Cumulative Trauma Injury in California Workers’ Compensation (2025 Guide)
Many workers don’t realize that they’re suffering from an injury—because it didn’t happen all at once.
Cumulative trauma injuries (also called CT injuries) occur gradually, over time. Unlike a single event like a fall or car accident, cumulative trauma results from repetitive physical or mental stress that adds up and ultimately causes disability or the need for medical treatment.
In California, these injuries are fully recognized under Labor Code Section 3208.1, which defines an injury as either:
Specific: A single incident, like a fall.
Cumulative: Repetitive trauma (physical or mental) over time.
Importantly, there is no minimum duration required. Your injury could develop over 20 years—or just a few days.
What Are Examples of Cumulative Trauma Injuries?
Cumulative trauma can affect almost any part of the body. Some common examples include:
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome from repetitive typing or assembly work
Meniscus tears or knee pain from prolonged standing or walking (e.g., cashiers, warehouse workers)
Psychiatric injuries from long-term stress, bullying, or overwork
High blood pressure or heart conditions from chronic work-related stress that can even lead to heart attacks.
Chemical exposure from daily handling of toxins that later cause cancer
Tooth grinding (bruxism) caused by chronic pain or stress from another work injury
Back and neck injuries from repetitive lifting, driving, or poor ergonomic setup
These injuries build slowly—and many people don’t recognize them until the damage is already done.
Do I Still Have Time to File My Cumulative Trauma Claim?
Yes—and you may have much more time than you think.
While Labor Code Section 5405 says you generally have 1 year from the date of injury, the real rule for cumulative trauma cases comes from Labor Code Section 5412.
So when is the “date of injury” for cumulative trauma?
It’s the date you first knew—or should have known—that your injury was caused by work.
And legally, that date often isn’t triggered until you’ve seen a doctor who confirms your symptoms are work-related. So if you’ve never had a medical report linking your condition to your job, your claim clock may not have started yet.
That’s why it’s critical to consult with an experienced California workers' comp attorney right away—especially if you’ve stopped working or been laid off.
What If I’ve Already Been Fired? Can I Still File?
Yes—and don’t let the insurance company tell you otherwise.
Insurance companies often use something called the "post-termination defense" to deny cases filed after a worker has been let go.
But we know how to beat that.
By proving that the true date of injury came after the termination, we can often invalidate that defense completely.
This is a quirk in the law—but it’s one that we used to defend when we represented the insurance companies. Now we use it to your advantage.
What Benefits Can I Get on a Cumulative Trauma Claim?
If you have a valid cumulative trauma claim, you're entitled to the same benefits as any other workers’ comp injury:
Medical Treatment
Care to cure or relieve the effects of your injury—covered 100% by the insurance company.Temporary Disability (TD) Benefits
If your doctor says you can’t work, you get 2/3 of your average wages while you recover tax free/.Permanent Disability (PD) Benefits
If your injury leaves lasting damage, you may receive compensation based on how much function you’ve lost.Supplemental Job Displacement Voucher
If you can't return to your job, you may qualify for:A $6,000 voucher for vocational training
An additional $5,000 state benefit if eligible
Can Cumulative Trauma Affect More Than One Body Part?
Absolutely.
Let’s say your repetitive warehouse job caused back pain over time. That pain leads to stress, which causes you to grind your teeth—damaging your jaw. Now you have a cumulative trauma affecting both your back and your teeth.
Or, that same back injury leads to chronic pain, which increases your blood pressure over time—potentially leading to a heart attack. All of this can be traced back to your job.
We Know How the System Works—Because We Used to Defend It.
At Lee Partners Law, we spent over 25 combined years defending insurance companies. Now, we use that inside knowledge to fight for injured workers across California. David A. Lee & Michael Lee are experts in proving your cumulative trauma workers compensation injury arose out of employment and occurred during the course of employment.
We know the tricks adjusters use. We know the timelines that matter. And we know how to maximize the value of your case—even if you think you might not have one.
Don’t wait. Get a free case evaluation today and let’s find out if your pain or condition is truly work-related.
Lee Parners Law serves all of Southern California including: Los Angeles, San Diego, San Vernando Valley, Inland Empire, Riverside, and San Bernadino.
To speak to an attorney today at no cost CALL (310)295-0822.
To learn more about the Supplemental Job Displacement Voucher Benefit: Don’t Miss Out on Your $6,000 Job Training Voucher – California Work Comp Guide — Lee Partners Law