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YOU MAY HAVE A CLAIM FOR COMPENSATION

Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) Claims

If you have a repetitive strain injury caused by your employment, you may be able to claim compensation. Your case will be reviewed by our panel of legal firms who will be able to tell you how much you could be owed.

Overview of RSI claims

An RSI claim is a legal action that seeks compensation for injuries caused by repetitive strain. These claims are usually made against employers who have failed to provide a safe working environment or who have ignored the risks associated with certain job tasks.

An RSI claim can cover a range of injuries external link icon light blue, including carpal tunnel syndrome, tennis elbow, trigger finger, and back pain. RSI is where overuse or repetitive movements end up causing pain in your upper limbs. It can also be known as non-specific upper limb pain or work-related upper limb disorder.

What are the criteria to qualify for an RSI claim?

To qualify for an RSI claim, you must be able to demonstrate that your injury was caused by repetitive strain and that your employer was responsible for your injury. This means that you must have medical evidence to support your claim, which should show that your injury is consistent with the type of work you were doing and that it was caused by repetitive motions.

This means to prove that your employer failed to provide a duty of care to make sure you didn’t suffer from pain and therefore means they were negligent towards you and your condition. You can also try to prove that your condition was worsened due to any negligent practices in the workplace. If you’re unable to prove either of those conditions, you may struggle to get compensation and put forward a strong enough case.

Did you know?

Making an RSI claim legally cannot harm your relationship with your employer according to UK employment law.

The legal argument for an RSI claim explained

The legal argument for an RSI claim blue download icon  is based on the principle of negligence. In order for an employer to be held liable for an RSI injury, they must have breached their duty of care to provide a safe working environment. This could involve failing to provide adequate training, failing to provide ergonomic equipment or furniture, or failing to rotate workers to prevent them from performing repetitive tasks for too long. The RSI has to also be proven that it was caused or worsened by negligent practices at work and not by other organic causes.

Key Facts

1 in 50 white download icon of all workers in the UK have reported some form of RSI condition.

What evidence is necessary for an RSI claim?

To support an RSI claim, you will need to provide medical evidence that shows that your injury was caused by repetitive strain. This evidence should be obtained from a qualified medical professional, such as a doctor or physiotherapist, and should clearly demonstrate the nature and extent of your injury. You may also need to provide evidence from your employer, such as records of your work tasks and any safety training that you received.

If you’re able to obtain them, occupational health notes can also give you a stronger case to put forward if you can show nothing changed in your working environment to assist your RSI condition. Another example of evidence to prove your employer was negligent towards your condition is to find any email correspondence between you and your employer. This can help to show issues were brought up with your line manager or employer and were not addressed. Photos of your working environment can also be used in conjunction with other pieces of evidence to show your RSI may have been caused or worsened.

Did you know?

In the UK, around 450,000 external link icon white workers have some form of upper limb RSI.

A guide to compensation amounts

The amount of compensation that you can receive for an RSI claim will depend on a number of factors, including the severity of your injury, the impact that it has had on your life, and the financial losses that you have suffered as a result. In general, compensation amounts for RSI claims can range from a few thousand pounds to several hundred thousand pounds, depending on the circumstances of your case.

Another factor that influences compensation amounts is the special damages that occurred because of your RSI. That includes any costs, losses or expenses that incurred because of the injuries from the RSI. This can include things like loss of income due to being unable to work, any medical costs associated with your injury and also any travel expenses, for example, various hospital trips.

At Claims Bible, we can help you estimate how much you may be owed, by taking into account all of these factors and any impact the injury had on your quality of life. We also consider any effect the injury may have on your future career prospects.

Key Facts

5.4 million white download icon working days were lost due to sick leave for RSI complaints in 1 year.

How long do RSI claims typically take?

The length of time that it takes to resolve an RSI claim can vary depending on a range of factors, including the complexity of your case, the evidence that needs to be gathered, and the willingness of your employer to negotiate a settlement. In general, RSI claims can take anywhere from a few months to several years to resolve.

RSI claims are classed as personal injury claims, therefore they have a 3-year time limit. When you claim any compensation for RSI, this time limit begins from the date of knowledge. This means the time limit begins when your RSI was diagnosed by a medical professional. As a result of this, it’s best to start your claim as soon as possible. It’s beneficial to you as you more easily recall what your injuries were caused by and will have more of a chance of having a sufficient amount of evidence for a stronger claim. It also gives your representatives more time to put forward a stronger case on your behalf, using your evidence.

Overview of the RSI claim process

The process for making an RSI claim typically involves the following steps:

Seeking medical attention

The first step in making an RSI claim is to seek medical attention for your injury. This will involve visiting your GP or a specialist medical professional who can diagnose your injury and provide you with the appropriate treatment.

Gathering evidence

Once you have received medical attention, you will need to gather evidence to support your claim. This may involve obtaining medical records, gathering information from your employer, and obtaining witness statements from colleagues who have also suffered from RSI from your workplace.

Submitting a claim

Once you have gathered all of the necessary evidence, you can submit your claim to the relevant authority, such as the Health and Safety Executive or the Compensation Recovery Unit.

If you would like support submitting an RSI claim, get in touch with a member of our team at Claims Bible today.

Common questions

​​What is RSI and can it be claimed as a work-related injury?

RSI, or repetitive strain injury, is a condition caused by repetitive motion or overuse of a body part. It can result in pain, weakness, and loss of function. RSI can be claimed as a work-related injury if it is caused or worsened by work-related activities, such as typing, using a mouse, or performing assembly line work.

What is the process for filing an RSI claim?

The process for filing an RSI claim may vary depending on the state and country in which the injury occurred. Typically, the injured worker should notify their employer of the injury, seek medical treatment, and file a workers’ compensation claim. Evidence of the injury and its relationship to work-related activities may need to be provided.

For more common questions, please refer to the specific claim pages or read our general FAQs page.