Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is known as a repetitive stress injury and has become increasingly more common in people whose work is driven by computers. While there may be many underlying causes for these repetitive stress injuries, you may be entitled to compensation for this injury under the laws of workers’ compensation. If you or someone you know suffers from carpal tunnel syndrome as a result of repetitive stress at work, contact the workers’ compensation attorneys at Finkelstein & Partners, LLP today. Our team of workers’ compensation professionals has the knowledge and experience to offer you quality legal representation.
It is important to have a firm understanding of what carpal tunnel syndrome is. This is a condition caused by the compression of a nerve in the hand called the median nerve. The median nerve, as well as the tendons around it, allows your fingers to flex as their motion travels through the carpal tunnel of the hand. This carpal tunnel is very narrow and if swelling occurs due to repetitive stress, it can lead to the compression of the nerve and tendons of the hand and fingers. This can lead to pain, numbness or weakness in the hand, wrist and fingers.
There are a variety of causes for these types of injuries in the workplace. These may include typing, the process of pushing, pressing or slicing objects without taking sufficient breaks, as well as operating a cash register. In very rare cases, short-term use of the nerve and tendons of the hand can cause these injuries as well.
Generally, all work place injuries are covered by workers’ compensation. However, there are some arguments against this as it relates to carpal tunnel and other repetitive stress injuries. For example, there is often great debate on whether or not carpal tunnel is actually a work-related injury, so it becomes the employee’s job to provide evidence to prove it. This may include medical notes from their doctor in favor of their argument.
Another common debate with regard to carpal tunnel syndrome is whether the injury is considered accidental or occupational. This distinction varies from state to state. In some states, compensable injuries are only those that occur as a result of accidents. In most states however, the preferred term is occupational disease. This means that the employee suffered exposure to the aggravating factors of the disease over a period of time.
If you or someone you know suffers from carpal tunnel syndrome as a result of repetitive stress at work, contact the workers’ compensation attorneys at Finkelstein & Partners, LLP today. Our team of workers’ compensation professionals has the knowledge and experience to offer you quality legal representation while fighting for the compensation you need and deserve. Call us today at (800) 529-2676. You may also contact us by email at any time at cis@lawampm.com.
Mr. Finkelstein is the Managing Partner of Finkelstein & Partners, LLP. He has become a noted consumer activist through his representation of injured individuals against corporate wrongdoers and irresponsible parties.
An accomplished litigator, Mr. Finkelstein has represented Plaintiffs in wrongful death and catastrophic personal injury cases. He has successfully handled dozens of multi-million dollar cases.