Repetitive strain injury claims

How is RSI diagnosed?

Doctors diagnose RSI by looking for the ‘three symptoms of RSI’: pain, cramping and numbness. In some cases, it may bring on other conditions such as carpal tunnel or vibration white finger syndrome.

There are two main types of RSI. Repetitive strain injury Type 1 has the classic three symptoms of RSI, but is accompanied by other conditions such as carpal tunnel, swelling and inflammation. Repetitive strain injury Type 2 does not have any accompanying medical conditions, and has the usual three symptoms: pain, numbness and cramping.

How is RSI treated?

Doctors can treat repetitive strain injury with medication such as ibuprofen and paracetamol. They may also recommend physiotherapy or even steroid injections and surgery for more serious cases, such as carpal tunnel syndrome. Most importantly, prevention is better than the cure – doctors will recommend you take breaks and put protective measures in place to stop the condition from flaring up again.

How long does RSI take to heal?

Repetitive strain injury can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months to heal, depending on the seriousness of the injury. In some cases, RSI can develop into a long-term condition such as carpal tunnel. We will take all of this into consideration when making your no win, no fee repetitive strain injury compensation claim.

What jobs have the biggest risk of RSI?

The jobs with the biggest risk of RSI include manual roles such as factory work, as well as computer-based roles including administration or computer programming. Office jobs involving keyboard use can aggravate injuries to the wrist, or cause back issues if workstations are not set up correctly.

Other jobs that risk repetitive strain injury include:

• Lorry drivers
• Supermarket checkout workers
• Factory machinists
• Food pickers
• Builders and gardeners
• Manual labour jobs involving vibrating tools
• Manual labour jobs involving heavy lifting.

Whatever your role, it is your employer’s duty to keep you safe and protect you from risks such as RSI. If you believe your employer was negligent, we can help you to make a no win, no fee compensation claim.

How to prevent RSI – your employer’s responsibilities

Under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, your employer has a duty of care to keep you safe and protect you from repetitive strain injury. This includes running risk assessments and understanding how to prevent RSI, such as:

• Offering the right training, such as for manual handling
• Adjusting computer equipment for the correct posture and wrist alignment
• Regularly running risk assessments to identify new hazards in the workplace
• Providing equipment that can prevent injury, such as ergonomic keyboards
• Regularly encouraging breaks and adhering to specific regulations such as the Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005.

Can you claim for repetitive strain injury?

You can claim for repetitive strain injury if you can prove that your employer failed to protect you from harm, which resulted in your injury. This is known as ‘breach of duty’ (your employer failing to keep you safe) and ‘causation’ (the injury you’ve suffered).

We can help you to gather evidence to support your repetitive strain injury claim. We may also recommend an additional medical examination from one of our trusted professionals. Our personal injury solicitors will use their reports to support your compensation claim.

How much RSI compensation can I claim?

While there are no set compensation amounts, the Judicial Board Guidelines state that historical cases of work-related repetitive strain injuries can range from £1,000 to £18,000 in compensation.

The compensation amounts for repetitive strain injuries vary depending on the type of claim. When we assess your claim, we are looking at three things: the ‘general damages’ (your injury), the ‘special damages’ (any money you’ve lost, such as time off work) and the long-term impacts on your life. We go above and beyond to get you every penny you deserve.

What are the time limits for making repetitive strain injury claims?

You generally have three years from the date of your diagnosis to make a repetitive strain injury compensation claim. If you were under 18 at the time, you could have a ‘litigation friend’ represent you up until your 18^th birthday, after which you would have three years to claim.

We always advise claiming as soon as possible so that we can gather the most accurate evidence.

What evidence do I need to make a repetitive strain injury compensation claim?

Our expert personal injury solicitors can help you to gather the following evidence to support your RSI claim:

• Photos of your injury or work zone
• Witness statements
• Notes in the employer’s accident book
• Medical reports with full diagnosis, treatment and recovery time details
• Receipts for losses incurred such as medical bills
• Any other notes about the situation, for example, details on long-term mobility aids.

To start your no win, no fee claim, call us today for a free consultation. We will help you to gather evidence, organise a medical, and write a letter of claim to your employer’s insurer.

Why you should choose Express Solicitors for your repetitive strain injury claim

At Express Solicitors, we offer decades of experience treating repetitive strain injury claims like yours on a no win, no fee basis. We have managed to win thousands of pounds in compensation because we go above and beyond – looking at all the factors of RSI that may affect your life. We may be able to arrange early compensation payments and give you guidance on further treatment.

Get your life back on track and start your repetitive strain injury claim with Express Solicitors today.