Nerve damage is a common type of workplace injury that many employees suffer from. This type of injury may occur immediately after a trauma or over time.

If you have developed nerve damage or a repetitive stress injury on the job, you may be wondering who the responsible party is and whether you are eligible for compensation.

What Causes Nerve Damage?

Nerve damage may be caused by a repetitive stress injury, trauma, or an illness, such as diabetes or cancer. There are any number of activities that take place at a given workplace that can result in nerve damage.

What is a Repetitive Stress Injury?

Repetitive stress injuries are common in employees whose job requires repetitive motions such as typing on a keyboard or cashier work.

One of the most common types of repetitive stress injury is carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), which is caused by compression of the median nerve at the wrist. CTS injuries can result in numbness, tingling, or pain in the hand and fingers.

Types of Nerve Damage

Nerve damage can be broken down into two main categories:

• Bruising, tearing, or stretching of a nerve or the surrounding tissue. This category of nerve damage is usually not caused by repetitive stress, but rather an accident.
• Pressure on nerves that block the transmission of signals to and from the brain. This sort of nerve damage is due to loss of blood supply to the area and is often caused by repetitive stress.

Which Damage is More Serious?

Bruising, tearing, or stretching of a nerve of the surrounding tissue is a serious type of nerve damage. It can potentially lead to permanent loss of function.

Pressure on nerves that block the transmission of signals to and from the brain is nerve damage that is not permanent. After a few months and/or various treatments the nerve may be regenerated.

Workers’ Compensation for Nerve Damage

Workplace injuries, including nerve damage and repetitive stress injuries, are covered under Workers’ Compensation. In most states, it is required for employers to provide their employees with Workers’ Compensation benefits.

Workers’ Compensation provides an injured employee with compensation for their medical bills, lost wages, and permanent impairment benefits.

Workers’ Compensation is a no-fault insurance. Even if you are partly to blame for an injury, you are covered.

How Long do I Have to File a Claim?

The amount of time you have to file a claim varies from state to state. In Delaware, you have two years from the time of the injury to file a Workers’ Compensation claim.

How Much Compensation Can I Receive?

The amount of compensation you are eligible for may depend on the severity of your injuries and your occupation and pay. A Bear Workers’ Compensation lawyer at Rhoades & Morrow can help you to understand the process, and what is available to you.

Bear Workers’ Compensation Lawyers at Rhoades & Morrow Represent Victims Suffering from Nerve Damage

If you or someone you know are suffering from nerve damage due to a workplace injury, Bear Workers’ Compensation lawyers at Rhoades & Morrow are here for you. Our experienced lawyers will help you get the compensation you are entitled to. For a free consultation call our Bear office at 302-834-8484, our Wilmington office at 302-427-9500, or our Milford office at 302-422-6705 or fill out an online contact form. We serve clients in Elsmere, Seaford, and across Delaware.