Employers Responsibility for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Should an employee suffer from complications related to a repetitive stress disorder or injury, such as carpal tunnel syndrome, he or she may be eligible for certain forms of compensation from their employer, should the injuries be work-related. Carpal tunnel syndrome involves swelling in between the bone and wrist ligaments, which causes pressure on the adjacent nerves. The responsibility for employers, should carpal tunnel symptoms appear, depends on the nature of the injury sustained by the worker, as well as whether the injury was directly attributable to work-related actions.

Workers Compensation and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Claims

In most cases, employers carry some form of workers’ compensation insurance to cover claims made by their employers, should an employment related injury occur. Workers’ compensation coverage laws widely vary by state, and in turn, a workers ability to recover compensation for their injuries will vary. Under most claims made by employers to their employer concerning carpal tunnel syndrome, the following items are the responsibility of the employer to cover:

• Most state workers’ compensation systems ensure workers receive payment for lost income, should a carpal tunnel injury cause the worker to miss days of work

• Most workers’ compensation plans also cover employee medical expenses and other medical treatment related bills, including rehabilitative care, surgical repairs, medical equipment needs (commonly include wrist braces and other items upon medical recommendation, and any other costs incurred by a worker when seeking medical treatment to address carpal tunnel symptoms

• Should the carpal tunnel syndrome present a worker with injuries that prevent them from maintaining their current job function, employers must make adjustments to their existing work capacity, or in certain cases, provide compensation for workers to seek other forms of employment, often in the form of vocational training costs

Typically, workplace injuries are categorized as either temporary or permanent, and in most cases of carpal tunnel syndrome, a worker faces permanent damages, which can be mitigated in severity drastically with medical intervention in certain cases. State laws vary on the amount of compensation an injured worker can receive should the sustain injury at work, and in essence, only a lawyer in your state can inform you of your legal rights to compensation from employers.

Employers Responsibilities Outside of Workers Compensation

If an employer does not carry workers’ compensation coverage, or a dispute arises during a workers’ compensation claim, a worker still has legal rights in the civil courts to recover damages applicable to their carpal tunnel injuries. Often, these actions will take the form of civil actions and civil awards.

Getting Legal Help with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Injury Claims

Only a lawyer, with experience in handling employment-related injury claims, can effectively inform employees of their legal rights to recover damages, should they develop carpal tunnel syndrome. Consult with a lawyer as soon as you recognize or are diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome and believe it is related to your past or current experiences.

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