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You may not realize just how often you use your shoulder until you injure it at work. Shoulder workplace injuries affect thousands of people every year, often resulting in substantial lost wages and medical expenses. If you have found yourself in this situation, we have some good news: you are likely entitled to workers' compensation benefits, and our experienced legal team can help you ensure that you get the full value of your claim as soon as you can. To schedule a free case evaluation with a Missouri workers' compensation attorney, call our office today.
Workplace shoulder injuries are extremely common and are consistently listed among the most common forms of occupational injury in the United States. As an employee, it's important to understand that shoulder injuries can happen to anyone, including construction workers, people who work in warehouses, office employees, and performing artists. Some of the more common causes of workplace shoulder injuries include:
The shoulder is a ball-and-socket joint that has various components that have the potential to be injured in workplace accidents. Parts of the shoulder that can be injured include the acromioclavicular joint, the glenohumeral joint, and various tendons and ligaments. The shoulder is also connected to the humerus, clavicle, and scapula, all of which can be affected in a shoulder injury. Some of the more common shoulder injuries that people suffer at work include:
Sprains and strains happen when the soft tissues in your shoulder are overstretched. In many cases, sprains can result in the separation of the acromioclavicular joint. Many strains are direct trauma to the shoulder, as can occur in falls, vehicle accidents, or struck by/against events. In many cases, sprains and strains result in restricted movement, pain, swelling, tenderness, and bruising.
In some cases, shoulder injuries result in a tearing of a muscle, ligament, tendon, that makes up the shoulder. These kinds of tears can often occur when a person tries to brace a fall or other impact by stretching out with their arms and hands, and they commonly affect the rotator cuff. Tears can also lead to dislocations.
If you have sustained a shoulder injury at work, it's important to understand that workers' compensation provides benefits regardless of who was at fault for the accident. In return for this no-fault coverage, however, victims of workplace accidents are typically not able to sue their employers for damages. Don't make the mistake of thinking that you do not need a lawyer to pursue a workers' compensation claim, however. Workers' compensation insurers are for-profit companies that will minimize every claim they can. For this reason, you should always retain an attorney after any workplace accident.
Victims of workplace accidents that result in shoulder or any other injuries can often recover significant benefits through a workers' compensation claim. To schedule your free case evaluation with a workers' compensation lawyer in Missouri, call The Law Firm of Webster & Carlton today or contact us online.