How Can I Prove a Repetitive Injury Is Work-Related?

 Posted on August 18, 2025 in Workers' Compensation

Repetitive injuries build over time but can hurt just as much as a sudden accident. If you are seeking workers’ compensation for a repetitive injury you suffered while doing your job, you must prove it is work-related. Your case can depend on your ability to show that your job duties significantly caused or contributed to the condition, and you will likely need medical reports and consistent documentation to help support your claim.

If you are dealing with this issue, speak with a Mt. Prospect, IL workers’ compensation lawyer who can help you gather the right proof and present a strong, evidence-backed claim.

What Counts as a Repetitive Injury Under Illinois Workers’ Comp Law?

Under the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act, benefits are available for injuries that happen in the course of employment. This includes injuries that develop over time from repetitive tasks. To prove the link between your job and your injury, your evidence should show medical causation (when a doctor connects your condition to your job) and work causation (your duties involved repetitive motions or force over time). The legal standard focuses on whether work significantly caused or contributed to the condition.

What Evidence Can Help Me Convince the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission that My Repetitive Injury Is Work-Related?

There are two main types of evidence you need to benefit your workers’ comp claim.

Medical Evidence

Medical records and opinions by your treating physician that explain how specific motions you make at work caused or aggravated the condition; imaging; test results; and clinical notes.

Work Evidence

A clear job history and description of your duties; statements by coworkers about what you do and how often; employment records showing the duration and frequency of the tasks; and any ergonomic assessments, safety evaluations, or workflow studies your employer has on file.

Together, these show both medical and workplace causation, which the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission (IWCC) looks for when deciding claims.

What Is the "Date of Injury" for a Repetitive Trauma Workers’ Comp Claim in Illinois?

Because there may be no single accident that causes a repetitive injury, Illinois uses a "manifestation date". That is the date when a reasonable person would have realized the connection between the injury and your work. This date is treated as the accident date for notice and statute of limitations purposes, which is why prompt reporting and medical evaluation matter.

You must notify your employer of a work injury no later than 45 days after the accident or, in repetitive trauma cases, within 45 days of the manifestation date. Notice can be oral or written, although written notice creates clear documentation that can help avoid disputes.

After giving notice, some workers begin receiving benefits without filing a formal claim with the IWCC — for example, if the employer’s insurer accepts the injury as work-related and starts paying medical bills or wage replacement. If benefits later stop or a dispute arises, you can still file a claim.

Illinois law gives you three years from the accident or manifestation date, or two years from the date of the last compensation payment, whichever is later, to file. The "two years from last payment" rule protects workers whose claims start out being paid voluntarily but later need formal action to recover additional or future benefits.

Contact a Mt. Prospect, IL Workers’ Compensation Lawyer

If you need to prove a repetitive injury is work-related, contact a Schaumburg, IL workers’ compensation attorney at Grauer & Kriegel, LLC. Our team offers free consultations and is willing to aggressively fight cases and go to trial when needed. Call 847-240-9010 today.