Slip, trip, and fall injuries are very common, so you need to know what to do if you personally experience this type of injury, and you need to know what workers’ compensation benefits you could be entitled to.

What Should I Do If I Slip, Trip, or Fall at My Work?

Slip, trip, and fall injuries usually result from wet or unclean floors, floor obstacles, and multi-level floors. If you fall while at work, you need to:

• Seek immediate medical attention: You need to receive medical attention as soon as possible after your injury. Even if your injury doesn’t seem serious, you still need to receive medical attention because you could have delayed onset injuries. Additionally, delaying your medical treatment could also hurt your chances of receiving full compensation from a workers’ compensation insurance company. If you delay treatment, the insurance company may claim that your injuries weren’t serious and underpay or deny your claim.
• Tell your employer about the injury: After receiving initial medical treatment, you need to inform your employer about your injury. You should include the details about what caused your slip, trip, or fall accident, your injuries, and your symptoms. Failing to report your injury to your employer promptly can hurt your claim.
• File a workers’ compensation claim: Once you inform your employer about your injuries, you should receive forms to submit a workers’ compensation claim. In Louisiana, employees have one year to file for workers’ compensation after an injury, but you could hurt your claim by delaying, so you should file as soon as possible.
• Contact a workers’ compensation lawyer: Although receiving workers’ compensation should be a painless process, employers and workers’ compensation insurance companies often make it challenging for injured employees to receive the full compensation they deserve. If they underpay or deny your claim, you need a workers’ compensation attorney to help you receive full benefits.

Will I Qualify for Workers’ Compensation?

If your slip, trip, and fall injuries occurred because of a work task or you were following instructions from your employer or supervisor, you should qualify for workers’ compensation. Workers’ compensation is a no-fault system, so even if you can’t prove that someone was negligent for your injury, you still qualify for workers’ compensation benefits.

Unfortunately, there are cases in which employees may be unable to recover compensation for slip, trip, and fall injuries. If you were at work but you weren’t performing a work task at the time of your injury, you may not receive benefits. For example, if you slipped and fell while on your lunch break, you may have difficulty receiving workers’ compensation. Additionally, if you were fighting or horsing around with another employee at the time of your injury, you may not qualify for workers’ compensation.

What Benefits Will I Receive Through Workers’ Compensation?

Workers’ compensation supplies injured employees with money for medical bills and lost wages. Wage loss benefits could be temporary or permanent, and an employee could recover supplemental earning benefits if they return to work and they’re unable to make as much money as their pre-injury earnings. If someone receives supplemental earning benefits or disability benefits, they will receive ⅔ of their pre-injury wages. For example, if someone qualifies for total temporary disability benefits and they made $800 a week before their injury, they would receive around $533.33 in disability benefits. If they receive supplemental earning benefits, they would receive ⅔ of the difference between their pre-injury wages and what they earn currently. For example, if their pre-injury earnings were $800 a week and they now only make $600, they would receive ⅔ of the difference. The difference is $200, so they would receive around $133.34 in supplemental earning benefits.

Although workers’ compensation only covers medical bills and lost wages, you could receive additional damages if you can prove that your injury resulted from someone’s negligence. If you can prove fault, you could recover damages for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, emotional trauma, and more.

Contact a Louisiana Workers’ Compensation Attorney

Receiving the compensation you deserve for your slip, trip, and fall injuries can be challenging. Your employer or their workers’ compensation insurance company may try to claim that your injuries weren’t serious or you weren’t performing a work task at the time of your injury. To ensure that you receive the full compensation you need for medical bills and lost wages, contact a workers’ compensation lawyer.

The workers’ compensation lawyers at Lunsford, Baskin, & Priebe, PLLC have years of experience assisting injured Louisianians with workers’ compensation claims. We specialize in workers’ compensation claims, and our expert knowledge and experience will help maximize the amount you can receive for your injuries. Call our New Orleans office at 504-788-2994 or click here to schedule a free case evaluation.

According to Occupational Health & Safety (OH&S), construction is one of the most dangerous industries for workers. Hand injuries are particularly common, with over one million workers requiring emergency care for serious hand injuries every year.

Construction workers heavily rely on their hands to accomplish their duties. If they sustain a severe hand injury that leaves them partially or permanently impaired, it can affect their ability to work and earn a living.

If you sustain a hand injury while working on a construction site, you should consult with an experienced Mississippi workers’ compensation attorney. Even mild hand injuries can require time off of work while recovering, which can put you in distress over how to pay your bills. An attorney can work with you to ensure a workers’ compensation claim is filed appropriately so you can receive the benefits you need to cover medical expenses and loss of wages.

How Hand Injuries Occur on Construction Sites in Mississippi

Construction work requires the use of dangerous tools and equipment that can easily injure the hands if you aren’t careful. However, even the most experienced and cautious workers can sustain hand injuries. Construction sites can be chaotic with a lot going on at once, which can lead to distraction. In some cases, injuries may occur because safety standards are not being adhered to or due to a lack of safety gear.

Some of the most common causes of hand injuries on construction sites include:

• Lack of safety gear, such as gloves
• Faulty equipment or lack of safety guards
• Distraction
• Falling objects
• Unsafe work conditions

Workers’ compensation works on a no-fault system, meaning you are entitled to benefits with the need to prove fault. If you have questions or concerns about your workers’ compensation claim or are worried you are not receiving the full amount of benefits you deserve, get in touch with a Mississippi workers’ compensation attorney.

It is not uncommon for employers or their insurance companies to deny claims or reduce benefits if they do not think the injury is justified. But again, you have a right to claim benefits without having to prove who was at fault for the injury so long as it was sustained while working on the job. An experienced attorney can advocate for your rights and fight against the insurance company to ensure you are adequately compensated.

Common Hand Injuries Construction Workers Can Sustain

Hand injuries can range from mild to severe, depending on how they happened. Even the most minor hand injuries can get worse and become infected if not adequately dealt with by a medical professional. Your workers’ compensation can help you cover the cost of medical expenses, so it’s essential to seek immediate medical care, no matter how minor the injury.

Common construction workplace hand injuries include:

• Puncture wounds
• Lacerations
• Crushed hands and fingers
• Fractured bones in the hands or fingers
• Amputated fingers
• Chemical, thermal, or electric burns
• Strains
• Frostbite (if working outside in cold weather)

Are Hand Injuries Preventable on Construction Sites?

Hand injuries are preventable, and it’s crucial for workers and their employers to ensure that safety protocols are followed to keep them from happening. One of the simplest things that can prevent a hand injury is the use of gloves. Lack of proper safety gear, such as gloves, is one of the number one reasons workers sustain hand injuries in the construction industry.

Old, faulty equipment, tools, or machinery that lack safety guards are also common causes of injuries. Employers have a responsibility to maintain equipment and ensure a safe and healthy environment. If you notice something that is not safe, you should report it immediately so the issue can be addressed before injury occurs.

Connect with an Experienced Mississippi Workers’ Compensation Attorney

Hand injuries are not something to ignore, especially for construction workers who rely on their hands to accomplish tasks. Depending on the type of hand injury, treatment can be expensive. Even minor injuries can lead to complications that require expensive care if they are not addressed right away.

It’s important for construction workers to report their injuries and seek treatment as soon as possible. If you have concerns about cost, your workers’ compensation benefits can help cover medical expenses and loss of wages if you have to take any time off of work while recovering.

Our team of attorneys can help you file your claim to ensure that you receive the full amount of benefits you deserve. We can even help you file an appeal if your claim gets denied.

For a free consultation with an experienced workers’ compensation lawyer in Mississippi, contact Lunsford, Baskin, and Priebe, PLLC. After-hours visits are available.

According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), over 13 million manufacturing workers are at risk for fatal and nonfatal injuries. Of all industries in the United States, 8% of workplace fatalities occur in the manufacturing industry.

If you are injured as a factory worker in Mississippi, you may be eligible to receive workers’ compensation benefits. Applying for workers’ compensation can sometimes be a hassle, and in some cases, your claim may get denied, or you may not be awarded the full benefits you deserve. However, it is your right as an injured worker to receive the benefits you need while recovering. Working with an experienced Mississippi workers’ compensation attorney can ensure your claim is approved so you can get the full benefits you deserve.

Common Manufacturing Industry Injuries in Mississippi

Manufacturing workers come in contact with various elements daily that can put them at risk, such as heavy machinery, hazardous materials, and high noise levels. Typically, the manufacturing industry has high safety standards and protocols in place to protect workers, but unfortunately, accidents still happen. Some of the most common injuries that occur in the manufacturing setting include the following:

Slips and Falls

Often, factory work requires accessing raised platforms, ladders, or other elevated structures. For this reason, injuries from slips and falls are the most reported in the manufacturing workplace setting. A fall from a great height can cause severe injuries such as broken or crushed bones, damage to internal organs, and traumatic head and brain injuries. In many cases, fall injuries are fatal.

Overexertion

Manufacturing work often requires intense physical labor under extreme conditions. As a result, it is common for workers in this line of work to strain or overexert themselves while performing their daily tasks. When this occurs, the body may be pushed past its physical limits, leading to exhaustion, muscle fatigue, strains, and back injuries.

Repetitive Motion Injuries

Workers in factories also often perform the same type of tasks repeatedly on a daily basis which can lead to repetitive strain. The lower back, shoulders, knees, and other joints are commonly affected by repetitive strain.

Thermal and Chemical Burns

Working with high heat, chemical substances, and other combustible materials can lead to chemical and thermal burns in the factory setting. Burns and shock can also occur when coming into contact with electricity from exposed wires or faulty machinery and equipment.

Exposure Illnesses

Workers not only suffer burns from hazardous material exposure, but they can also develop exposure illnesses that develop over time. The longer you are exposed to noxious chemicals, the sicker you can become.

Contusions, Fractures, Punctures, Lacerations, and Amputations

Coming into contact with various objects such as heavy machinery and equipment in the manufacturing industry can lead to a number of different injuries. Workers can sustain contusions, punctures, and lacerations if they get hit by an object or come into contact with dangerous equipment. Severe lacerations, fractured bones, and crushed limbs that lead to amputations can also occur when workers get caught in heavy machinery.

Connect with an Experienced Mississippi Workers’ Compensation Attorney

Factory environments can be very dangerous and put workers at high risk for injury and illness. If you or a loved one are injured or become sick as a result of manufacturing work, you may be entitled to receive workers’ compensation benefits. These benefits can help you cover the cost of medical expenses and lost wages while you recover from your injuries.

However, it is not uncommon for workers’ comp claims to get denied or for workers to receive less compensation than they deserve. A professional workers’ compensation attorney can help guide you through the application process to ensure no mistakes are made. And if your claim does get denied, they can help you file an appeal to make sure you get the full amount of benefits you are owed.

For a free consultation with an experienced workers’ compensation lawyer in Mississippi, contact Lunsford, Baskin, and Priebe, PLLC. After-hours visits are available.

Unfortunately, despite their dangerous nature, forklifts do make transporting large, heavy items around the workplace more convenient, especially in large warehouses. For this reason, it is unlikely that employers will discontinue their use. However, both employers and their staff should take precautions and understand the dangers involved before allowing the operation of such machinery.

If you are injured in a forklift accident in the workplace, you are entitled to receive workers’ compensation benefits, no matter who was at fault. Workers’ compensation is a no-fault benefit available to eligible workers without the need to prove that someone was liable or acted negligently. However, filing for workers’ comp benefits is not always easy. Working with an experienced workers’ compensation attorney can ensure you receive the full amount of benefits you deserve.

How Do Forklift Accidents Occur?

The exact nature of forklift accidents can vary depending on the individual circumstances. For example, a worker operating the forklift could become injured if they run into something, or a worker not operating the machinery could become injured from an object falling off of the forklift or from the forklift running into them. In general, whenever heavy machinery and the transport of heavy objects are involved, the risk of accident and injury goes up.

Some of the most common reasons forklift accidents occur in the workplace include:

• Lack of training: When an employer fails to adequately train employees how to use machinery and equipment, such as forklifts, it can lead to workplace accidents.
• Reckless forklift operation: Workers who act negligently of their own accord, such as using high forklift speeds, failing to watch where they are going, or failing to communicate to other workers around them, can cause accidents. Often, this is still the result of a lack of proper training and guidance from supervisors.
• Lack of signage: Workplace environments that use heavy and dangerous equipment should have proper signage throughout to warn and alert all workers to the presence of dangerous equipment, such as forklifts. A lack of necessary signage can cause accidents with these vehicles to occur.
• Improper loading: If materials and other items are not properly loaded and secured onto the forklift platform, they can fall off while in transport and injure someone.
• Poor workplace design: If a workplace is not properly set up or structured to accommodate the safe operation of a forklift, it can lead to an accident. For example, cluttered workspace or warehouses with narrow aisles and pathways can make it difficult to maneuver machinery around.
• Malfunctions and lack of maintenance: If a forklift experiences a defect or a malfunction, or if an employer fails to keep up with forklift maintenance, it can cause the operator to lose control and cause an accident.

Common Injuries That Result From Forklift Accidents

Though the injuries sustained in a forklift accident can vary, they tend to be severe and even fatal. For this reason, it is imperative that injured workers file for workers’ compensation benefits and work with an attorney to ensure their benefits are fully and promptly paid. Severe forklift-related injuries often require expensive medical treatments and time off of work. The more permanent and severe injuries may even result in the inability to ever return to work and earn an income.

Common forklift injuries include:

• Neck and back injuries
• Head injuries and traumatic brain injury (TBI)
• Spinal cord injuries
• Paralysis
• Bruises
• Lacerations
• Fractured bones
• Crushed limbs
• Amputations
• Damage to internal organs
• Internal bleeding
• Permanent impairments
• Scarring and disfigurement
• Death

Connect with an Experienced Louisiana Workers’ Compensation Attorney

Forklift accidents can be devastating. The injuries that follow can leave you temporarily or even permanently disabled, drastically altering your quality of life. Furthermore, the treatments required can be expensive, and you may miss extended periods from work or never be able to work again. In these situations, working with an attorney is often best to ensure you are awarded the full amount of benefits you need and deserve to recover and move on.

At Lunsford, Baskin, and Priebe, PLLC, our attorneys have years of experience dealing with traumatic workplace injury cases such as those involving forklifts. We are dedicated and determined to help injured workers get the compensation they deserve.

For a free consultation with an experienced personal injury lawyer in Louisiana, contact Lunsford, Baskin, and Priebe, PLLC.

According to the CDC, 87 deaths and 11,000 non-fatal injuries were reported among maritime workers from 2011-2017, which is nearly six times the rate of all workers in the United States. Fatality rates are high for this industry due to the extreme working conditions; even nonfatal injuries and illnesses are high and often result in severe injuries that leave workers permanently disabled.

While there are federal laws in place to protect maritime workers, Mississippi does not protect them through standard state workers’ compensation coverage. Understanding the laws that do protect these maritime workers and offer compensation for injuries and illnesses can be a challenge. For this reason, it is crucial for marine workers to connect with an experienced workers’ compensation attorney to ensure they file the appropriate claim to get the compensation they deserve.

How Maritime Accidents Occur

Marine workers are often exposed to extreme working conditions, not to mention the fact that the ocean itself poses a dangerous threat, meaning accidents and injuries are quite common in this industry. Some of the most common reasons maritime accidents occur include:

• Unpredictable weather and swells
• Dangerous machinery
• Intense physical labor
• Long working hours and lack of sleep
• Prolonged periods of isolation and being away from home
• Confined spaces
• Bullying and abuse amongst the workers
• Diving accidents
• Fires and explosions
• Exposure to hazardous materials and chemicals
• Loading and unloading accidents

Common Maritime Worker Injuries

Due to the highly dangerous working conditions, injuries and illnesses sustained while performing maritime work are often more severe and deadly than those experienced in other industries.

Common maritime injuries include:

• Drowning
• Hypothermia
• Toxic exposure illnesses
• Chemical burns
• Thermal burns
• Head, neck, and back injuries
• Slip and fall injuries
• Loss of limbs
• Fractures and lacerations
• Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
• Spinal cord injuries
• Paralysis
• Damage to internal organs
• Assault injuries
• Suicide

Maritime Injury Compensation Law

While maritime workers are not eligible for standard state workers’ compensation benefits in Mississippi, there are federal laws in place that protect them in case of injury or illness. Of these federal laws, the Jones Act is the most relevant.

The Jones Act

The Jones Act is a federal law that protects maritime workers who have been injured due to negligent employers. This act ensures that vessel owners and supervisors are held responsible for the maintenance of the vessel and work equipment, as well as ensuring they provide a safe work environment for their employees.

Damages that can be awarded under the Jones Act include:

• Medical expenses
• Loss of wages
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Living expenses during recovery
• Wrongful death

Maintenance and Cure

In addition to coverage under the Jones Act, injured maritime workers are also eligible for a provision called Maintenance and Cure. This is essentially a stipend that compensates injured workers for living expenses and other basic needs while they recover. Additionally, it requires vessel owners to cover all necessary medical expenses relating to the injury until the worker reaches “maximum medical improvement.”

Connect with an Experienced Mississippi Workers’ Compensation Attorney

The process of filing for workers’ compensation can be challenging under normal circumstances. However, the process can be even more complicated for maritime workers as they are not eligible for standard state workers’ comp benefits. If you are injured as a maritime worker, an experienced workers’ comp attorney can help answer your questions and guide you through the process of filing a claim under the law that is most relevant to your situation.

For a free consultation with an experienced workers’ compensation lawyer in Mississippi, contact Lunsford, Baskin, and Priebe, PLLC. After-hours visits are available.

This may happen when you are training for a marathon, climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro, or — more likely — when you are at work. Being injured at work doesn’t always have to be dramatic, like crashing to the floor from scaffolding or falling overboard from a commercial fishing boat. Many professions include duties that can injure employees through overexertion.

Injuries from overexertion can happen in several ways:

1. Repetitive movements:

Carpal tunnel syndrome is an example of a repetitive movement injury. This is numbness, weakness, or tingling in the hand or arm caused by pressure on the median nerve. It can be caused by operating a computer mouse for several hours a day, or by working with vibrating tools on an assembly line.

2. Improper technique injuries:

Lifting items incorrectly, kneeling without knee pads, and improper posture can all place stress on your bones, muscles, joints, and connective tissues.

3. Abrupt movements of your body:

These movements can include reaching, bending, twisting, pushing, and pulling to an extent that is beyond your body’s capability.

4. Prolonged activity:

Working without sufficient breaks or performing an activity for too many days in a row can cause overexertion injuries.

5. Extreme temperatures:

Working in extreme heat or cold can place an added burden on your body and cause it to become exhausted more quickly than usual.

How do you know you are overexerting yourself?

Some injuries will make themselves known immediately. You will certainly be in no doubt if you suddenly can’t move your back, experience excruciating pain in your shoulder, or feel a hernia jutting out, for example. However, you should be aware of other danger signals. WebMD warns that you may be nearing overexertion if you experience any of the following symptoms while working:

• Dizziness
• Soreness
• Feeling too hot
• Sweating a lot
• A high pulse rate
• Abdominal pain
• Chest pain
• Fluttering heart

Common overexertion injuries:

• Back injuries are the most common, as you can imagine. Unfortunately, they can also be the most serious. Even a simple strain can cause several days of missed work and rest. In severe cases, workers may experience herniated discs or even spinal cord injuries that require surgery.
• Neck injuries
• Muscle strains
• Joints, tendon, and connective tissue injuries: tears, dislocations, and inflammations can result from too much pushing, pulling, or lifting.
• Heatstroke: this is not exclusively a summer or outdoors risk; factory floors and shop floors can also present dangerous conditions, especially with Louisiana’s humidity. Heatstroke can cause damage to your brain and other organs and if left untreated, can even lead to death.

How can you avoid overexertion?

• Stretch before physical activity
• Don’t try to be a hero — take small breaks. This doesn’t mean that you have to keep clocking out for 15-minute breaks; it just means that your muscles need a few seconds of rest between repetitive efforts.
• Use appropriate lifting techniques. Your workplace should train employees on these, but here is a useful overview from OSHA: Safe Lifting Training for Your Workforce.
• Don’t lift things that are too heavy. Ask for help or use lifting equipment.
• Make sure that your equipment and tools are in good working order.
• Listen to your body.

Statistics

• According to the latest (2018) figures from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics), in the United States, overexertion and bodily reaction resulted in 282,860 nonfatal injuries and illnesses with days away from work in private industry: 31% of the total.
• The 2021 Liberty Mutual Workplace Safety Index lists several overexertion figures in its top ten most disabling workplace injuries:
  • #1. Overexertion involving outside sources (handling objects). This includes injuries related to lifting, pushing, pulling, holding, carrying, or throwing objects.This accounted for 22.7% of the total number of injuries and had a total of $13.30 billion in costs.
  • #5. Other exertions or bodily reactions (awkward postures). This includes bending, reaching, twisting, climbing, crawling, kneeling, sitting, standing, walking, and running. These were 8% of the total number of injuries with $4.71 billion in costs.
  • #10. Repetitive motions involving microtasks. These accounted for 2.8% of total injuries and $1.66 billion in costs.

• The NSC (National Safety Council) reports that in 2019 the median number of days away from work for each overexertion injury was 13.
• The biggest industries in Louisiana are oil, natural gas, healthcare, agriculture, and fishing. It’s easy to see how a worker in any of those industries could become injured through overexertion.

Workers’ compensation:

Anytime you are injured at work, whether it is a catastrophic injury or a cumulative injury caused by overexertion, you should inform your employer immediately. In Louisiana, you have 30 days, but you should act as quickly as possible to increase your likelihood of receiving workers’ compensation.

Even if you believe that your injuries are not severe, you should seek medical attention and keep your employer informed; often injuries turn out to be more serious than you realize at first. Workers’ compensation is designed to be a no-fault system, so don’t worry that the insurance company will refuse to compensate you because you forgot to lift with your legs or because you didn’t mention your dizziness when it first occurred.

An experienced workers’ compensation attorney will assist you through the process of dealing with your workers’ compensation claim and make sure that you receive maximum benefits even if your claim is denied at first. Lunsford, Baskin, & Priebe will work to help you receive the benefits you are entitled to:

• Medical expenses
• Lost wages
• Ongoing care costs
• Funeral expenses

If you have injured yourself at work in Louisiana because of overexertion, please reach out to Lunsford, Baskin, & Priebe. Our New Orleans phone number is 504-788-2994, or you can contact us online.

In this blog, you’ll learn all about carpal tunnel syndrome, what activities can contribute to the condition, and what compensation you are eligible to receive.

What is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

People who suffer from carpal tunnel syndrome experience pain, numbness, and tingling in their affected hands and fingers. Other symptoms include itching, burning, and tingling in the index finger, middle finger, and palm. Many also experience hand weakness to the point they have difficulty holding things.

If you suffer from CTS, you may experience a numb or tingling sensation in your hands in the morning and experience pain when holding an object or doing an activity that involves your hands.

CTS occurs when the median nerve becomes compressed. The median nerve runs through the entirety of the arm and goes into the hand through the wrist in a passageway known as the carpal tunnel. The median nerve controls all of your fingers except for your pinky, which is why people experience numbness and weakness in their fingers when the median nerve is compressed.

Although anyone can potentially develop CTS, you are three times more likely to develop the ailment if you are a woman. Additional biological factors can also contribute to developing CTS, such as family history.

In addition to biological factors, you may also be more prone to developing CTS if you’ve experienced a wrist fracture, dislocation, or have arthritis. Obesity, pregnancy, thyroid issues, changes in body fluid, medical conditions, and even some medications can increase your risk of CTS.

What Activities Can Contribute to Developing Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

Activities that require repetitive motions involving your hands, arms, and wrists can often lead to developing carpal tunnel syndrome. Common activities that can cause CTS include: tennis, playing instruments, sewing, crocheting, and using hands tools, such as a pneumatic screwdriver.

Although many leisurely activities can contribute to CTS, work-related activities can also heavily contribute to developing the condition. Some of these work-related activities include typing at a desk, working on an assembly line, driving, working at a cash register, and many other repetitive activities.

How Do You File For Work Compensation?

If you perform repetitive hand, arm, or wrist motions at work, you could develop carpal tunnel syndrome. CTS can become an incredibly pricey injury. It often requires medication, physical therapy, and sometimes even surgery. Fortunately, if you develop the syndrome from work activity, you could receive workers’ compensation.

The first thing you need to do to receive workers’ compensation is to inform your employer of your injury. Next, you need to file a workers’ compensation claim. In the state of Mississippi, employees technically have two years to file for workers’ compensation after suffering from an injury at work. CTS can often be difficult to identify, so workers can file a claim as long as the injury became apparent within the past two years.

CTS is considered an occupational condition, and those who suffer from it can be eligible for four different kinds of workers’ compensation. You could be eligible for Temporary Total Disability Benefits, meaning that you could receive ⅔ of your average weekly income while you are out of work. Another potential benefit is the Temporary Partial Disability Benefit. This claim is similar to the Temporary Total Disability Benefit, but rather than receive ⅔ of your average weekly income while not working, the benefit covers reduced income while working. If your injury results in you receiving less income, the Temporary Partial Disability Benefit will cover ⅔ of the difference between your current weekly wage and your average weekly wage.

In addition to temporary benefits, there are also permanent benefits. The Permanent Partial Disability Benefit compensates employees who have experienced improvement with their condition but are still physically impaired. If they’re still suffering from CTS after 450 weeks, they can receive ⅔ of their average weekly wage that they had before developing CTS.

The final benefit is the Permanent Total Disability Benefit, which compensates an employee that does not recover from CTS. They can receive 450 weeks of their full pay before they experienced CTS.

Receiving the workers’ compensation you deserve can sometimes be challenging, and that’s why we’re on your side to help you obtain compensation for carpal tunnel syndrome or a different workplace injury. Contact the Jackson workers’ compensation lawyers at Lunsford, Baskin & Priebe PLLC. Call 601-488-3975 to receive a free consultation.