Dealing with carpel tunnel syndrome can be extremely painful and uncomfortable. Unfortunately, workers who use their arms often while on the job are more at risk of developing this repetitive motion injury. Suffering this type of injury can have a significant impact on your ability to work, as well as your daily life. For this reason, you must understand your options for seeking compensation. Seeking help from our Florida workers’ compensation lawyer will ensure you can protect your rights.
What is Carpel Tunnel Syndrome?
Carpal tunnel syndrome is a distressing ailment that impacts the wrist and hand, leading to sensations of pain, numbness, and tingling. The compression or pinching of the median nerve marks the onset of this condition. This nerve extends from the forearm to the hand through a confined pathway known as the carpal tunnel.
How Carpel Tunnel Can Affect Your Work
The carpel tunnel symptoms can make writing, typing, or even gripping objects difficult. At work, this can significantly affect your productivity and efficiency. If you have a job that requires repetitive hand movements or prolonged use of vibrating tools or equipment, the symptoms may worsen over time. This can result in decreased performance at work and even difficulty completing tasks altogether. If you sustain this type of injury while on the job, our Florida workers’ compensation lawyer can help you better understand the laws surrounding carpal tunnel workers’ comp in Florida.
Workers’ Compensation Laws in Florida
In Florida, workers’ compensation laws play a vital role when it comes to seeking benefits after suffering carpel tunnel syndrome while on the job. To seek benefits successfully, you must understand the laws and how they apply to your situation.
In Florida, workers’ compensation laws require most employers to provide insurance coverage for their employees. This means you may be eligible for benefits if you have developed carpal tunnel syndrome due to your job duties.
Available Workers’ Compensation Benefits
You may be entitled to three types of benefits under Florida law. These include:
- Medical benefits: After suffering carpel tunnel due to repetitive work while on the job, you may be able to recover compensation for your medical expenses. This includes doctor’s visits, physical therapy, tests, medications, hospitalizations, and more. In addition, you can recover compensation for the miles you drive to and from your appointments.
- Lost wages: In Florida, you can recover compensation for your lost wages. If you receive Temporary total disability or TTD, you can recover up to 66.⅔% of your regular wages. If you receive temporary partial disability benefits (TPD), you can receive up to 80% of your wages. Both TTD and TPD can be paid out for 104 weeks. If you have been deemed permanently disabled from your carpal tunnel injury, you can recover permanent total disability benefits, also known as PTD.
Contact our Florida workers’ compensation lawyer for assistance with filing your claim.
Filing Your Claim for Workers’ Compensation Benefits
To qualify for carpal tunnel workers’ comp in Florida, specific criteria must be met. First, you must demonstrate that your carpel tunnel syndrome is directly related to your work activities. This could mean that you developed this condition as a direct result of repetitive motion or tasks performed on the job or that you suffered worsening symptoms of carpel tunnel syndrome due to the same reason.
In addition, you must report your injury or symptoms to your employer within 30 days. You must also seek medical treatment from an approved healthcare provider within this same 30-day period. Failure to do either of these tasks within this period can significantly affect your ability to recover carpal tunnel workers’ comp in Florida.
In addition, you may need to undergo an independent medical examination (IME) requested by the insurance company or attend hearings regarding your claim. These processes determine the extent of disability caused by carpal tunnel syndrome and its impact on your ability to continue working.
Other steps that you will need to take to ensure you receive carpal tunnel workers’ comp in Florida include:
- File a Claim Form: Obtain a workers’ compensation claim form from your employer or insurance provider, complete it, and submit it within the designated timeframe.
- Maintain Documentation: Keep copies of all documentation related to your claim, including medical records, correspondence with employers or insurers, and any other relevant evidence.
- Follow Up on Your Claim: Stay informed about the progress of your claim by regularly communicating with both medical professionals involved in treating you and representatives from the workers’ compensation system.
Gathering Evidence For Your Case
When filing your claim for benefits under Florida’s workers’ compensation laws, you must gather all necessary documents and evidence to support your case. This typically includes:
- Medical expenses
- The doctor reports detailing the connection between your condition and work activities
- Witness statements that corroborate this connection
It is best to seek help from a Florida workers’ compensation lawyer early on. Your attorney will be able to guide you through the claims process and help to ensure you receive fair compensation and the benefits that you are entitled to.
Let Our Florida Workers’ Compensation Lawyer Help
At Sternberg | Forsythe, P.A., we are dedicated to helping injured workers protect their rights to receive workers’ compensation in Florida. Through decades of combined experience and an understanding of the law, we strive to provide exceptional legal representation and ensure our clients receive the benefits they deserve. We believe injured workers must understand their rights, benefits, and legal options during this challenging time.
Our team is committed to educating and empowering injured workers to make informed decisions and receive fair compensation for workplace injuries. If you or a loved one has been injured at work,
Start protecting your rights today by contacting our Florida workers’ compensation lawyer to schedule a no-obligation case review. We are here to listen, evaluate your case, and advocate for your rights as an employee. Remember, you do not have to go through this alone. Let our team guide you in securing justice and support through obtaining workers’ compensation benefits.