Wrist Injury Workers' Compensation Settlement Guide
Quick Answer
California wrist injury workers' compensation settlements typically range from $30,000 to $80,000, with wrist fractures requiring surgery averaging $45,000-$90,000 and complex cases involving TFCC tears, scaphoid non-union, or wrist fusion reaching $80,000-$150,000 or more. Settlement value depends on fracture type, surgical intervention, loss of grip strength, and impact on manual work capacity.
Key Takeaways
- Typical settlement range: $30,000–$80,000 (can exceed $150,000 for fusion)
- Scaphoid fractures have high non-union rates requiring multiple surgeries
- TFCC (cartilage) tears often cause chronic pain and instability
- Dominant hand injuries typically result in 25-40% higher settlements
- Loss of grip strength dramatically impacts manual labor workers
- Permanent disability ratings of 15-35% common for surgical wrist cases
Typical Settlement Range
$30,000–$80,000
Overview
Work-related wrist injuries are extremely common in California, affecting workers across construction, manufacturing, healthcare, food service, and warehouse industries. The wrist is a complex joint composed of eight small carpal bones, the radius and ulna forearm bones, and numerous ligaments providing stability. Wrist fractures typically involve the distal radius (Colles' fracture) from falls onto an outstretched hand, though scaphoid fractures are also common and particularly problematic due to poor blood supply leading to non-union. The triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) is frequently torn in workplace falls or from repetitive twisting motions, causing chronic pain, clicking, and weakness. Unlike carpal tunnel syndrome (a gradual nerve compression injury), acute wrist injuries involve sudden traumatic damage to bones, ligaments, or cartilage. However, both can coexist, with traumatic wrist injury sometimes revealing underlying carpal tunnel syndrome. California workers' compensation covers all necessary treatment for wrist injuries, from casting and immobilization through complex reconstructive surgery, arthroscopy, and in severe cases, wrist fusion.
Common Symptoms
Immediate severe wrist pain
Intense pain at the moment of injury, especially with any wrist movement or gripping
Swelling and bruising
Rapid swelling around the wrist with bruising appearing within hours to days
Visible deformity
Abnormal wrist appearance or position, indicating significant fracture or dislocation
Loss of grip strength
Inability to grip, squeeze, or hold objects that were previously manageable
Chronic clicking or popping
Persistent clicking, grinding, or popping sensations with wrist rotation, often indicating TFCC tear
Limited range of motion
Difficulty bending wrist up/down or rotating forearm without pain
How Wrist Injurys Happen at Work
- Falls onto outstretched hand (FOOSH injury) from heights, ladders, or slips
- Direct impact to wrist from falling objects, tools, or equipment
- Twisting injuries while using power tools or handling heavy materials
- Sudden forceful gripping or catching falling objects
- Vehicle accidents causing dashboard or steering wheel impact
- Crush injuries from machinery, presses, or caught-between accidents
Treatment Options Covered by Workers' Comp
Immobilization with cast or splint
Rigid casting or removable splint to prevent wrist movement and allow bone/ligament healing
Typical timeline: 6-8 weeks for fractures, 4-6 weeks for sprains
Physical therapy and rehabilitation
Range of motion exercises, strengthening, and grip training to restore function
Typical timeline: 8-12 weeks, 2-3 sessions per week
Open reduction internal fixation (ORIF)
Surgical procedure using plates, screws, or pins to stabilize fractured wrist bones
Typical timeline: 3-6 months recovery, hardware may remain permanently
Wrist arthroscopy
Minimally invasive surgery to visualize and repair TFCC tears or evaluate ligament damage
Typical timeline: 6-12 weeks recovery
Scaphoid fixation or bone graft
Surgical screw fixation of scaphoid fracture or bone grafting for non-union
Typical timeline: 4-6 months healing, may require prolonged immobilization
Wrist Injury Settlement Values by Severity
| Injury Type | Settlement Range |
|---|---|
| Wrist Sprain (Moderate to Severe) Ligament tear requiring immobilization and therapy; may cause chronic instability | $15,000–$35,000 |
| Distal Radius Fracture (Non-surgical) Colles' fracture treated with casting; most common wrist fracture from falls | $25,000–$50,000 |
| Distal Radius Fracture with ORIF Surgical fixation with plates and screws; permanent hardware and potential stiffness | $50,000–$90,000 |
| Scaphoid Non-union Failure to heal requiring bone graft surgery; high risk of avascular necrosis | $70,000–$120,000 |
| TFCC Tear with Repair Triangular fibrocartilage tear causing chronic pain, clicking, and instability | $45,000–$85,000 |
Factors That Affect Your Settlement
Type of injury
Fractures settle higher than sprains; scaphoid and TFCC injuries are most valuable
Simple sprain: $15,000-$30,000 vs. Scaphoid non-union: $70,000-$120,000
Need for surgery
Surgical cases settle for 2-3x more than conservative treatment
Casting only: $25,000-$40,000 vs. ORIF surgery: $60,000-$100,000
Dominant vs. non-dominant hand
Dominant hand injuries receive 25-40% higher settlements
Non-dominant wrist: $45,000 vs. Dominant wrist: $60,000
Loss of grip strength
Measurable grip weakness significantly increases permanent disability rating
Full grip recovery: $35,000 vs. 50% grip loss: $75,000+
Tips for Filing Your Wrist Injury Claim
- Report wrist injuries immediately, even if pain initially seems manageable
- Request X-rays and potentially CT scan or MRI; scaphoid fractures often missed initially
- Document your job duties requiring gripping, lifting, tool use, or forceful hand activities
- Keep records of measured grip strength testing to prove functional limitations
- If wrist continues clicking or feeling unstable after initial treatment, request MRI for TFCC tear
- Track daily functional limitations - what you can no longer grip, carry, or manipulate
- Don't settle before confirming whether arthritis will develop; often appears 12-18 months post-injury
- Photograph workplace hazards that contributed to your fall or impact injury
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Dismissing wrist pain as minor sprain when scaphoid fracture or TFCC tear is present
- Settling before scaphoid fracture fully heals; non-union often discovered months later
- Not obtaining grip strength testing to objectively document permanent weakness
- Failing to get MRI when wrist remains painful or unstable after conservative treatment
- Returning to heavy gripping or lifting work too soon, causing reinjury
- Accepting insurance argument that pre-existing arthritis caused current symptoms
Related Injuries
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Wrist injuries can permanently affect your grip strength and ability to perform manual work. Insurance companies routinely minimize these injuries. Get experienced legal help to protect your rights.
Wrist Injury Workers' Comp by City
Wrist Injury FAQ
What is the average workers' comp settlement for a broken wrist in California?
Broken wrist workers' comp settlements in California typically range from $30,000 to $90,000. Simple distal radius fractures treated with casting average $25,000-$50,000. Fractures requiring open reduction internal fixation (ORIF) surgery with plates and screws settle for $50,000-$90,000. Scaphoid fractures, particularly those developing non-union requiring bone grafting, can reach $70,000-$120,000. Settlement value depends on whether surgery is needed, dominant vs. non-dominant hand, loss of grip strength, development of arthritis, and whether you work in manual labor requiring significant hand use.
How much is a scaphoid fracture worth in workers' comp?
Scaphoid fracture workers' comp settlements in California typically range from $40,000 to $120,000+. Simple scaphoid fractures healing well with casting or screw fixation average $40,000-$75,000. Scaphoid non-union (failure to heal) requiring bone graft surgery settles for $70,000-$120,000 due to high permanent disability risk. Scaphoid fractures are particularly serious because the bone's limited blood supply often leads to avascular necrosis and arthritis. These injuries commonly result in permanent disability ratings of 15-40% and permanent restrictions on gripping and forceful hand activities.
What is a TFCC tear and how much is it worth?
A TFCC tear is an injury to the triangular fibrocartilage complex, a cartilage structure on the pinky side of the wrist that provides stability during gripping and forearm rotation. TFCC tears commonly occur from falls onto the wrist or repetitive twisting motions. Workers' comp settlements for TFCC tears in California range from $30,000 to $85,000. Conservative treatment cases settle for $30,000-$50,000. TFCC tears requiring arthroscopic surgery average $45,000-$85,000. These injuries often cause chronic clicking, pain with gripping, and instability.
How is wrist injury different from carpal tunnel syndrome?
Wrist injuries are acute traumatic damage to bones, ligaments, or cartilage from sudden incidents like falls or impacts. Carpal tunnel syndrome is a gradual cumulative trauma injury caused by repetitive motions compressing the median nerve. However, both can coexist - a traumatic wrist injury may reveal or worsen underlying carpal tunnel syndrome. Wrist fractures and TFCC tears typically cause immediate severe pain, visible swelling, and inability to use the hand. Carpal tunnel causes gradual onset of numbness, tingling, and hand clumsiness. Both are covered by California workers' comp.
Can I get permanent disability for a wrist injury?
Yes, if your wrist injury results in lasting impairment after reaching maximum medical improvement, you're entitled to permanent disability benefits. A Qualified Medical Evaluator will assess range of motion loss, grip strength reduction, arthritis, and functional limitations. Wrist injury cases commonly receive 15-35% permanent disability ratings depending on severity. Manual labor workers receive higher ratings because wrist limitations have greater impact on earning capacity. Even moderate permanent wrist restrictions can add $40,000-$90,000 to your settlement.
What wrist injury treatment is covered by California workers' comp?
California workers' compensation covers all reasonable and necessary treatment for work-related wrist injuries including: diagnostic imaging (X-rays, CT scans, MRI), emergency care and fracture stabilization, casting, splints, and braces, pain management medications, physical therapy and occupational therapy, cortisone injections, surgical procedures including ORIF, wrist arthroscopy, TFCC repair, scaphoid fixation with bone grafting, and in severe cases wrist fusion, grip strengthening equipment, and ongoing orthopedic care for chronic arthritis or instability.
How long does a wrist injury workers' comp case take?
Wrist injury workers' compensation cases in California typically take 12-24 months to settle. Simple fractures healing well with casting may resolve in 8-12 months. Cases requiring surgery, developing complications like non-union or arthritis, or involving disputed permanent disability can take 18-30 months. Scaphoid fractures take longest due to slow healing and high non-union rates. Don't rush to settle before confirming the wrist has fully healed and determining whether arthritis will be a permanent problem.
Should I get a lawyer for my wrist injury workers' comp case?
Legal representation is recommended for wrist injury workers' comp cases, especially if you required surgery, have a scaphoid fracture or TFCC tear, developed chronic pain or arthritis, lost significant grip strength, work in manual labor, or face a disputed claim. Insurance companies often minimize wrist injuries by arguing pre-existing arthritis or claiming injuries should have healed fully. An experienced attorney will obtain comprehensive orthopedic evaluations including grip strength testing, fight for appropriate permanent disability ratings, and ensure settlement includes future medical care. Workers with attorneys typically receive 4-6 times higher settlements.
Legal Notes: Wrist injury claims must be reported immediately and filed within one year of the injury date. California Labor Code provides workers' comp benefits even for pre-existing wrist arthritis if work injury substantially aggravated the condition. Permanent disability ratings account for occupation - manual laborers receive higher ratings than office workers with identical injuries. Grip strength testing provides objective evidence of impairment. Don't rush to settle scaphoid fractures before confirming complete healing; non-union often discovered 6-12 months post-injury. For official benefit information, see the DIR Workers' Comp Benefits Overview.
Medical Notes: Maximum medical improvement for wrist injuries varies significantly: simple sprains may reach MMI in 3-6 months, while fracture cases take 6-12 months, and scaphoid fractures can require 12-18 months due to slow healing. Post-traumatic arthritis commonly develops 12-24 months after wrist fractures. MRI is often necessary to diagnose TFCC tears or scaphoid non-union. Grip strength dynamometer testing provides objective measurement of permanent weakness. Future medical care is important due to high likelihood of requiring ongoing orthopedic care and potential future surgery for arthritis.
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