Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in TX Accident Lawyer – Traub Law Office

Carpal tunnel syndrome causes pain, tingling, and numbness in the hand and wrist from pressure on the median nerve. A car accident can cause or aggravate this condition, and if the crash was due to another driver’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation for your diagnosis, treatment, and related medical expenses. An attorney experienced with carpal tunnel injuries can review your case, gather medical records and evidence, and explain your options – often with a free initial consultation.

Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when the median nerve, which runs from the forearm into the palm, becomes pressed or squeezed at the wrist. The carpal tunnel – a narrow, rigid passageway of ligaments and tendons at the base of the hand – houses this nerve along with several tendons. Swelling or thickening of irritated tendons narrows the tunnel and compresses the nerve, causing pain, weakness, or numbness in the hand and wrist that can radiate up the arm.

Car accidents can cause trauma-induced carpal tunnel syndrome. In a study published in the Journal of the American Osteopathic Association, Dr. Elliot L. Ames – then a clinical assistant professor of orthopedic surgery at the School of Osteopathic Medicine in Stratford, New Jersey – documented the connection between blunt wrist trauma and the condition. The injury typically occurs when a driver’s hand is braced on the steering wheel at the moment of a front or rear-end collision, driving blunt force into the base of the thumb and the carpal tunnel beneath it.

Symptoms don’t always appear right after the crash. A separate retrospective study by Mack, McPherson, and Lutz, published in the same journal, found that carpal tunnel symptoms developed in 96 patients within two months or later following a motor vehicle accident – nearly half of whom went on to need surgical release. If you’re told persistent hand or wrist pain after a crash is “just” a back or neck injury, it’s worth getting a second opinion; it may be carpal tunnel syndrome instead.

Doctors typically confirm carpal tunnel syndrome with a combination of physical tests – tapping or pressing the median nerve (Tinel test) or holding the wrists in flexion (Phalen test) to check for tingling or numbness – and, where needed, a nerve conduction study, electromyography, or ultrasound imaging to measure how the median nerve is functioning and how severe the compression is.

The Impact of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome on Your Job and Finances

As carpal tunnel syndrome worsens, everyday tasks like typing, gripping, or lifting can become difficult. The impact can include:

• Reduced productivity: difficulty keeping up with your workload or meeting deadlines.
• More time off: medical appointments and recovery eating into your work hours.
• Long-term effects: in severe cases, permanent nerve damage that forces a job change or new tasks.

Left untreated, carpal tunnel syndrome can affect your earning potential and career advancement long after the accident that caused it.

Workers’ Compensation for Work-Related or Work-Aggravated Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal tunnel syndrome caused by a car accident is handled through a personal injury or auto insurance claim. But if your job’s repetitive tasks – typing, lifting, or assembly-line work – caused or aggravated the condition, Texas law recognizes it as a work-related injury eligible for workers’ compensation. To qualify, you’ll need medical documentation linking your symptoms to your job duties, and you should report the aggravation to your employer promptly.

A successful claim can cover:

• Medical expenses for diagnosis, treatment, and surgery
• Lost wage compensation during recovery
• Potential permanent disability benefits

An attorney experienced with workers’ compensation and carpal tunnel claims can help you gather the right evidence and navigate a claim – or an appeal, if an insurer denies coverage or refuses to authorize treatment.

Contact Austin Accident Lawyer for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in TX

If you are experiencing carpal tunnel syndrome in TX as a result of a car accident or slip and fall, contact us at (512) 246-9191 or fill in the contact form.