According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics’ most recent annual study showed that 186,830 nonfatal occupational injuries to hands and wrists involved days away from work. According to the US Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the most common and costly occupational health problem in the country is repetitive hand injuries. It affects hundreds of thousands of American workers and costs over $20 billion a year in workers compensation. The wrist is a complex part of the body that is made up of many different bones, muscles, nerves, blood vessels, tendons, and ligaments – all of which can be injured in an accident. If you have a personal injury case that involves a wrist injury, you may be wondering how the value of any settlement or court award you might receive is impacted by that specific injury. The unique facts of your case will play a role in determining the amount of money you receive, but there are also a few common factors to consider.
Types of Wrist Injuries
Many different kinds of wrist injuries exist and they all come with varying degrees of severity. Here is a look at the most common wrist injuries that might play a role on the basis of a personal injury claim or workers compensation case:
- Sprains or stretched or torn ligaments, typically classified from Grade I (stretched ligament) through Grade III (completely torn ligament)
- Fracture of the ulna or radius or other broken bone
- Repetitive movement injuries, such as wrist tendinitis and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Valuing the Wrist Injury Case
“Valuing” a case means guessing the compensation amount that a jury might award the plaintiff or the person who has filed a lawsuit for a wrist injury, while also considering what the defendant or the person being sued would ultimately be willing to pay. Also, there is the question of the amount each party might be willing to agree upon so that the case can be settled before it gets to trial. There is obviously a lot that you need to try to keep track of. But there are two big factors when it comes to valuing any case – the extent of the plaintiff’s damages, i.e. how bad the injury is, and how likely it is that the jury will find the defendant liable if the case goes to trial.
It may be a Workers’ Compensation Case
Typically, a wrist injury that occurs in the workplace, e.g. Carpel Tunnel Syndrome, will only be paid out by the worker’s compensation carrier. The benefits that the plaintiff can receive vary from state to state. However, if the injury does not completely disable a plaintiff injury and the medical bills are not very high, e.g. no surgery was required, the compensation that the plaintiff receives may not be very high. If you have suffered a wrist injury due to your occupation, you should seek the help of a skilled personal injury lawyer at Rosenberg, Minc, Falloff, & Wolff of RMFW Law at 212-344-1000. Give us a call. We know what a winning case looks like. We have been winning cases for years and years now. Our collective experience is unmatched. The first meeting with us is free. At RMFW Law, we are not paid until you are paid. We keep you informed every step of the way.
