Practice Areas

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.

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For legal help in Cook, DuPage, or Lake County, call the workers' compensation attorneys at Donald W. Fohrman & Associates.

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

  1. 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
  2. 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 Actlawsuit by firing workers for filing for Workers’ Compensation benefits. More information about Retaliatory Discharge

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:

  1. Provide accurate, consise answers to some of the most frequently asked questions of “CTS” victims.
  2. Provide “CTS” victims, upon request, Free Informational Materials produced by our firm.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.

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