Carpal Tunnel Workers Compensation Settlements
When most people think about workers’ compensation, they think of accidents—sudden, unexpected events like falls, crashes, or explosions. However, repetitive stress injuries can be life-altering as well, and those who sustain these injuries at work deserve compensation too.
Work activities like typing in an office, jackhammering on construction sites, or any other repetitive motion have resulted in carpal tunnel syndrome, start by letting your bosses know what you’re going through. Then, reach out to a workers’ compensation attorney to discuss your injury claim.
What Is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
Carpal tunnel syndrome, a repetitive motion injury caused by a compressed nerve in a narrow passageway on the palm side of your wrist, is a condition that causes numbness, tingling, and other symptoms in the hand and arm. The pain and irritation associated with CTS are specifically due to pressure on the median nerve from the transverse carpal ligament.
Symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome often include:
- Numbness and tingling in fingers and hands; sometimes there is an “electric shock” type of feeling in the fingers. CTS affects your thumb and first two or three fingers, but not your pinky finger.
- Wrist pain
- A “pins and needles” feeling that may travel into your arm or wake you up at night
- Grip weakness and lack of coordination
Average Settlement For Work-Related Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
The National Safety Council (NSC) estimates the average total cost of carpal tunnel worker’s compensation claims nationally to be between $30,000 and $70,000. Below is a table for estimated settlement amounts based on the NSC claim cost average for carpal tunnel syndrome:
| Severity of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome | Estimated Settlement Amounts | Types of Injury |
| Mild | $1,000 – 24,627 | Temporary, reversible |
| Moderate to Severe | $24,627 – $30,510 | Loss of grip strength, dexterity issues, etc |
| Extremely Severe | $30,510+ | Constant pain, loss of use, etc |
Disclaimer: These amounts are not guaranteed. Workers’ compensation amounts vary from case to case and your particular settlement depends on the severity of your work-related injury.
Workers’ Comp For Carpal Tunnel syndrome
Workers’ compensation protections, provided under the Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation Law, afford injured workers financial protection and security in the form of full medical treatment coverage, disability benefits, ongoing physical therapy, and replacement of lost wages for a work-related injury
Especially in the event of carpal tunnel syndrome, CT scans, x-rays, and even physical therapy can be necessary- and expensive. In Pennsylvania, weekly compensation loss benefits are generally provided at between 66.6% and 90% of average weekly wage (AWW) and capped at $1,081.00 per week.
Workers’ compensation benefits are determined based on:
- Severity and classification of the injury
- Wage loss from the injury
- Medical expenses
Pennsylvania requires employers to purchase workers’ compensation insurance, and it is the employer’s insurance company that will provide coverage for the cost of medical care associated with the injured employee’s work injuries.
Compensation and coverage for medical bills afforded under the law are typically determined by the severity and type of the workplace injury an employee suffers, as well as the amount of lost wages and period the employee is unable to work.
Common Causes Of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
A misconception about carpal tunnel syndrome is that it is a condition that only impacts office workers and computer users. However, carpal tunnel can affect workers whose job duties require repetitive tasks performed primarily by the hand or wrist. Here are a few common causes:
- Assembly line work (using small tools)
- Manufacturing and factory workers(pressing, pulling machinery)
- Sewing (using needles, pulling cloth)
- Janitorial/cleaning(scrubbing, mopping)
- Meatpacking/meat processing(cutting, deboning)
Other examples of vulnerable populations are:
- Farmworkers (milking cows, hand-picking produce)
- Mechanics (using ratchets and screwdrivers)
- Construction workers and carpenters (using hand tools)
- Painters (using sprayers, holding brushes/scrapers)
- Musicians (using a bow, fingering of piano and other instruments)
- Cashiers/Data Entry (grocery store cashiers/ office work))
- Locksmiths (turning keys)
Your Case Evaluation Is Free
Getting the workers’ comp claim you deserve requires both attention to detail and deep experience in Pennsylvania’s workers’ compensation system. Our attorneys at the law firm of Krasno Krasno & Onwudinjo understand what it takes to succeed.
Talking to one of our experienced workers’ compensation attorneys about your carpal tunnel claim is the best first step. Our first meeting is a free consultation, and you’ll find it can go a long way toward determining how you should go about getting the settlement you deserve for your carpal tunnel injury.
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