Car accidents can cause a wide range of hand and wrist injuries, from broken bones to dislocations, lacerations, and extensive soft tissue damage. But can a car accident cause carpal tunnel syndrome? Most people think of carpal tunnel as a repetitive motion injury – something that office or retail workers struggle with, not car accident victims.
Exploring how collisions cause hand and wrist injuries can provide victims with a unique insight into their physical injuries and how those injuries may affect compensation in a car accident claim.
What Is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
Carpal tunnel syndrome is a condition that affects the hand and wrist. The carpal tunnel is a space like an actual tunnel that runs through the wrist. It is formed by the carpal bones (scaphoid, trapezium, pisiform, hamate) making the floor/walls, and the strong, fibrous transverse carpal ligament forming the roof, creating a passageway for the median nerve. Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when the median nerve, which runs through the carpal tunnel, is subjected to extra pressure or becomes irritated and swells. Signs of carpal tunnel syndrome can include pain, weakness, tingling, and numbness in the thumb, index, middle and part of the ring finger.
Ways That Car Accidents Might Cause Carpal Tunnel
Many injury victims are surprised to learn that collisions can cause carpal tunnel syndrome. Several common car accident injuries can lead to the condition, including:
- Direct or blunt force trauma to the hand, wrist, or arm is the most common cause of carpal tunnel syndrome after a car wreck. This trauma tends to occur when the hand or wrist collides with the steering wheel or dashboard. Trauma can also happen when the hand or wrist is elevated and the force of an airbag deployment hits it.
- Damage to tissues in the arm, wrist, or hand can cause inflammation and swelling. The swelling can put additional pressure on the median nerve, leading to the development of carpal tunnel syndrome – even if the initial impact of the crash didn’t cause it.
Can I Get Compensation If I Developed Carpal Tunnel After a Car Accident?
If carpal tunnel syndrome is a direct result of a North Carolina car accident that someone else caused, you can seek compensation for your injuries. The problem is proving that your carpal tunnel diagnosis is directly linked to the collision and the at-fault party’s actions.
Since carpal tunnel syndrome is widely recognized as a repetitive motion injury, insurers may not readily be willing to fairly compensate you. They can use tactics to deny or reduce the value of your personal injury claim, saying the condition may have been pre-existing or that your carpal tunnel syndrome developed independent of the car crash.
Medical evidence is the key to helping establish that the car crash caused your carpal tunnel syndrome. You must seek immediate medical attention following the collision and give a detailed description of all your symptoms. Symptoms might not appear right away. They can develop weeks later as scar tissue builds up and inflammation persists. Your doctor’s medical records become your attorney’s primary means of proving the injury. An experienced personal injury lawyer can use your medical records and expert testimony to help establish that your carpal tunnel is due to the car accident.
Compensation Available for Carpal Tunnel Due to a Car Accident
Injury victims can pursue financial recovery for carpal tunnel syndrome resulting from a North Carolina car accident someone else caused. The value of that compensation varies based on the severity of the injury, the duration of your healing, whether it required surgery, and other factors. Often, accident victims can seek money for the following:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of quality of life
Insurance companies want to settle for as little money as possible. That can mean using tactics to avoid liability, disputing that your carpal tunnel injury was the result of the crash, or offering you less than your injury justifies.
To pursue maximum compensation, never talk to the liability insurance adjuster without speaking to a skilled car accident attorney. An attorney can review your medical records and the facts of the case to establish the true value of your claim. In situations where an insurer doesn’t offer a fair settlement, a personal injury lawsuit may be the best way to pursue the money you need.
Get in Touch with Our Car Accident Attorneys in Raleigh, NC, for Help
Carpal tunnel from a car accident is a real possibility – one that can have a significant impact on your ability to work and manage daily tasks. At Younce, Vtipil, Baznik & Banks, P.A. in Raleigh, our personal injury attorneys distinguish themselves by providing personalized attention, compassion, honest advice and strong results. We also utilize state-of-the-art case tracking so our car accident attorneys and staff can stay on top of your case.
Read what our former clients have to say about our service and commitment, such as this one:
“From the very first conversation with David, I knew I was in good hands. Whenever I had questions or concerns, Karen and David were both quick to assist me. Not only are they top-notch in their profession, they’re also down-to-earth and compassionate. I am very happy with the outcome that they were able to provide me with. I highly recommend this group for your legal representation. You will be glad you did.” – Carolyn J.
Contact us today online or call 919-661-9000 for a free case review to learn more.
About the Author
Robert C. Younce, JR
Robert C. Younce is an attorney at Younce, Vtipil, Baznik & Banks, P.A. and concentrates his law practice on personal injury and workers’ compensation law. He has tried over 100 workers’ comp cases to Opinion and Award and about a dozen personal injury jury trials to verdict. He has been board-certified by the North Carolina State Bar as a specialist in workers’ compensation law since 2001.
