndrome and the loss of use of the hand. It is a common injury for the following occupations:
- Secretaries
- Employees using computers
- Construction workers using drills and hammers
- Mechanics using hand tools
Repetitive trauma causes progressive and gradual damage to other parts of the body. It happens when an employee’s job forces them to stretch, bend or stand too long and too often. You may still recover compensation under the act despite the injury not being explicitly there.
How to recover compensation for other repetitive trauma injuries
You would have to prove that the repeated actions required by your job caused significant damage to your body or aggravated a pre-existing condition. You do not have to trace the specific moment the injury occurred. The essential factor is your job contributed to the injury.
While repetitive injuries can be more challenging to prove, you should still try to recover compensation because you deserve it. Your injury was not a result of your carelessness; it is a result of your hard work.