Mouse Arm Syndrome – A Guide to Claiming Compensation

If you work at a computer all day, you might think that your job is one of the safest around! While that might be true compared to some roles, there are some risks associated with long-term computer use. For instance, you could suffer arm, shoulder, wrist and hand pain associated with mouse arm syndrome. As your employer has a legal duty to protect you while you’re working, you could be entitled to start a mouse arm syndrome claim if any suffering can be linked to your working conditions.

We are happy to check if you’re entitled to claim mouse arm syndrome compensation. As part of a free initial assessment, one of our specialist advisors can check whether you have a feasible claim and provide free legal advice on what action you should take next. If your claim is feasible, you could be represented on a No Win, No Fee basis by one of our personal injury solicitors to make the claims process easier.

To find out if you have a valid mouse arm syndrome claim, you can:

• Call 0333 241 2519 to speak to a specialist.
• Make use of our free live chat service.

Please read on for more on mouse arm syndrome compensation claims but please get in touch if you think of any questions along the way.

What is Mouse Arm Syndrome?

Mouse arm syndrome is not a medical term. It is a term used to describe conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome,  De Quervains tenosynovitis and other Repetitive strain injuries (RSIs) that can be linked to some forms of prolonged computer-based work. It can cause problems in the hand, wrists, forearms and shoulders.

Symptoms of mouse arm syndrome can include:

• Pain in the hands, wrists, shoulders and forearms.
• Hand and arm soreness.
• Reduce movement and grip.
• Stiffness in the joints of your arm and hands.
• Hand swelling.
• Burning sensation in the shoulder.
• Pain that gets worse when carrying out repetitive tasks.

If you suspect that you’re suffering because of mouse arm syndrome linked to computer-based operations at work, you should seek medical advice from your GP. If you believe that you should be compensated for suffering caused by mouse arm syndrome, please call our legal advisors now.

Can I Claim Compensation for Mouse Arm Syndrome?

In any type of claim for personal injury at work, you must prove that the defendant in your case owed you a legal duty of care. In mouse arm syndrome claims, this will normally be quite straightforward to achieve because of laws like the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and the Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992.

To claim compensation for mouse arm syndrome at work, it will generally have to be proven that:

• Your employer owed you a legal duty of care;
• Their negligence meant they failed to uphold that duty; and
• That negligence has led to your repetitive strain injury in the last three years.

If you’re not sure if you have grounds to claim compensation for mouse arm syndrome, please feel free to call. We’ll check your case for free and explain your options on a no-obligation basis.

What Should I Do If My Work Is Causing Mouse Arm Syndrome?

If you are worried that your computer work is causing you to suffer mouse arm syndrome, some of the things you could do include:

• Let your employer know about your concerns. They could arrange for a workstation assessment or for an occupational health specialist to review your working environment.
• Visit your GP for diagnosis and treatment of any symptoms.
• Let your employer know about any suggestions offered by your GP.

These steps give your employer the chance to make any necessary changes that would improve your working conditions. Additionally, any changes made could help others in your workplace in the same way.

What Can Employers Do to Try and Prevent Mouse Syndrome at Work?

Some steps employers can take to alleviate the risk of mouse arm syndrome and other computer-related injuries from developing include:

• Conduct workstation assessments on a regular basis.
• Ensure workstations are set up correctly.
• Provide ergonomic mice and keyboards where required.
• Train staff on how to use their computer safely.
• Allow regular risk breaks and periods away from the computer.

What Evidence Can Support a Mouse Arm Compensation Claim?

Evidence is always needed if you’re to convince your employer’s insurers about why you should be compensated. It needs to prove how you’ve suffered and why your employer is liable for your suffering. For mouse arm syndrome claims, the following evidence could be helpful:

• Copies of any emails between you and your employer regarding your working conditions.
• Medical evidence from your GP to prove that you’ve been diagnosed with an RSI injury at work linked to computer use.
• Photographs of your workstation and the PC peripherals supplied by your employer.
• Copies of an occupational health assessment.
• Witness statements from colleagues who can confirm your working conditions.

If you decide to claim compensation for mouse arm syndrome, your solicitor may use any evidence you’ve supplied plus further information they’ve gathered to help prove your case.

How Long Do I Have to File a Mouse Arm Syndrome Claim in the UK?

Any type of work-related injury claim has a 3-year time limit. This is set in law by the Limitation Act 1980. Generally, this timeframe will start from the date your doctor diagnosed a repetitive strain injury. The Limitation Act calls this your date of knowledge.

If you try to claim after the 3-year time limit, it is possible that your claim will become statute-barred. This may mean you’ll miss out on any compensation for mouse arm syndrome you might be owed. Therefore, it’s a good idea to give us a call to discuss your claim as soon as possible following your diagnosis.

How Much Compensation Do You Get for Mouse Arm Syndrome?

Two heads of loss are usually considered in repetitive strain injury claims. The first is called general damages and it’s used to compensate for the pain and suffering you’ve endured. It can also cover any loss of amenity. For instance, if a wrist injury stops you from playing a musical instrument as you usually would, this could be factored into any settlement you’ve received.

To ascertain the extent of your pain and suffering as well as your prognosis, your solicitor will arrange an independent medical assessment. In the meeting, a specialist will discuss how you’ve been affected and examine your injuries. They’ll then write a report for all parties involved in your case.

Your solicitor will use this report and any medical records to help value the general damages element of your claim.

If you make a successful mouse arm compensation claim, special damages may also be considered to cover any financial losses linked to your injuries. These could include:

• Lost earnings.
• Medical expenses and rehabilitation.
• The cost of devices to help with household tasks if your grip is weakened for example.
• Care and support costs.
• Travel costs.

To see how much compensation for mouse arm syndrome you could receive, please call our legal advisors and they’ll review your case for free.

Can I Claim Compensation if I’m Not Employed Full-Time?

Employers don’t just have a legal duty to protect the health of their full-time employees. They must provide the same level of care to workers on other types of employment contracts. That includes the self-employed, consultants, agency workers, contractors and also zero-hours workers.

Therefore, if you’ve been diagnosed with an RSI and you believe it was caused by your employer’s negligence, you could be entitled to begin a personal injury claim. If you believe that to be the case, speak to us now for free claims advice.

Will I Need a Solicitor for a Mouse Arm Syndrome Claim?

Legally, it’s perfectly possible to claim compensation for mouse arm syndrome from your employer without using a personal injury solicitor. While that is the case, instructing a legal expert can make the claims process a fair bit easier and less stressful. It could also increase the amount of compensation you’re paid if the claim is successful.

If you have a solid case and it’s accepted by a solicitor from our team, they can:

• Handle the claim from start to finish on your behalf.
• Ensure everything is filed correctly and on time.
• Keep you up to date about the progress of your claim.
• Fight your corner, negotiate on your behalf and try to counter any objections raised.
• Use their legal skills to try and make sure any settlement offered covers all of your pain and suffering.

If your claim does proceed, your solicitor will ask you to sign a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA) so that they can provide a No Win, No Fee service. The CFA means that you:

• Don’t pay for your solicitor’s work in advance.
• Don’t pay your solicitor for their work if the claim is lost.
• Do pay a success fee if the claim is won and you are compensated.

Success fees are a percentage of any compensation you receive. The maximum success fee percentage, when using a CFA, is 25 per cent.

To check if you could start a No Win, No Fee mouse arm syndrome claim, please call today.

How Long Does a Compensation Claim Take?

There’s no set time for mouse arm syndrome claims to be processed. For instance, compensation could be paid in 4 or 5 months if your symptoms have fully receded and your employer has accepted liability for your suffering.

However, if it takes longer for you to recover or negotiations are needed with regard to liability, claims can take between 6 and 9 months. The most serious claims, where long-term suffering needs to be properly understood can take more than a year.

Will My Claim End Up in Court?

In our experience of work-injury claims, very few cases will go to court. Usually, employers, insurance companies and lawyers will come to an amicable agreement so that they don’t have to face the costs and time associated with court hearings.

However, there’s a very slight chance that your solicitor might call for a court to decide on your mouse arm syndrome claim if:

• They strongly believe that your case is winnable; and
• Your employer denies liability; or
• You receive a settlement offer that is deemed to be too low.

If your claim is scheduled for a court decision, an out-of-court settlement can be agreed upon right up to the date of your hearing.

Contacting Us About a Mouse Arm Syndrome Claim

We’re here to help if you’d like to know more about claiming compensation for mouse arm syndrome. If you’d like us to assess your claim for free, you can:

• Call our team on 0333 241 2519 to speak with a specialist.
• Use our live chat service to ask any questions.

We offer free legal advice as part of our initial consultation and all accepted mouse arm syndrome claims are managed on a No Win, No Fee basis.