Carpal tunnel syndrome does not happen overnight. It builds slowly, through years of repetitive hand movements, tool use, assembly line work, or typing, until one day the pain, numbness, and weak grip make it hard to do the job you have always shown up for.
If that sounds familiar, you should know that carpal tunnel syndrome is a recognized work injury under Illinois law, and you may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. At Charlie Therman Injury & Accident Lawyers, P.C., our Chicago workers’ compensation lawyers have been fighting for workers since 2002, recovering more than $100 million for clients just like you.
As your carpal tunnel workers’ comp lawyer in Chicago, we are ready. Choose Charlie.
What to Do if You Think You Have Work-Related Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
If you are experiencing symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome and believe your job may be the cause, here are the steps our Chicago personal injury lawyers recommend:
See a Doctor
Get a medical evaluation as soon as possible. Tell your doctor about your job duties and the repetitive motions your work involves.
Report Your Condition to Your Employer
In Illinois, you are generally required to notify your employer of a work-related injury or illness within 45 days. Do not wait. Report your condition in writing and keep a copy for your records.
Be Careful With the Insurance Company
Once a claim is filed, the workers’ comp insurance carrier may contact you. Be cautious about recorded statements and do not minimize your symptoms. Let us handle those communications on your behalf.
Contact a Chicago Carpal Tunnel Workers’ Comp Lawyer
The sooner you get legal representation, the better positioned you will be. We will help you file your claim correctly, gather the evidence needed to support it, and fight back if the insurance company tries to deny or reduce your benefits.
What if My Claim is Denied?
A denied claim is not the end of the road. Many workers’ compensation claims for carpal tunnel syndrome are initially denied, particularly repetitive stress injury claims, and many of those denials are successfully overturned on appeal.
If your claim has been denied, we will review the denial, identify the basis for it, and build the strongest possible argument for your appeal. Cases that cannot be resolved through negotiation may proceed to a hearing before the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission, the state agency that oversees workers’ comp disputes.
We are experienced in that process and will represent you every step of the way.
Why Workers’ Comp Claims for Carpal Tunnel are Complicated
Carpal tunnel workers’ comp claims can be more difficult to win than claims for a single traumatic workplace injury. Here is why:
Proving the Connection to Your Job
Because carpal tunnel syndrome develops over time, employers and their insurance carriers often argue that the condition was caused by activities outside of work rather than by your job duties.
Establishing a clear connection between your work duties and your injury requires medical evidence.
Pre-Existing Conditions
If you have a pre-existing condition that affects your hands or wrists, the insurance company may argue that your carpal tunnel syndrome is related to that condition rather than your work.
Under Illinois law, you may still be entitled to workers’ comp benefits even if a pre-existing condition exists as long as your job contributed to or worsened your condition. We know how to make that argument effectively.
Employer and Insurance Company Pushback
Employers and their workers’ comp insurance carriers often try to devalue your claim. They may dispute the diagnosis or argue that your job duties were not sufficiently demanding to cause the injury.
This is exactly the kind of situation where having an experienced carpal tunnel workers’ comp attorney in Chicago can make your case.
Why Choose Us to Help With Your Carpal Tunnel Claim?
Our founding partner spent years working on the side of insurance companies before dedicating his career to fighting for injured workers. That experience gives us a genuine advantage when it comes to dealing with workers’ comp insurance carriers who are looking for reasons to deny or minimize your claim.
We Have Been Doing This Since 2002
With over 75 years of combined experience and more than $100 million recovered, we have a long track record of fighting for working people throughout Chicago and Illinois.
You Pay Nothing Unless We Win
We work on a contingency fee basis. No upfront costs, no hourly fees, and nothing out of your pocket unless we recover compensation for you.
You are Not Just a Case Number
We are a boutique law firm, which means every client gets personal attention and honest communication from people who genuinely care. When you call, we answer.
We Make It Easy
Upload documents, fill out forms, and stay in touch with our team through our app or website, on your schedule and without unnecessary trips to the office.
Is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome a Work Injury?
Under Illinois law, repetitive stress injuries like carpal tunnel syndrome are recognized as compensable work injuries. If your job duties contributed to or caused your condition, you have the right to file a workers’ comp claim.
Jobs that commonly lead to carpal tunnel syndrome include:
- Assembly line work: Repetitive gripping, twisting, and hand movements performed for hours at a time place significant strain on the wrist and median nerve.
- Manufacturing and factory work: Operating machinery and tools that vibrate or require sustained force can accelerate the compression of a nerve in the wrist.
- Office and computer work: Extended keyboard use and mouse operation may seem low-risk, but they involve the same repetitive hand movements that lead to repetitive stress injuries over time.
- Construction and trade work: Tool use, hammering, and gripping heavy equipment all put repeated stress on the wrist and hand.
- Healthcare work: Nurses, dental hygienists, and other healthcare workers perform precise repetitive motions throughout their shifts that can contribute to these injuries.
If your job involves any of these activities, it is worth talking to a Chicago carpal tunnel workers’ compensation attorney about your options.
Contact a Chicago Carpal Tunnel Workers’ Comp Law Firm for a Free Consultation
You have spent years showing up and doing your job. Your hands and wrists have paid the price. You deserve workers’ compensation benefits that reflect the real cost of that sacrifice, and you deserve a law firm that will fight to make sure you get them.
At Charlie Therman Injury & Accident Lawyers, P.C., we offer free consultations with no pressure and no obligation. Just an honest conversation about your situation and your options. If we take your case, you pay nothing unless we win.
Call us, reach out through our website, or send us a message through our app. We will take it from there. Choose Charlie.