Can a Car Accident Cause Carpal Tunnel?

Did a car accident leave you with pain, numbness, or weakness in your hand or wrist? You could have carpal tunnel syndrome resulting from the crash. This condition can affect your job, daily life, and long-term health – but you shouldn’t have to pay out of pocket if someone else’s actions caused it.

A lawyer can review your medical records, speak with your doctors, and work to build a strong car accident claim on your behalf. They can also handle the insurance companies and fight for the compensation you need for your treatment, income losses, and other expenses.

What Is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Its Symptoms?

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a condition that develops when a nerve in your wrist, called the median nerve, gets squeezed. This nerve runs through a small space in your wrist called the carpal tunnel. When this little tunnel gets compressed too tightly, it puts pressure on the nerve and causes certain symptoms.

CTS often affects how your hand and fingers feel and move. For instance, you might notice tingling, numbness, or pain in your thumb, index, and middle fingers. Some people with CTS also feel burning or aching in their palms or wrists. In some cases, the pain can move up the arm or get worse at night. It might make you more likely to accidentally drop things or have trouble doing tasks that require precise finger control, like buttoning a shirt.

In some cases, CTS can lead to muscle weakness in your hand. If left untreated, the muscles at the base of the thumb can even shrink. Many people with CTS find relief with treatment, but the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome can get worse over time if ignored.

What Causes Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

Carpal tunnel syndrome usually develops when something presses or narrows the space in your wrist through which the median nerve runs. Repetitive hand or wrist motions are a common cause of CTS.

Health conditions can also increase your risk of developing CTS. Diabetes, arthritis, thyroid problems, and pregnancy can all cause swelling or changes in the wrist that lead to CTS.

CTS tends to develop slowly. It often starts with mild tingling or numbness and grows worse with time. However, that isn’t always the case. According to the Mayo Clinic, “Anything that squeezes or irritates the median nerve in the carpal tunnel space may lead to carpal tunnel syndrome.” That includes a wrist fracture or sprain and other injuries that can result from trauma to the wrist in a car accident.

When Can Carpal Tunnel Be Caused by a Car Accident?

CTS usually develops over time, but a traumatic incident like a car accident can also cause carpal tunnel syndrome to appear quickly. This is especially likely if a crash forces your hand or wrist into an unnatural position. If an accident injures your wrist, it can cause swelling or pressure that affects your median nerve. Direct trauma to the wrist, such as hitting it against the dashboard or an airbag during a crash, could trigger CTS symptoms soon after the accident.

A car accident can also lead to broken bones or soft tissue injuries in the hand or arm. These injuries can swell and press on the median nerve, especially in the narrow carpal tunnel space. If that happens, you may start to feel tingling, numbness, or pain in your hand or fingers that could indicate traumatic carpal tunnel syndrome.

Even if CTS symptoms don’t show up right away after a car accident, they could still be connected to the crash. It’s common for nerve problems to develop days or even weeks after an injury. If your doctor links your CTS to the accident, you could include it in your injury claim.

Can I Get Compensation for Carpal Tunnel from a Car Accident?

You can pursue compensation for carpal tunnel caused by a car accident in New York. Your no-fault insurance should cover your medical treatment and a portion of your income losses, no matter who caused the crash. Your personal injury protection (PIP) coverage can pay for your medical bills, part of your lost wages, and other related expenses.

However, you might have the right to sue the at-fault driver if your injuries are serious enough to:

• Result in a bone fracture, dismemberment, significant disfigurement, or loss of a fetus
• Cause a permanent severe limitation of the use of a body organ or member
• Cause the permanent loss of use of a body organ, member, function, or system
• Significantly limit the use of a body function or system
• Prevent you from being able to perform your usual activities for at least 90 days during the 180 days immediately following the crash

You will need medical evidence to show that your injury meets the legal standard. If it does, you could be entitled to compensation for a much wider range of losses in a carpal tunnel car accident settlement. Through a personal injury lawsuit, you can seek money for the full extent of your losses, including your pain and suffering.

Proving Carpal Tunnel Resulted from a Car Accident

If you believe a car accident caused your carpal tunnel, you’ll need strong proof to support your claim. Insurance companies often question “invisible” injuries like CTS, especially if the symptoms don’t show up right away. A New York car accident lawyer can collect and organize useful evidence that links your injury to the crash, such as:

• Medical records from after the crash
• A written diagnosis from your treating physician
• Test results from MRIs or nerve conduction studies
• Photos of visible wrist injuries or swelling
• Testimony from medical experts
• Records of physical therapy or treatment sessions
• Accident reports and police records
• Witness statements
• Pay stubs or job records showing changes in your ability to work
• Notes from your employer about work limitations due to your injury

Get in Touch with Our Queens Car Accident Attorneys for Assistance

If a New York car accident caused you to develop carpal tunnel, remember that you don’t have to deal with the legal process on your own. The Tadchiev Law Firm, P.C. can help you explore your legal options and move forward with confidence. Contact us today to arrange your free consultation with one of our experienced Queens personal injury lawyers.

About the Author

Boris Tadchiev
Boris Tadchiev es socio fundador de The Tadchiev Law Firm, P.C. Su práctica se centra en la defensa de los derechos de personas y familias en casos de lesiones personales relacionados con accidentes automovilísticos, responsabilidad civil por daños a propiedades y homicidio culposo. También representa a profesionales de la salud en complejas demandas de arbitraje sin culpa.