Injury Type
Cumulative Trauma & Repetitive Stress Injury Claims
Not every work injury happens in a single moment. Cumulative trauma (CT) builds up over months or years of repetitive motion, and it is fully covered by California workers' compensation — even though there's no one accident to point to.
CT claims have a different clock. Under Labor Code §5412, your one-year deadline generally runs from when you knew (or should have known) the condition was caused by work — usually the day a doctor connects the dots, not the day the pain started.
Repetitive-stress injuries we handle
- Carpal tunnel and other nerve-compression syndromes
- Tendinitis and tenosynovitis in the wrists, elbows, and shoulders
- Rotator-cuff wear from overhead or assembly-line work
- Knee and hip degeneration from constant standing, kneeling, or stairs
- Cumulative back and neck injuries from years of lifting
- Hearing loss from prolonged workplace noise exposure
What a CT claim can recover
- Medical treatment for every body part the repetitive work damaged
- Temporary disability if you have to stop or reduce work to recover
- Permanent disability across multiple body parts on one claim
- Future medical care so flare-ups stay covered
Why CT claims need a lawyer
- Pin the §5412 date correctly so the insurer can't call your claim late
- Document the specific job duties that caused the wear and tear
- Combine multiple injured body parts into the strongest possible rating
- Fight the "it's just aging" and "it's from a hobby" defenses
Our practice area
Workplace Injuries
Hurt on the job? We help protect your medical treatment, wage benefits, and claim record.
See how we handle these claimsCommon Questions
I'm still working. Can I file a cumulative trauma claim while employed?+
Yes. You can file a CT claim while still on the job, and it is illegal for your employer to retaliate against you for doing so. Many workers file precisely because the repetitive duties are making the condition worse.
My pain started years ago. Is it too late?+
Maybe not. For cumulative trauma the deadline usually runs from when you knew the injury was work-related, not when it began. Don't assume you've missed the window — have it reviewed.
Attorney Advertising.This page is general information about California workers' compensation, not legal advice, and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every claim is different — talk to an attorney about your specific situation.
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