If you have suffered a repetitive stress injury at work, you need a skilled Wilkes-Barre repetitive stress injury lawyer to evaluate your situation and build a strong case on your behalf. For nearly 70 years, the attorneys at Munley Law have represented a range of personal injury cases, winning many settlements for our clients, including repetitive and on-the-job injury verdicts like a $1 million jury award for a crush injury to a trucker’s foot.
Our Wilkes-Barre attorneys have represented injured Pennsylvania workers for nearly 70 years and have experience handling workers’ compensation claims involving repetitive stress injuries, occupational illnesses, disputed medical evidence, hearings, appeals, and negotiated settlements. Caroline Munley is certified as a workers’ compensation specialist by the Pennsylvania Bar Association’s Section on Workers’ Compensation Law.
Our legal experts will comprehensively evaluate your case and take all your suffering into account to secure you the compensation you deserve. Contact our repetitive injury attorneys today for a free, no-obligations initial consultation.
Contact a Workers’ Compensation Attorney at Munley Law
Call Us At 844-686-5397 How Do Repetitive Stress Injuries Happen?
In 2019, over 17,000 people were injured because of repetitive actions in the workplace, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). More recent BLS statistics show that over 946,500 US workers reported sustaining a musculoskeletal disorder – a type of repetitive stress injury – in 2023.
Most repetitive injuries stem from seemingly simple tasks—typing, using the same tool again and again, or repeating one motion for hours—yet Wilkes-Barre workers’ compensation benefits can still apply.
A repetitive strain injury happens when a worker’s muscles or joints become strained while repeatedly doing the same motions at work. A repetitive stress injury damages the muscles, nerves, ligaments, or tendons of workers who perform the same task repeatedly on the job.
For example, a strain to the back or wrist that causes low back pain or carpal tunnel syndrome is a typical form of repetitive strain injury. Repetitive strain injuries usually happen slowly over time. The more a worker does the same motion on the job, the worse the injury becomes. Eventually, these strains can become serious injuries that may prevent a worker from doing his or her job. Thankfully, under the Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation Act, many workers receive compensation for repetitive stress injuries.
Does Worker’s Compensation Cover Repetitive Stress Injury?
Under the Pennsylvania workers’ compensation law, any employee who is hurt on the job may be able to receive compensation for his losses. Money can be paid for lost wages, medical expenses, or disability. All work injuries and illnesses resulting in death, permanent impairment, or loss of time beyond a day or shift are covered. This includes repetitive strain and stress injuries caused by your work. An injury that worsens over time may even qualify for specific-loss benefits under Pennsylvania law. Even when non-work factors play a role, you may still collect benefits—and may also explore third-party claims against outside parties.
Are Workers in Some Industries More Likely to Suffer a Repetitive Strain Injury?
It is not only people who repeatedly lift or move heavy items that suffer a repetitive stress injury. Any worker who repeats the same motion, day after day, is at risk of developing a repetitive strain injury. These workers are more likely to be harmed by repetitive actions:
- Grocery store clerks who spend their entire shift scanning products at checkout.
- Assembly-line staff and warehouse employees perform identical tasks every shift.
- Office workers who spend all day at a keyboard.
- Electricians, plumbers, and similar tradespeople who grip the same tools for hours often face injuries similar to healthcare-worker repetitive-stress cases as well.
How Many Different Injuries and Illnesses Are Covered by Workers’ Comp?
Workers’ compensation benefits provide injured workers with medical expenses and lost wages. Workers’ compensation in Wilkes-Barre covers many different kinds of injuries and illnesses that occur on the job. Here are examples of some of the most common injuries covered by workers’ compensation:
- Nearly 37% of injuries suffered by Pennsylvania workers in 2019 were sprains or strains. More recent Pennsylvania data reported 58,295 sprain and strain cases in 2024, making them one of the state’s most frequently reported workplace injuries.
- Most commonly, workers suffered injuries to their upper extremities (shoulders, arms, hands).
- 36% of injuries affected the shoulders, arms, forearms, wrists, hands, and fingers. In 2024, upper extremity injuries accounted for 37.7% of cases, with finger injuries most often reported.
- The next most common injuries harmed the lower extremities, with 26% of injuries to the legs, ankles, feet, and toes. As of 2024, these types of injuries decreased to 22.5% of the total reported
- 19% of injuries in 2019 were to the worker’s trunk or mid-body, decreasing to 16.8% in 2024, with the back most often affected.
- 12% of injuries were to the head and neck. Five years later, these injuries accounted for 15% of all reported injuries.
- 7% of workers suffered multiple injuries to more than one body part.
“For more than three generations, our family has been fighting for justice. It’s more than a career choice—it’s written into our DNA. That legacy shapes how I approach every case. The people who walk through our doors aren’t case numbers; they’re families in crisis, looking for someone to fight as hard for them as we would for our own.”
Robert W. Munley, III
A Workers’ Compensation Lawyer in Wilkes-Barre Can Help You File Your Claim
A Wilkes-Barre workers’ compensation claim for repetitive injury can be complicated. It can be really hard if you are not familiar with filing workers’ compensation claims. Most workers have never filed a work injury claim before. Unfortunately, one little mistake could mean your entire workers’ compensation claim will be denied. Even after benefits start, the insurer may cut them off early, forcing you to appeal a denied workers’ comp claim to keep money coming. That’s why, before payments stop, it’s often worth getting a workers’ comp lawyer to safeguard your medical coverage.
Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys’ experienced workers’ compensation attorneys are committed to helping injured workers get the benefits they deserve. The skilled lawyers at our workers’ compensation law firm accept all kinds of work-related injuries, including repetitive stress injury claims, and have obtained many top settlements and verdicts for clients.
Every workplace injury lawyer in our firm is professional, experienced, and skilled at helping injured employees in Luzerne County get fair compensation.
Why Experience Matters in Repetitive Stress Injury Claims
Unlike a traumatic workplace accident, repetitive stress injuries often develop gradually over weeks, months, or even years. Because there is no single accident date, insurance companies may argue that the condition is unrelated to your job or caused by age, hobbies, or a pre-existing medical condition.
Our Wilkes-Barre attorneys work with your treating physicians, medical records, and employment history to demonstrate how repetitive job duties contributed to your injury. We also represent injured workers throughout hearings, appeals, and settlement negotiations when employers or insurers dispute repetitive stress claims.
Can A Wilkes-Barre Comp Attorney Help If My Claim Is Denied?
Workers’ comp benefits are meant to cover medical bills and wage loss if you suffer a repetitive stress injury on the job. They also provide compensation if you have an existing repetitive strain injury that is made worse by your job.
When workers’ compensation cases for repetitive injury are denied, you can appeal. It is important to have a Wilkes-Barre comp attorney fighting for your rights and handling your appeals. An appeal can be difficult and often takes a long time. If you are trying to recover from your injury, you need to focus on getting well. An experienced workers’ compensation attorney in Wilkes-Barre can handle the appeals process for you.
If you need to appeal the denial of a work comp claim in Luzerne County, discuss your options with a qualified Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys’ work injury lawyer today. Call or contact us to schedule a free consultation to discuss your claim and your rights.
What You Need to Do When You Suffer a Repetitive Strain Injury on the Job
Some workers might not go to the doctor for repetitive stress injuries in the hopes that the injury will get better on its own. Unfortunately, a repetitive strain injury usually worsens over time, not improves.
See a Doctor
It is important to see a doctor as soon as you begin to feel symptoms of a repetitive stress injury. The symptoms of a repetitive strain injury include stiffness, tingling, numbness, pain and tenderness, cramps, or weakness.
Fill out an Incident Report
After you receive medical attention, fill out an incident report form at work and report your injury in writing to your supervisor as soon as possible. The workers’ compensation law of Pennsylvania provides that you have 120 days from the accident to file this report. In our experience, it is best not to wait and to file your report within 3 days of the injury, if possible.
When your injury has occurred over time, like a repetitive strain injury, it can be difficult to pinpoint the date of the “accident” or the day you suffered the injury. No one day caused the injury. The 120-day period will start no later than the date your doctor diagnoses you with a repetitive stress injury. But if you wait a long time to see a doctor, you run the risk of the employer stating that you filed your claim too late.
Talk to a Workers’ Comp Lawyer
After you file your report, your employer’s workers’ comp insurance company will contact you to learn more about your injury. It is best to talk with an experienced work injury lawyer in Luzerne County before speaking with the insurance company. A skilled workers’ comp lawyer in Wilkes-Barre can talk directly to the insurance company for you to ensure you get the compensation you deserve.
Every claim moves through a complex process. Decisions on your claim can be made by a workers’ comp administrative judge, by negotiation and settlement, or through alternative dispute resolution processes like mediation.
FAQs About Workers’ Comp for Repetitive Injuries
What is Pennsylvania’s Workers’ Comp for Workers?
The Pennsylvania workers’ compensation system requires employers to purchase insurance to cover employees who get hurt on the job, so they receive compensation. An injured worker can receive compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and disability caused by work-related injuries. For most employers, workers’ comp coverage is required. If employers do not provide insurance coverage, they may be sued by their employees and may be prosecuted for a crime.
How Do I Know if I am Covered by Workers’ Comp?
The Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation Act requires most Pennsylvania employers, no matter how large or small, to provide workers’ comp insurance. Employees are covered from the first day on the job and throughout their employment. Full-time and part-time workers are covered.
Not all workers are covered because they may be covered by other insurance or because they do not qualify under the law. These workers are not likely covered by Pennsylvania workers’ comp:
- Railroad workers and federal employees,
- Agricultural workers who work for one employer for less than 30 days in a year,
- Farm workers who earn less than $1,200 a year from one job,
- Workers who are independent contractors rather than employees,
- Workers who provide domestic services such as house cleaning and lawn care, and
- Volunteer workers.
How Long Do I Have to Report My Injury and File My Claim?
Under Pennsylvania law, you must report your injury to your employer within 120 days of the injury. You must file your claim within 3 years of the date of your injury. These time limits are strictly enforced, so it is important for an injured worker to speak with an experienced Wilkes-Barre workers’ compensation lawyer as soon as possible. If you do not report your injury or file your claim in time, you will not be able to receive money for your injuries, and your claim will be denied.
How Much Money Will I Receive for My Injuries?
According to the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry, workers and their families in Pennsylvania received over $2.8 million in 2019 from the workers’ compensation system. The amount you can receive for your injuries varies based on:
- How severe your injuries are,
- Whether you are totally or partially disabled, and
- The amount of time you are unable to work.
What is Pennsylvania’s Maximum Weekly Benefit for Workers’ Compensation Claims in 2025?
According to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the maximum weekly workers’ compensation benefit for 2026 is $1,394.00.
Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys Has Competitive Advantages Over Other Work Injury Lawyers
At Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys, you get more than a lawyer. You get a law firm. Our attorneys work together as a team to give you the insight, experience, and combined efforts of our entire law firm. Our Wilkes-Barre personal injury lawyers are highly skilled and have a reputation for working harder than other lawyers. We protect your rights and ensure you receive the compensation you deserve in your workers’ comp case. Our mission is to help injured victims move forward in the best way possible.
Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys works on a contingency fee basis. This means you don’t pay any legal fees to Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys unless we collect money for you on your workers’ comp claim.
Call Munley Law today for a free consultation to speak to a qualified Wilkes-Barre work injury lawyer. Or contact us using our chat or online form. We will review your case, tell you about your legal rights, and advise you on how to proceed to receive compensation for your repetitive stress and strain injuries.
Robert W. Munley, III
Robert W. Munley, III is a highly regarded and respected workers’ compensation lawyer. Bob has earned numerous accolades during his career fighting for injured workers, including being named to Best Lawyers in America in 2013 and appointed to the 2026 Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers in America guide. Bob is also known for being outspoken in helping attorneys fight for workers rights nationwide, taking part in speaking arrangements such as the Pennsylvania Workers Compensation Symposium and the Pennsylvania Workers Compensation Information Distribution Seminar.
Reviewed by Bernadine Munley, Esq., Personal Injury Attorney at Munley Law, on August 6, 2026.
