Carpal tunnel syndrome is a condition of your hands and wrists that can be painful, causing numbness and tingling. Carpal tunnel syndrome is often caused by repetitive movements and is common in the workplace. Experts estimate that nearly 3 out of every 1,000 people in the U.S. have carpal tunnel syndrome, most of which is caused by their job.
Workers may not always be aware that they have carpal tunnel syndrome. They might feel the pain in their wrist but may not know that they have a serious condition. At the same time, many New Jersey workers may not be aware that carpal tunnel syndrome was likely caused by repetitive motions at work, and most importantly, that a diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome can qualify them for workers’ compensation.
New Jersey workers’ compensation system has its own set of statutory requirements. It is difficult to navigate this complex system on your own or with an unqualified lawyer, and if you go it alone, you may receive less compensation, or none at all. Kotlar Cohen has the experience and compassion you need to get justice for your injuries.
Quick Facts on New Jersey Carpal Tunnel Claims.
- Carpal tunnel is treated as an occupational, or “cumulative trauma,” injury and not a one-time accident under N.J.S.A. 34:15-1 et seq.
- The filing deadline for claims is two years from when you knew, or reasonably should have known, that your condition was related to your job, under N.J.S.A. 34:15-34.
- There are benefits such as medical treatment, temporary disability during recovery, and permanent disability for any lasting loss of hand or wrist function.
New Jersey workers’ compensation is a no-fault system. Whether your employer did anything wrong is irrelevant.
If you are a victim of carpal tunnel syndrome or other workplace injury in New Jersey seeking legal representation, contact Kotlar Cohen to schedule a free consultation or call us 24/7 at (856) 751-7676. Once you are aware that you have been affected by a workplace injury, the clock starts ticking. You must act urgently to preserve all your legal rights. Contacting Kotlar Cohen as early as possible in the process ensures that you will be in a position to get the best possible outcome.
What is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
The carpal tunnel is a space in the wrist bones that is located behind the wrist bones. It’s like a tunnel road through a mountainside, but rather than making room in the rock for cars, it’s a passageway in your bones that lets tendons, ligaments, and nerves pass through it to reach your hand. Carpal tunnel syndrome happens when something irritates or puts extra pressure on the median nerve that runs through your carpal tunnel.
The median nerve is what helps you move your forearm and most of your fingers and hand. If it’s damaged or pressed against the walls of your carpal tunnel, it can send extra or incorrect signals to your hand and wrist. The common carpal tunnel symptoms include:
- Numbness in your wrist, hand, or fingers (especially your fingertips).
- Pain in your wrist, hand, or fingers.
- Tingling.
- Trouble using your hands to hold or control objects (e.g., holding your phone, gripping the steering wheel, holding a pen, or typing on a keyboard).
Carpal tunnel syndrome typically develops very slowly. You might have minor symptoms at first that become worse over time.
Is Carpal Tunnel Really a Workers' Compensation Claim?
Yes, under N.J.S.A. 34:15-1, New Jersey recognizes carpal tunnel syndrome as a compensable occupational cumulative trauma injury. New Jersey law does not require a single traumatic event to trigger coverage. An injury caused by repetitive work activity is treated the same as one caused by a fall or a machine accident.
Carpal tunnel syndrome is among the most common claims filed in New Jersey, as so many industrial and office jobs require the same hand and wrist motion over and over again.
What Kinds of Work Lead to Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
Carpal tunnel claims are found in almost every industry, but a few job categories account for most of them:
- Office work that involves prolonged keyboard and mouse use.
- Cashiers and retail workers who scan items or use their hands for hours a day.
- Manufacturing work involving repetitive gripping or tool use.
- Warehouse, packing, and food processing jobs.
- Nurses and aides who lift and reposition patients all shift.
If your job puts your hands and wrists through the same motion for hours a day, five or more days a week, you may have a workers’ compensation claim.
What Evidence Do You Typically Need to Prove Your Claim?
As with any workers’ compensation claim, it is important to document your medical condition in order to prove your claim. This includes:
- A confirmed diagnosis, typically through a nerve conduction study or EMG.
- A medical opinion connecting your job duties to your condition.
- A clear description of your actual job duties, including how often and for how long you performed the repetitive tasks involved.
- Personnel records and statements from coworkers or supervisors who can confirm your duties.
- A timeline showing when your symptoms began and how they progressed.
- Documentation that you reported your symptoms to your employer once you connected them to your job.
New Jersey's Discovery Rule and Your Filing Deadline.
Because carpal tunnel develops gradually, New Jersey does not start the two-year clock on your first day of symptoms. Under N.J.S.A. 34:15-34, the statute of limitations for a claim begins when you knew, or reasonably should have known, that (A) you had the condition and (B) that it was related to your work. In practice, that is usually the date of diagnosis, not the date your pain first started.
This discovery rule gives injured workers more flexibility than the two-year deadline for a one-time accident. However, there is no reason to wait. If your employer has already been informally covering your treatment without a formal claim on file, the clock can restart from the date of the last payment. Once you have a diagnosis and any indication it is work-related, the safest move is to report it to your employer in writing and get a claim on file, not to wait and see whether it improves.
What Benefits Can You Recover?
A successful carpal tunnel workers’ compensation claim in New Jersey can include:
- Medical treatment, fully paid, including diagnostic testing, splinting, physical therapy, steroid injections, carpal tunnel release surgery, and post-surgical rehabilitation, under N.J.S.A. 34:15-15.
- Temporary disability, generally around 70 percent of your average weekly wage, under N.J.S.A. 34:15-12(a).
- Permanent disability if you are left with lasting nerve damage, reduced grip strength, or diminished use of your hand or wrist, compensated under New Jersey’s disability schedule at N.J.S.A. 34:15-12(c).
- Vocational assistance in certain cases, tied to the rehabilitation provisions of N.J.S.A. 34:15-12(b).
Carpal tunnel release surgery is common in these cases, and workers frequently return to modified duty afterward.
How Kotlar Cohen Handles Carpal Tunnel Workers' Compensation Claims.
At Kotlar Cohen, we treat carpal tunnel and other similar claims aggressively. We work with physicians to get a clear, written causation opinion early, and we gather the job duty and personnel records that back up what your work actually demands of your hands and wrists day after day. We push for the full value of your claim, including any permanent loss of function once treatment is complete, rather than letting an early offer close the door on benefits you’re still owed.
We’ve represented Southern and Northern New Jersey workers since 1995, and we’ve recovered over $1,424,350 for our workers’ compensation clients alone. If your employer or their insurer is downplaying your diagnosis or pressuring you to settle before you’ve finished treatment, talk to us before you sign anything.
Frequently Asked Questions.
Q - Can I get workers' compensation for carpal tunnel syndrome in New Jersey?
Q - What if I already had some symptoms before this job or I have carpal tunnel in both hands?
Q - How long do I have to file a carpal tunnel workers' comp claim in New Jersey?
Q - Will workers' compensation pay for carpal tunnel surgery?
Q - What if my employer or their insurance company denies my carpal tunnel claim?
Call Kotlar Cohen About Your Carpal Tunnel Claim
Kotlar Cohen has been helping injured New Jersey workers get the medical care and financial compensation they’re entitled to since 1995. If work has left you with numbness, pain, or a carpal tunnel diagnosis, don’t wait to find out how much of your filing window has already passed.
Contact Kotlar Cohen to schedule a free consultation or call us 24/7 at (856) 751-7676. Located in Mount Laurel and Hackensack, we serve injured workers throughout New Jersey.