Construction work can be hazardous, but some injuries aren’t caused by a single, violent accident. Some injuries can be caused by the small, vibrating tool you’ve been using for years.
Maintaining that same motion over time can damage your hands, arms, and shoulders or anywhere on your body under repetitive strain. They are known as repetitive motion injuries and classified as Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs). Repetitive motion injuries inflict damage to muscles, nerves ligaments, or tendons caused by performing the same task over and over. These types of repetition and strain are common in construction work.
Protecting Workes from Repetitive Motion Injuries
Construction Companies are required by law to do everything reasonably possible to protect their workers from these injuries. They should want to prevent these accidents because the Bureau of Labor Statistics finds that MSDs are the number one cause of lost or restricted work time for employees.
Companies and supervisors should educate workers on these dangers. Employees can be reminded about proper posture and arm, and hand positioning. They can be offered regular breaks from high strain tasks. They should find ergonomic solutions to the underlying problems.
If an injured worker feels more could have been done to prevent the build-up of this injury, a claim against an employer may be possible. Losing work time and paying for medical treatment will be costly. Seeking assistance from construction accident attornies like those at CCD Law in Spokane can help workers determine if they can recover damages from an employer or anyone else involved in the construction project.
How do you know if you have Repetitive Motion Injury?
The Columbia University Department of Neurology refers to these injuries as repetitive stress injuries. The University reports that repetitive motion patients often experience severe pain.
Victims can suffer numbness, clumsiness, and a loss of motion, flexibility, and strength in the area. It can worsen over time without treatment and can result in a complete loss of function.
Common Repetitive Motion Injuries
There are dozens of these types of injuries. They can be caused by just about any task in a work zone where strain and repetition are involved. Here are a few of the most common injuries:
- Carpal tunnel syndrome: Occurs when a nerve in the forearm and wrist is compressed by swollen, inflamed ligaments, and tendons. Pain and numbness can follow.
- Shoulder impingement syndrome: Can be caused by workers having to reach over their heads repeatedly as when painting or lifting.
- Tendonitis: An inflammation of the tendon that attaches muscle to bone. “Tennis Elbow” is a well-known instance, but the same injury can occur when swinging a tool.
- Trigger finger: when the index finger is difficult or impossible to straighten. Holds in the position a worker uses to pull a trigger on a power tool.
- Bursitis: inflammation of the joints, commonly an elbow, a hip, or a knee. Kneeling or supporting yourself on your elbows can cause bursitis.
Construction Site Injury Compensation
Repetitive motion injuries can require multiple surgeries. Recovery often requires many sessions of rehabilitation therapy. Sometimes special braces and equipment are prescribed. All of these services will lead to big medicals bills now and likely in the future.
This rehabilitation from your injury will likely cause you to miss work. If all of this pain and financial loss could’ve been avoided by action on the part of your employer, then you may have reason to make a claim for your damages.
A construction accident attorney can assist you in determining just who can be held responsible for your injury. There can be many possibilities. The owner of the property along with the construction company working on the property can be found at fault. Sub-contractors, developers, and investors may also be involved. Even tool manufacturers could be held responsible in some cases.
You could file a claim against any of these entities and be awarded financial compensation for many of the losses and hardships suffered during recovery:
- Medical Bills
- Rehab treatment/equipment
- Travel
- Lost time from work (Including the expected future lost time)
- Permanent disability/disfigurement
- Pain and mental anguish
- Loss of consortium (Being without the support of a spouse, partner, family member, etc.)
Contact a Spokane Construction Accident Lawyer
Construction employers are legally responsible for the safety of their workers. If you were injured on the job and you feel your employer may have been at fault, you should contact a Spokane Construction Accident Lawyer who can investigate the circumstances of your case. An attorney can tell you who may be held responsible for your injury and who may have to pay for your bills.
Established in Spokane in 1948, Crary & Domanico, P.S. is committed to providing our clients with the absolute highest quality legal representation. If our construction accident attornies represent you for your injury claim, you have our assurance that we will use our absolute best efforts to win your case. Contact us after any accident resulting in a serious injury for a free, confidential consultation and case evaluation.
