California adjusters and defense counsel frequently look for one question: Was this injury truly caused or worsened by the work you were doing? With repetitive stress injuries, the “trigger” is rarely a single moment. It’s usually the accumulation of:
- repeated hand/wrist motions (typing, scanning, tool use)
- sustained posture (desk setup, phone/laptop work)
- repetitive force or grip (lifting, packaging, handling items)
- frequent micro-stress with limited recovery time
In practice, disputes often arise when:
- your symptoms fluctuated (better days vs. bad days)
- there were schedule changes or temporary staffing
- your complaint timing doesn’t perfectly match what the insurer expects
- the employer argues you had non-work contributors (prior conditions, hobbies, commuting strain)
A local approach matters because the evidence needs to match real working conditions—what you did, how often, and what support (breaks, ergonomics, training, accommodations) was actually provided.


