Louisiana Carpal Tunnel/Repetitive Stress Lawyer
Both these injuries are work-related overuse injuries. Office workers often develop carpal tunnel syndrome. Typing in an improper position collapses the carpal tunnel, a hollow bone that houses a bundle of nerves in the wrist. When that tunnel collapses, the bones pinch the nerves. Eventually, CTS causes paralysis. Landscapers, warehouse workers, and other workers who bend, stoop, and reach a lot often develop repetitive stress disorders. These joints can only take so much wear and tear, especially if the victim overuses the same muscles in the same way pretty much every day.
If doctors catch these conditions soon enough, the victim usually only needs rest. A delayed diagnosis usually means a doctor must surgically correct the affected wrist, knee, shoulder, or other joint. Recovering from these surgical procedures means lots of rest and lots of physical therapy. So, workers’ compensation benefits could include a week or two of missed work or a lost wages/medical treatment bill that exceeds $100,000.
No case is too big, and no case is too small, for the dedicated Louisiana carpal tunnel/repetitive stress lawyer at Lunsford, Baskin & Priebe. We have the resources and experience to tackle the largest workers’ compensation matters. Perhaps more importantly, we have the tenacity to handle these cases. At the same time, we understand that most families live hand to mouth. A week or two without a paycheck might as well be a year or two without a paycheck. So, we do our best to quickly get these victims the compensation they need and deserve.
Employer Fraud
Mostly because the bureaucracy is out-of-control large, workers’ compensation claims are complex enough, regardless of their size. Employer fraud makes them even more complex.
Frequently, workers’ compensation employer fraud is a form of insurance fraud. Fast cars with younger drivers are more expensive to insure than slow cars with older drivers. Likewise, large workplaces with high-earning or high-risk employees are more expensive to insure than small workplaces with low-earning or low-risk employees. To reduce their premiums, many employers lie about these things.
This fraud has general and specific impacts. Generally, lower premiums mean less money is available to compensate injured workers. Specifically, when insurers discover these false statements, they usually deny coverage. As a result, our Louisiana carpal tunnel/repetitive stress lawyers usually file nonsubscriber claims in these situations. More on that below.
Another employer fraud to watch out for is the under-the-table-payment fraud. As mentioned, the workers’ compensation bureaucracy is quite large. So, if the boss offers to pay medical bills under the table if the victim doesn’t file a claim, the proposal is tempting.
These offers always turn out badly for victims. Almost inevitably, the boss backs out of the promised payments. Since the workers’ compensation claims deadline has passed by that point, the victim usually has no legal recourse.
Nonsubscriber Claims
As mentioned, uninsured employer claims may be the most common kind of nonsubscriber claims in Mississippi and Louisiana. Since workers’ comp insurance is unavailable, these victims may file civil damage claims. To punish them for their fraud, employers usually cannot use some go-to defenses in these cases. Therefore, it’s easier to prove negligence in these cases.
Negligence is a little harder to prove in reckless or intentional conduct cases. Bosses are reckless if they knowingly send workers to hazardous areas. Intentional conduct matters usually include workers who perform hazardous activities as reprisal or punishment. Negligence is harder to prove because the boss can use the aforementioned go-to defenses.
Defective product claims are the third major kind of nonsubscriber claims. Companies that make and sell defective products cannot hide behind workers’ compensation laws. Some defective product examples include poorly-made safety guards and unsafe motors in power tools.
Count On a Hard-Working Orleans Parish Attorney
Injury victims are entitled to substantial compensation. For a free consultation with an experienced Louisiana carpal tunnel/repetitive stress lawyer, contact Lunsford, Baskin & Priebe, LLC. We do not charge upfront legal fees in these matters.
