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Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is the most significant health problem in the
workplace today.
The U.S.
Department of Labor has concluded that "CTS" is the "chief occupational
hazard of the 90's-disabling workers in epidemic proportions." Any
workers who develop Carpal Tunnel Syndrome or any other type of
Repetitive Stress Injury as a result of performing their jobs, are
legally entitled to receive the comprehensive medical and monetary
benefits provided by the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act.
Unfortunately, many "CTS" victims are forfeiting their legal
right to receive Workers’ Compensation benefits due to numerous
misconceptions they have about the Workers’ Compensation claim process.
Examples of these misconceptions include:
-
By
retaining an attorney to handle their Workers' Compensation claim, the
worker will be suing their employer. The Illinois legislation, in
establishing the right of injured workers to receive Workers'
Compensation benefits, regardless of fault, specifically
prohibited employees from ever suing their employers for on-the-job
injuries. "CTS" victims require the assistance of a qualified
Workers' Compensation attorney simply to "level the playing
field" to ensure that they receive the maximum Workers'
Compensation benefits provided by law. After receiving notice
that a worker has developed "CTS", many employers will direct them to
receive treatment under the company's group health insurance plan,
even though they are fully aware that the injured worker should be
referred to the Workers' Compensation insurance company.
Unfortunately, by receiving treatment under the group health
plan, "CTS" sufferers are in effect, forfeiting their legal right to
receive Workers' Compensation benefits.
More information on
the "dangers" of processing CTS related
medical bills through Group Health Insurance
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Many Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
victims believe that upon filing for Workers' Compensation benefits,
they will be harassed or fired by their employers.
Unfortunately, many employers, do in fact, create a "hostile
environment" for injured workers who exercise their rights to receive
Workers' Compensation benefits. However, few employers would risk
being sued for substantial damages in a Retaliatory Discharge
or Americans with Disabilities Act lawsuit by firing
workers for filing for Workers' Compensation benefits.
More
information about Retaliatory Discharge
and the Americans with
Disabilities Act
Unfortunately, working women,
continuing to battle unequal pay, glass ceilings and various other forms
of discrimination in the workplace, are now having to endure the
financial and physical consequences of developing "CTS" in significantly
greater proportions than their male counterparts. This fact is reflected
in our practice, where over 80% of our
clients with "CTS" related Workers' Compensation claims are women
More information on
CTS and Working Women
As part of our commitment to educate and assist "CTS"
victims, we designed our Web site to provide them with significant legal
and practical information regarding their legal right to receive
Workers' Compensation benefits. Specifically to:
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Provide accurate, consise answers to some of the most
frequently asked questions of "CTS" victims.
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Provide "CTS" victims, upon request,
Free Informational Materials
produced by our firm.
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Alert "CTS" victims that they can be protected from
being harassed or fired by their employer under Retaliatory
Discharge statutes and the Americans with Disabilities Act.
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Provide the "CTS" victim the ability to discuss in a
free, no obligation consultation, the particular
circumstances of their claim with a qualified Workers' Compensation
attorney from our office.
Important Note:
Throughout our Web site we have used "CTS" to represent all types of
Repetitive Stress Injuries. In fact, "CTS", while being the most common,
is only one type of Repetitive Stress Injury. All legal and practical
information discussed on our site regarding "CTS" applies equally to all
types of Repetitive Stress Injuries.
More information on Other Types of RSI
What is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
What are other types of Repetitive Stress Injury?
How serious is the "CTS" problem?
Are Working Women more at risk for developing CTS
than Male Workers?
Basic 4 Step Procedure for diagnosing CTS and
other RSI
What alternative methods are available to
treat CTS and other RSI?
Can employers prevent their employees from
developing CTS and other RSI?
What forces are preventing "CTS" victims from
exercising their right to receive Workers Compensation benefits?
What are the "dangers" of processing "CTS"
related medical bills through group health insurance?
Frequently Asked Questions about "CTS"
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