Can I Make Claims For Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

What is Carpal Tunnel?

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is often the result of dangerous manual workplace activities, as well as those that deal with vibrating tools. However, pregnant women and people with diabetes or arthritis are also at high risk of contracting CTS naturally. Affecting thousands of people around the UK, CTS is a painful condition that alters feeling and mobility in the hands and wrists.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Symptoms

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is more than an irritant; it can be painful and limiting for those who suffer from it. Symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome include:

• Numbness in fingers and hands, or pins and needles.
• Weak grip strength, or the lack of ability to grasp at all.
• Painful fingers, particularly the thumb, middle, and ring fingers.
• Limited dexterity making simple tasks like writing difficult.

According to Personnel Today in 2011:

CTS is considered the most common peripheral nerve entrapment syndrome. Its prevalence in the general population is estimated to be ­between 2.7% and 5.8%. It’s more common in women and manual worker occupational groups.

An Employer’s Responsibility to You

Employers have a duty of care, by law, to make an employee’s working environment safe; the responsibility is clearly spelt out in the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. Furthermore, the DDA 1995 (later the Equality Act 2010) expands further on those responsibilities:

It is the “duty of the employer to make reasonable adjustments” in relation to an employee with a disability.

Carpal tunnel compensation may arise from the following employer faults:

• Neglecting to educate employees of the risks in their job associated concerning CTS.
• Failing to provide the correct equipment for the job, and train employees on how to safely use it.
• Not providing protective clothing, such as vibration-absorbing gloves or wrist supports.
• Being careless with the maintenance of a schedule which checks the working capability of tools and machinery. It’s imperative for an employer to do a quality check, to ensure machinery works as it should and won’t vibrate more than acceptable.
• Not ensuring workers take regular breaks after the recommended period.

MHOR 1992

The Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 is the main legislation addressing carpal tunnel syndrome claims (and other work illnesses). Compensation from your employer is possible in part due to MHOR 1992.

The MHOR 1992 set out a clear ranking of measures for dealing with risks from manual handling. These are:

1. Avoid hazardous manual handling operations so far as is reasonably practicable.
2. Assess any hazardous manual handling operations that cannot be avoided.
3. Reduce the risk of injury so far as is reasonably practicable.

Compensation for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Your successful carpal tunnel claim starts with a simple call to The Compensation Experts. Our agents are on hand to offer you a free initial conversation to help determine whether you have grounds to make a claim.

If your claim is worth pursuing, we’ll pair you with a capable carpal tunnel compensation solicitor. This lawyer will have the experience to help you obtain the payment you deserve. They’ll also offer you a direct point of contact, regarding your case; you’ll have a direct line to them by phone to keep up to date with the latest developments.

We offer a conditional fee service, which is more commonly known as No win, no fee (*Conditions may apply. Please see details at the bottom of the page). This means that you are not at risk of a large legal bill if your claim is unsuccessful. If you don’t receive compensation, then you won’t have to pay your lawyer a penny.

Contact us today and find out more about how we can help you.

How Much Compensation Do You Get for Carpal Tunnel?

If you think you’re eligible to make a carpal tunnel claim, it can be helpful to know how much compensation to expect. As is with any injury, though, your carpal tunnel syndrome compensation payout depends heavily on the severity of the injury and the impact it’s had on your life. However, to give you some indication of what a carpal tunnel claim can win you, we’ve outlined basic estimates:

• Carpal tunnel compensation for an injury that isn’t lifelong, and is recoverable within a matter of 2-3 years, will often fall between £1,600-8,000.
• A carpal tunnel claim for ongoing symptoms will generally win compensation between £11,000-12,400.
• Permanent, lasting damage could see you win carpal tunnel compensation in the region of £16,600-17,500.

To discuss your case further, or get some carpal tunnel claims advice, don’t hesitate to get in touch with our helpful team of experts.

CASE STUDY: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Claim

An example of a carpal tunnel compensation payout features a gardener working for a local authority. The gardener began developing carpal tunnel syndrome after over a decade of working with everyday tools, including:

• Leaf blowers.
• Hedge cutters.
• Strimmers.

Additionally, the gardener occasionally used concrete cutters. His employer was found to be responsible for his condition developing, because the gardener did not receive any training about the risk of prolonged use of vibrating tools. Plus, the client did not receive adequate vibration protection equipment.

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Some other personal injury claims we can help you with

There are several other Industrial Disease Claims we can help you with, be it for legal advice or representation.

• Asbestosis and Asbestos Mesothelioma
• Hand and Arm Vibration Syndrome Compensation Claims
• Industrial Dermatitis
• Occupational Asthma
• Occupational Stress
• Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI)
• Industrial Deafness