Malman Law
Legal News

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Workers Compensation Claim

Could Workers Compensation Claim Have Helped Avoid Robbery?

Earlier this month, a North Carolina man robbed a bank for one dollar – and the hope of medical care.

“James Richard Verone, a 59-year-old convenience store clerk, walked into a Gastonia, N.C., bank and handed the cashier a note demanding $1 and medical attention. Then he waited calmly for police to show up,” according to Yahoo News.

Chicago workers compensation attorneys know that Mr. Verone is just one of many individuals who have been negatively effected by the economic downturn and losing their job. He was employed as a driver for the Coca-Cola company for seventeen years. Upon losing that job due to the poor economy, Verone worked briefly as a truck driver for another company before ultimately becoming a part-time convenience store employee.

Unfortunately, at 59 years of age, the necessary bending and lifting were too much for his back in addition to the arthritis and carpal tunnel syndrome Verone was suffering from. The last straw was when he noticed a protrusion in his chest that was becoming increasingly painful. Because Verone did not have health insurance, he was unable to receive affordable care for his ailments.

While it seems extreme to rob a bank, Verone knew that in jail he would receive access to free medical care. In fact, he has already seen nurses and expects to see a doctor by the end of the week. His hope is that his sentence will be long enough to allow him to receive foot and back surgery, as well as treatment for his chest protrusion.

Chicago workers compensation lawyers may wonder how long Verone had been suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome and whether it may have been work-related. If so, this man may have been eligible to file a workers compensation claim and receive compensation. It is not uncommon for long-haul truck drivers to suffer from repetitive trauma injuries, which include carpal tunnel syndrome.

Repetitive Trauma & Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Unfortunately, repetitive trauma is a common injury that afflicts many workers, including truck drivers, office workers, railroad workers, storeroom employees, meatpackers, assembly line employees, musicians, and others who must tend to tasks that require repetitive and/or constant movements. There are steps that employees can take to make your work environment more ergonomically friendly manner so that workers are protected from developing such painful, debilitating injuries that can cause permanent harm to the body.