If you have pain in your hands, wrists, shoulders, or back from doing the same motion over and over at your job in Los Angeles, you have the right to workers’ compensation (workers’ comp) — even if there was no single accident that caused it. The law calls this a “cumulative trauma” injury, and it is covered regardless of your immigration status. Call attorney Jerry Jacobson at 1-800-529-7910. The consultation is free, confidential, and available in Spanish.
Not all work injuries happen in a second. Many build up little by little, day after day, from doing the same motion thousands of times. Seamstresses in the Downtown fashion district, line workers in warehouses, cleaning workers, and the people who pack food in Vernon and Commerce end up with numb hands, destroyed shoulders, and ruined backs. Here we explain, in plain words, that this pain IS a work injury and that you have the right to file a claim.
Does repetitive-motion pain count as a work injury?
Yes. In California, “cumulative trauma” injuries are covered by workers’ compensation just like a single-blow accident. The law recognizes that repetitive work damages the body over time. It doesn’t matter that you can’t point to an exact day you “got injured”: if your work caused the damage, you have the right to medical treatment and a portion of your wages.
Workers’ compensation is a “no-fault” system. You do not have to prove that your employer did anything wrong. You only have to show that the damage came from your work. A doctor can connect your carpal tunnel, your tendinitis, or your shoulder pain to the motions you make every day.
The most common repetitive-motion injuries
After more than 30 years representing injured workers in Los Angeles, these are the cumulative trauma injuries we see most:
Carpal tunnel. Numbness, tingling, and pain in the hand and fingers from gripping, sewing, typing, or using tools all day. It can require surgery.
Tendinitis and “tennis elbow.” Inflammation of the tendons in the arm, elbow, and wrist from repeated movements.
Shoulder injuries (rotator cuff). Raising the arms, reaching, and carrying over and over tears the shoulder over time.
Back and neck injuries. Bending, twisting, and lifting repeatedly causes herniated discs and chronic pain. See our guide to back injuries from lifting at work.
Knee pain. Standing, kneeling, or climbing stairs all day permanently damages the knees.
Which workers are most exposed in Los Angeles?
Cumulative trauma hits hardest in jobs that repeat the same motion for hours:
Seamstresses and garment industry workers in the Downtown Los Angeles Fashion District, machine-sewing thousands of pieces a day.
Warehouse and assembly-line workers who pack, scan, and lift nonstop in Vernon, Commerce, and the industrial zone. See our guide to Amazon-style warehouse injuries.
Cleaning workers who mop, wring, and dust all day. Learn more about cleaning worker injuries.
Food-processing workers who cut, pack, and sort on cold lines.
Cashiers, office workers, and assemblers who repeat the same hand motion all shift.
Why the insurance company fights these cases so hard
Cumulative trauma cases are among the ones the insurance company fights most, because there is no clear accident to catch on video. They will tell you your pain is from age, from something else, or that “it can’t be proven.” Don’t believe them. California law recognizes these injuries, and with the right medical evidence they can be won. The key is a doctor who documents the connection between your work and your damage well. We know how to build these cases and we don’t let the insurance company shortchange you.
I’m undocumented or paid in cash. Am I still covered?
Yes, you are covered. In California, undocumented workers have exactly the same workers’ compensation rights as any other worker. The insurance company will not ask about your status in order to pay you, and it has no right to use it against you. Being paid in cash also does not eliminate your rights. Learn more in our guide to workers’ compensation for undocumented workers in Los Angeles.
What benefits can I claim?
Workers’ compensation in California provides several types of benefits. These are the main ones a worker with a repetitive-motion injury can receive:
100% paid medical treatment. Visits, nerve studies, physical therapy, devices (like splints), surgeries, and medication — all covered, without you paying out of pocket.
Payment while you can’t work (temporary disability). Generally two-thirds of your weekly wage, tax-free, while the doctor says you cannot work.
Permanent disability payment. Cumulative trauma often leaves permanent damage in the hand, shoulder, or back. If that’s your case, you have the right to additional compensation.
Retraining voucher (up to $6,000). If you cannot return to the same job, you may receive a voucher to train for a new career.
If the insurance company has already denied your claim, don’t give up — it is very common in these cases and it can be fought. Read what to do when your workers’ comp claim is denied in Los Angeles.
How long do I have to file? (A very important point)
Here cumulative trauma injuries have a special rule that you should understand. In California, the one-year “clock” to file your claim does not start the first day you felt discomfort. It generally starts when you lose time from work or receive treatment AND a doctor tells you (or you reasonably should know) that your problem comes from your work. That is why, even if your pain started long ago, you may still be on time. Don’t assume you lost your right — call us to review your case for free.
What should I do if I have a repetitive-motion injury?
What you do can decide your case. Follow these steps:
1. See a doctor and say you believe it’s from your work. It is key that the doctor notes that your symptoms are related to what you do every day.
2. Report the injury to your employer as soon as possible. As soon as you suspect the pain comes from work, tell them in writing. Don’t wait for it to get worse.
3. Ask for the claim form (DWC-1). Your employer is required to give it to you. Fill it out and keep a copy.
4. Describe your job in detail. How many hours, how many pieces, what exact motion you repeat. That information helps the doctor connect your injury to your work.
5. Talk to a lawyer before signing anything. These are the cases the insurance company fights most. Don’t accept being told you “have no case” without a lawyer reviewing it first.
Why choose attorney Jerry Jacobson?
Attorney Jerry Jacobson and his team have spent more than 30 years fighting for injured workers in the Hispanic community of Los Angeles. We have recovered more than $250 million for our clients. We know how to build cumulative trauma cases — the ones the insurance company tries hardest to deny — and we know what medical evidence is needed to win them.
We work on contingency: we charge nothing unless we win your case. There are no hidden costs and nothing comes out of your pocket. We handle the entire process in Spanish. We also protect you against retaliation — it is illegal for your employer to fire you for filing a claim. If it has already happened to you, read about being fired in retaliation after a work injury.
We serve workers throughout Los Angeles County: from Koreatown, Boyle Heights, East Los Angeles, South Gate, and Huntington Park, to the Downtown fashion district and the factories and warehouses of Vernon and Commerce. We know the workers’ compensation courts (the WCAB office in downtown Los Angeles) and we know how to fight the insurance companies.
Law Offices of Jacobson & Associates
3580 Wilshire Blvd, Ste 1600
Los Angeles, CA 90010
Phone: 1-800-529-7910
Free consultation, 24/7, and always in Spanish.
If you have repetitive-motion pain from your job in Los Angeles, don’t wait. Contact us today or call 1-800-529-7910. We review your case for free and in your language. Learn more about your rights in a workplace accident in Los Angeles.
Frequently asked questions about repetitive-motion injuries in Los Angeles
There was no accident, it just started hurting over time. Can I file?
Yes. Cumulative trauma injuries, which build up little by little from repetitive work, are covered by California workers’ compensation just like a single-blow accident. You don’t need an accident to have rights.
I have carpal tunnel from sewing (or from line work). Is it covered?
Yes. Carpal tunnel caused by repeated motions at work — like sewing, packing, or typing — is a covered work injury. A doctor can document the connection with nerve studies.
The pain started a long time ago. Have I already lost my right to file?
Not necessarily. For cumulative trauma, the deadline generally starts when you lose work or get treatment AND you know (or should know) it comes from work, not the first day you felt discomfort. You may still be on time — call us to review it for free.
The insurance company says it’s from age, not work. What do I do?
It’s a common tactic to deny these cases. With the right medical evidence, it can be proven that your work caused or worsened your injury. Don’t accept a “no” without a lawyer reviewing your case.
How much does it cost to hire a lawyer?
Nothing upfront. We work on contingency: we only get paid if we win your case, and the fee comes out of the recovery, not your pocket. The initial consultation is completely free.
Do you help undocumented workers?
Absolutely. We represent workers regardless of their immigration status, and we don’t share your information with anyone. Your right to compensation is the same, and we handle the entire process in Spanish and with complete confidentiality.