When you are suffering from a shoulder injury sustained while on the job, the problems and pain from that accident can be long-lasting. Major shoulder injuries could require ongoing physical therapy for weeks or months. Your doctor may recommend shoulder surgery as the best course of medical care to help heal damaged tendons. In any case, most shoulder injury victims will need to take steps toward rehabilitation of the shoulder joint.
One of the most challenging and stressful aspects to deal with after being injured while at work will be facing the medical bills and associated upfront costs that will pile up. An injured worker may need multiple surgeries or even be facing permanent disability, depending on the severity of the incident. Unfortunately, an occupation that pays you to lift heavy objects regularly could cost thousands.
Seeking Legal Help
If you or a loved one suffered from a shoulder injury as a result of repetitive use or from a single incident, you could be entitled to financial compensation beyond what you may have been offered from your initial claim. Free consultations from law experts are an important way to ensure you do not fall far behind financially after your injuries make it difficult or impossible for you to work.
To learn about legal options available to you, contact Hansford McDaniel – Workers’ Compensation Attorneys today for your free consultation. Whether you are suffering from a torn rotator cuff, fractured collarbones, or persistent ac joint pain following a work-related shoulder injury, pursuing a workers’ compensation claim is in your best interests. A free legal consultation may be the first step to getting what you deserve from the insurance company.
Financial Problems After Work-Related Shoulder Injuries
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in the year 2021, the US saw a total of 1,062,700 injuries or illnesses that caused an employee to miss at least one day of work. When you are unable to work after your shoulder has been seriously injured, whether it be due to excessive repetitive use or a single accident, the costs can be high. In addition to medical care, which could cost thousands, you can quickly find yourself falling behind on the costs of daily living. Lifting heavy objects may be prohibited by your overseeing physician in order to allow healing to occur, in which case you may need assistance caring for small children or completing basic tasks around the home.
Types of Shoulder Injuries
Some common types of work-related shoulder injuries include:
- Rotator cuff tear
- Shoulder instability
- Extreme stiffening
- Strain from overuse
- Shoulder dislocation
Both shoulders should be capable of great flexibility and a wide range of motion. The shoulder joints are amongst those of greatest mobility in the human body. The two main bones making up the shoulder are the shoulder blade and the upper arm bone. Ligaments and tendons do the work of connecting bones to the surrounding muscles. When overuse during even light duty or an accident stretches connecting shoulder tissues beyond their limits, the pain that follows could require surgery to correct and allow proper healing.
One way rotator cuff injuries can be identified is that these injuries make it difficult to lift the arm up or away from the body. You may also feel pain when putting any pressure on that shoulder, such as when lying down for sleep. Attempts to use the injured shoulder with rotator cuff problems will lead to feelings of soreness or tenderness after the accident.
Pain from shoulder instability can come on either quickly or gradually. Too much stretching of the muscles and ligaments over time can pull too much on those, and it takes rest, physical therapy, and will sometimes require surgery to correct. Excessive instability can lead to dislocation, which requires very urgent care after immediately having applied ice to reduce swelling and ease some of the pain.
If a shoulder injury is particularly complex, it could be even multiple surgeries that are necessary to attain relief from pain and make way for proper healing. The severity of any shoulder injuries will indicate what type of treatment is recommended to facilitate healing. RICE is often suggested, the letters standing for treatment of rest, ice, compression, and elevation. The important thing to remember is to follow your doctor’s orders. When your focus needs to be on rest, healing, and perhaps appointments to physical therapy for professional medical treatment, having your injury lawyers handle the challenges of communicating with the insurance company will be your best strategy.
Benefits That May Be Covered
The compensation owed to you could cover expenses that will depend upon the unique details of your accident and other information regarding your specific case. Working with an injury lawyer who is well-versed in laws related to occupational injuries will go a long way for you to receive adequate compensation for your claim. Once you contact our experienced shoulder injury lawyers for your free consultation, you will feel relieved to learn what your options are. Disability benefits may be available to you to help pay for many injuries and out-of-work related costs, such as:
- Loss of wages
- Medical bills
- Permanent Impairment
After a shoulder injury occurs, you need to find out the extent of your right to recover compensation. Workers’ compensation is your right to claim after you have suffered an injury while at work. Having the best Atlanta Workers’ Compensation injury lawyers on your side during this trying time is an important step towards receiving the full workers’ compensation benefits you deserve.
Acquiring the maximum compensation that constitutes fair benefits usually requires expert legal navigation by an experienced team of injury lawyers. Hansford McDaniel – Workers’ Compensation Attorneys is a team of caring and compassionate personal injury attorneys whose vast experience will be invaluable in helping you navigate your workers’ compensation claim. Contact us to speak with a lawyer today about how you can receive the compensation you deserve after a work-related event resulting in a shoulder injury.