Workers' Compensation for Overuse Injuries
Repetitive Stress Injury Lawyer in Birmingham, Alabama
Carpal tunnel, tendinitis, and other overuse injuries build slowly, and insurers use that to deny claims. Forstman & Cutchen, LLP has fought for injured Alabama workers since 1967.
Alabama's Higher Burden of Proof
How a Repetitive Stress Injury Lawyer Protects Your Workers Compensation Claims
A repetitive stress injury has no single accident date. It develops over months or years of the same motion: gripping a tool, lifting boxes, keying data, or working a line. Because there is no clear "moment" of injury, employers and insurance carriers often argue the problem came from age, a hobby, or something outside of work.
Alabama law makes these cases harder than a typical workplace injury. Under the state's workers' compensation statute, a worker claiming a cumulative trauma injury must prove the job caused it by clear and convincing evidence, which is a higher bar than most injury claims face. A repetitive stress injury lawyer builds that proof from your job duties, your medical records, and your treating doctors' opinions.
Alabama also sets strict time limits. You should give your employer written notice of the injury as soon as possible, and the law expects notice within days, with a hard outer limit of 90 days. A lawsuit for a cumulative trauma injury generally must be filed within two years of your last exposure to the harmful work activity. Waiting to "see if it gets better" is one of the most common mistakes we see, and a workers compensation lawyer can help you meet every deadline while you focus on treatment.
Covered Overuse Injuries
Common Repetitive Stress Injuries in Alabama Workplace Claims
These are the repetitive stress injuries we see most often from workers across central Alabama. Office workers, mechanics, cashiers, construction trades, and delivery drivers file these claims too. If your job asks you to repeat the same movement hundreds of times a day, the injury may be covered.
Carpal tunnel and cubital tunnel syndrome
Nerve problems in the wrist or elbow that often follow years of gripping tools or keying data.
Tendinitis and tenosynovitis
Painful tendon inflammation from repeated motion, including trigger finger.
Rotator cuff tears and shoulder impingement
Shoulder damage common in jobs that involve constant lifting or reaching.
Lateral and medial epicondylitis
Better known as tennis elbow and golfer's elbow, caused by repeated forearm and wrist strain.
Herniated or degenerative discs
Back injuries that develop from repeated lifting and bending on the job.
Knee damage
Joint wear and injury from constant kneeling, squatting, or climbing.
How We Build Your Claim
Building Your Claim for the Work Injury Benefits You May Be Owed
Our firm has represented thousands of injured people since 1967, and our practice is focused on personal injury, workers' compensation, and medical malpractice. Our mission is simple: Unrelenting Advocacy. Proven Results. That means gathering job descriptions, coworker statements, and medical opinions early, before the insurer locks in its version of events.
A successful claim can cover more than doctor visits. Depending on your situation, Alabama workers' compensation may provide:
- Authorized medical care, including surgery, therapy, and prescriptions
- Temporary total disability payments while you cannot work
- Permanent partial disability benefits for lasting loss of use
- Mileage reimbursement for travel to authorized medical visits
- Vocational help if you cannot return to your old job
Insurers sometimes push injured workers toward a company doctor or a quick, low settlement. Under Alabama law, you may have the right to request a panel of four physicians to choose a different doctor if you are unhappy with the authorized physician, and we make sure you know your options before you sign anything. If a defective tool or machine contributed to your injury, a separate product liability claim against the manufacturer may be possible. You can also see how we handle sudden on-the-job injuries on our Work-Related Accidents page.
Client Reviews
Client Reviews From Workers We Have Represented
Hear from Alabamians who trusted our workplace injury lawyer team with their claims.
A 5-star review from a client of Forstman & Cutchen, LLP.
Where We Serve
Serving Workers With Repetitive Stress Injuries Throughout Central Alabama
Our office sits at 2 Perimeter Park South, Suite 410E, Birmingham, AL 35243, just off Highway 280. We represent assembly workers at auto plants in Tuscaloosa County, poultry and food processing employees in Blount County, warehouse and distribution workers along the I-65 corridor in Shelby County, and nurses and techs in Birmingham's hospital district. Workers with repetitive stress injuries from all of these communities can count on us:
Your Hands Built Your Career
Talk to a Repetitive Stress Injury Lawyer Before the Insurer Decides for You
If numbness, pain, or weakness from your job is getting worse, the clock on your claim is already running. Call us for a free consultation about your symptoms, your job duties, and the benefits you may be owed. We are available 8am to 5pm Monday through Friday, with appointments after hours and on weekends when you need them.