Shoulder injuries may result from automobile collisions or workplace accidents. A slip and fall may also result in a shoulder injury in some cases. In a car wreck the force of the impact may result in injuries to various parts of the body including your shoulder. In fact, shoulder injuries are almost as frequent as neck and back injuries from car accidents and may result regardless of whether or not you are wearing a seatbelt.
Types and causes of shoulder injuries
Shoulder injuries vary in type and severity. In many cases, injuries to shoulders involve muscles, tendons or ligaments and not bones. However, fractures to the bones that meet at the shoulder can also occur and cause even more damage.
The three bones in your shoulder include the scapula(shoulder blade), clavicle (collar bone), and humerus (the bone in your upper arm). The top of the humerus is known as the glenoid and it fits into your shoulder socket. The rotator cuff includes muscle and tendons that hold your shoulder in place.
Rotator cuff injuries are particularly common injuries resulting from car accidents and many personal injury lawyers have experience representing clients with these claims. Another common shoulder injury is a torn labrum. The labrum is the cartilage of the shoulder joint and it helps hold the shoulder together.
Some shoulder injuries may require surgery while others may just require rest and physical therapy. Often, rotator cuff and labrum tears may be treated with arthroscopic surgery, which is less invasive.
In addition to tears, shoulder injury claims may include the following types of conditions:
- Instability – These are shoulder injuries that result in misalignment of the shoulder joints. This causes pain whenever the victim raises their arm. You may also feel a sensation of the bones slipping out of place.
- Impingement – This occurs when the muscles in the shoulder rub against the shoulder blade. This type of injury often occurs as a result of repetitive movement of the arm overhead. It is therefore common with athletes and those who carry out repetitive overhead tasks. These shoulder injuries can also take the form of:
- Bursitis – This is the inflammation of the bursa, which lies between the acromion and the rotator cuff. This occurs due to overuse of the shoulder joint.
- Tendinitis – This occurs when the tendons break or tear due to degenerative disease or excessive overhead tasks.
How much is your case worth?
Awards for shoulder injuries average approximately $70,000. However, the value of a shoulder injury claim will depend on your age, prior medical condition, the severity of your injury, the extent of your lost income as well as your current and future medical expenses. The settlement may also be affected by the extent to which your injury is expected to result in long term pain such as arthritis. In severe cases, awards can be as high as $1 million depending on those same factors.
Shoulder injury claims are frequently part of a larger lawsuit that involves multiple injuries to the arms and other parts of the body. Compensation in shoulder injury claims cases depends on the circumstances surrounding the injury, the severity of the injury and whether there were additional injuries. Medical expenses, lost wages and your ability to fully recover factor in determining the settlement value of a shoulder injury.
Whether you’re seeking workers compensation or suing the other driver for compensation for your shoulder injury, you will need the assistance of an experienced attorney. This will help to ensure that you obtain the highest possible settlement for your injuries.
