Carpal tunnel syndrome caused by your job is a compensable injury under Illinois workers’ compensation law. If repetitive work tasks in Naperville have left you with pain, numbness, or weakness in your hands and wrists, you may be entitled to benefits.
At Charlie Therman Injury & Accident Lawyers, P.C., we’ve recovered over $100 million for injured clients, and we know exactly how insurance companies fight these claims. Choose Charlie and put our carpal tunnel workers’ compensation lawyers in Naperville to work for you.
Our workers’ compensation lawyer in Naperville can make a significant difference in what you recover. Call now for a free consultation.
What Insurance Companies Do to Dispute Carpal Tunnel Claims
Our founding partner spent years working on the insurance defense side at Allstate before becoming a plaintiffs’ attorney. That experience gives us an insider’s view of how carriers approach repetitive stress injury claims. They follow a predictable playbook, and knowing it in advance helps us counter it at every step.
Here are the most common tactics insurers use to challenge carpal tunnel workers’ comp claims in Illinois:
- Arguing the condition is pre-existing or age-related rather than work-caused
- Sending you to an independent medical examiner (IME)
- Questioning whether your specific job duties were repetitive enough to cause the injury
- Delaying authorization for treatment to pressure you toward a quick, low settlement
- Denying the claim outright when workers appear unrepresented
Our personal injury lawyer in Naperville team has seen each of these tactics used against real workers. We know how to respond to them and how to document your case in ways that make them harder to execute.
How Illinois Law Defines Compensable Carpal Tunnel Injuries
Illinois workers’ compensation covers repetitive stress injuries when the job duties contribute to the condition. You don’t need a single traumatic event. If your work required sustained or repetitive use of your hands and wrists, and a physician can connect that activity to your carpal tunnel diagnosis, you likely have a valid claim.
The Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act also protects you from retaliation. Your employer cannot legally fire you, demote you, or threaten you for filing a claim. If that happens, it creates a separate cause of action that we can pursue on your behalf.
You have a limited window to file. Illinois law generally gives workers three years from the date of last exposure or two years from the last benefit payment to file a carpal tunnel claim. Contacting a carpal tunnel workers’ comp lawyer in Naperville early gives them time to build your case.
What to Expect When You Work With Charlie Therman
Working with Charlie Therman Injury & Accident Lawyers, P.C. means you have a team that communicates with you throughout the process. We know one of the biggest complaints injured workers have is that they can’t reach their lawyer and don’t know what’s happening with their case. We work differently.
Our team is responsive, and you’ll always know the status of your claim. We treat you as an individual, not a case number moving through a high-volume system. We also have relationships with medical providers who accept liens. If you don’t have health insurance, you may be able to get the treatment you need with our help
Compensation Available for Carpal Tunnel Injuries in Illinois
The benefits available through workers’ compensation depend on the severity of your injury and the impact on your ability to work. In Illinois, carpal tunnel workers’ comp benefits can include:
- Coverage for all reasonable and necessary medical treatment, including surgery and physical therapy
- Temporary total disability (TTD) benefits at two-thirds of your average weekly wage while you cannot work
- Temporary partial disability if you return to reduced duties at lower pay
- Permanent partial disability for any lasting impairment to your hand, wrist, or arm
- Vocational rehabilitation services if you can no longer perform your prior job
Workers’ comp does not cover pain and suffering in Illinois. If a third party contributed to your injury through negligent equipment or unsafe working conditions imposed by someone other than your employer, a separate personal injury claim may be available.
Your Employer’s Obligations During Your Recovery
Illinois workers’ compensation law places real obligations on employers when a worker is injured on the job. Understanding what your employer is required to do and what they cannot do helps you protect yourself throughout the claims process.
Your employer must report your injury to their insurance carrier and provide you with information about filing a claim. They cannot require you to use your own health insurance to pay for a work injury. They also cannot pressure you to return to work before your doctor has cleared you, or assign you duties that exceed any restrictions your physician has set.
If your employer offers you a modified or light-duty position while you recover, Illinois law requires that the work be within your medical restrictions. If no suitable work is available, you may continue receiving temporary disability benefits.
Talk to a Naperville Carpal Tunnel Workers’ Compensation Lawyer Today
Insurance companies have lawyers working for them from the moment your claim is filed. You deserve the same level of representation. Charlie Therman Injury & Accident Lawyers, P.C. has been fighting for injured workers in the Chicago area since 2002, and we bring 75 years of combined legal experience to every case we take.
If you’re dealing with a carpal tunnel injury caused by your work in Naperville, contact us today for a free consultation. We handle every case on a contingency fee basis, so you pay nothing unless we recover. Contact us today and speak with a Naperville carpal tunnel workers‘ compensation attorney at no cost to you.
