Not every injury that occurs in the workplace is the result of an accident, violence, or repetitive motions. In some cases, overexertion, which occurs when you do too many strenuous physical activities on the job, is the cause of your injury. Like other injuries, overexertion claims may be eligible for workers’ compensation.
If you have been diagnosed with an overexertion injury, contact our experienced workers’ compensation legal team at Work Injury Rights.
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What is an Overexertion Injury?
Overexertion injuries occur when you do many different strenuous, physical motions during a workday. Activities like lifting heavy boxes, raking concrete, hauling sets of wooden boards, and even bending over to tighten nuts or bolts located below you can all lead to these types of injuries.
In general, overexertion injuries fall into one of these categories:
- Stress Fractures – A stress fracture is a small crack or series of cracks in a bone. Repeating the same tough movements throughout a workday, such as jumping on and off the back of a truck, can lead to stress fractures in the bones of the feet and lower legs.
- Strains or Pulls – Strained or pulled muscles result from making a series of abrupt, yet necessary movements, like twisting the back, moving the shoulders, or bending at the hips and knees. These injuries can be quite painful and may leave you unable to work while you recuperate.
- Sprains – A sprained ligament happens when a joint, like the ankle, knee, wrist, or elbow is moved forcefully and violently in the wrong direction. Stepping off of a curb wrong while carrying a large box can result in a sprained joint, as can any number of other similar events.
- Slipped or Bulging Discs – Back injuries, like slipped or bulging discs, are often caused by bending over repeatedly to perform a task, as well as making a series of twisting and turning movements. In some cases, simply bending or twisting once can cause the discs in the back to begin pressing painfully on the spinal column.
How Does Overexertion Differ From Repetitive Motion Injuries?
Do not confuse overexertion injuries with repetitive motion ones. The latter occurs as the result of making the same movement repeatedly over hours and weeks. The former happens, for example, when a worker is forced to move wrong to keep their balance or perform other job-related duties. One quick, wrong motion and you have an overexertion injury that may keep you from doing your job without excruciating pain.
Filing a Workers’ Compensation Claim for Overexertion Injuries?
If you have an overexertion injury caused by the strenuous, physical movements that you need to do every day in the workplace, then you may be eligible for workers’ compensation. You’ll need the help of an experienced lawyer to file a successful claim, as you may need doctor and hospital records, video footage of the incident, and other specific documentation to support your claim.
Do You Need a Workers’ Compensation Attorney for Help With an Overexertion Injury Claim?
You may qualify for workers’ compensation if your overexertion injury occurred while on the job. To file a claim, you will need to contact an attorney immediately. At Work Injury Rights, we offer free case evaluations to ensure you have the best legal team at your full disposal should you have a valid claim.
Suffering from an on-the-job overexertion injury? Contact Work Injury Rights today to learn more by calling us at 954-833-5226 or filling out a contact form here.
