If you have sustained a shoulder injury after a car accident, read on for types of shoulder injuries with treatment options and tips for navigating your personal injury case. The Bishop Law Firm represents car accident victims, and we do not get paid unless we win your case.
Call us today for your free case review at 919-615-3095 or start online now.
Shoulder pain after car accident compensation - how much is my case worth?
The answer to this question depends on the severity of your car accident shoulder injury.
The first step when you have shoulder pain after a car accident is to seek medical treatment to determine the cause of your shoulder pain.
Shoulder injuries can range from relatively mild injuries requiring only physical therapy to severe injuries requiring surgery or even a total shoulder replacement and resulting in permanent injury or impairment.
For all types of shoulder injuries caused by a negligent driver, a victim can receive compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and pain & suffering in North Carolina.
Many personal injury lawyers use a multiplier that starts with medical expenses (medical expenses x multiplier of 1-5 - with 5 being roughly for severe injuries like broken bones) as one way to arrive at a settlement amount.
However, the severity of the injury, treatment received, lost income, pain and suffering (non-economic damages), available insurance coverage, and the individual facts of the accident all affect case value.
Read Why medical evidence matters in North Carolina Disability and Injury Cases?
$300,000 Recovery Involving a Shoulder Tear:
An actual case that my firm settled recently (more than just shoulder injuries):
A man in his sixties was hit in a crosswalk while a pedestrian, resulting in a shoulder tear requiring arthroscopy, a DVT, and multiple lacerations to the skin. Medical bills (414s) totaled $22,000.00, with no lost wages. Case settled prior to litigation for $300,000.00 (at-fault insurance tendered their policy limits, and another $50,000.00 was tendered by the UIM carrier). The case was open at The Bishop Law Firm for 360 days, including the time needed to finish all medical treatment.
Past results do not guarantee or predict the outcome of another case.
However, the at-fault party's insurance policy limits (and assets) as well as whether you carry UIM insurance matter immensely in your shoulder injury claim.
Read why policy limits matter in North Carolina Personal Injury cases.
Understanding Shoulder Injuries After Car Accidents
According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, most shoulder problems are caused by tendon inflammation, instability, arthritis, or fracture (broken bone).
A car accident can certainly cause any (or all) of these problems, even arthritis. Unfortunately, a victim can sustain trauma and develop post-traumatic arthritis.
Types of Shoulder Injury After Car Accident (WebMD and Mayo Clinic):
1. Whiplash
Whiplash is common after car accidents, especially rear-end accidents. A whiplash injury can occur when the neck is forced forward and then back as your vehicle makes an impact with another vehicle. Although whiplash affects the neck, it can also affect the shoulder, arms, and upper back of an accident victim. Whiplash can last a few weeks or years under the wrong car accident circumstances. Do not assume that you have whiplash or only soft tissue injury after an accident! Medical testing needs to be completed to rule out more serious shoulder injury (spinal cord damage or a herniated disc) from your car accident.
2. Dislocated Shoulder
This occurs when your arm bone pops out of its socket. Symptoms include intense shoulder pain and an inability to move your arm. A forceful blow to your shoulder joint (like those experienced in car accidents) can cause shoulder dislocation. Treatment involves closed reduction, surgery, immobilization, medication, and/or rehabilitation. In most cases, the shoulder will be fine in a few weeks, but in other cases the shoulder becomes unstable and repeatedly dislocates (via Mayo Clinic ). Many people can tell immediately if they have dislocated their shoulder because of the physical appearance of the arm and the terrible pain. Take photos of your vehicle, the accident scene, and seek medical attention for your injuries immediately.
3. Labral Tear / Torn Labrum / SLAP Tear
The labrum is cartilage on the ends of the ball and socket to keep the ball in place and acts as an attachment that anchors other structures or tissues around the joint (via Hopkins Medicine). When the labrum is torn, pain, clicking, locking, or a loose feeling can occur. Large labral tears can make using your arm difficult. Depending on the severity and location of the tear, treatment can include physical therapy, medication, injections, or arthroscopic surgery to repair the torn labrum.
4. Separated Shoulder
Though separated and dislocated shoulders sound like they are the same injury, they are not. Separated shoulders occur when trauma tears a ligament that connects the collarbone to the shoulder blade. The collarbone may move and push against your skin at the top of your shoulder. After this injury, there will also be intense pain as well as a physical deformity. If the ligament tear is severe, you may need surgery and then immobilization (sling) while you heal (via WebMD ). Document difficulties with completing tasks of daily living as well as any time you miss from work.
5. Shoulder Fracture
The collarbone, top of the upper arm bone, and the shoulder blade can all be fractured. Since the shoulder blade is surrounded by muscles and the chest, a fracture in this area is the result of an extremely hard blow. Fractures are usually diagnosed by X-ray, which is what hospitals most often offer to car accident victims. Treatment for the fracture depends on the location and type of fracture (via OrthoInfo ). Follow all medical advice and tell your doctor if you are not progressing or if the injury pain worsens.
6. Rotator Cuff Tear or Rotator Cuff Damage
There are four muscles (supraspinatus, infraspinatus, subscapularis, and teres minor) and tendons that make up the rotator cuff. If any or all of these are damaged, you have a rotator cuff tear. An acute torn rotator cuff in those under 30 years of age requires a significant amount of trauma. Impingement syndrome usually accompanies a rotator cuff tear. There are non-surgical treatments such as steroid injections and physical therapy. If warranted, arthroscopic shoulder surgery to repair the rotator cuff will follow (via eMedicineHealth ). X-rays usually do not demonstrate rotator cuff tears, and an MRI may be needed.
7. Bursitis (a.k.a. shoulder impingement, rotator cuff tendonitis or supraspinatus tendonitis)
While impingement syndrome is commonly caused by repeated irritation, it can also be caused by a traumatic injury. If your bursa is compressed during the car accident, this can result in a healing reaction. This healing reaction is bursitis. Treatment for bursitis involves reducing pain and inflammation (via PhysioWorks ). Many clients seek chiropractic care after car accidents, but make sure that your type of shoulder injury will benefit from chiropractic care.
8. Post-Traumatic Arthritis
After a traumatic injury to your shoulder, you can develop post-traumatic arthritis. This is a possible long-term complication of a shoulder injury after a car accident. Some instances of post-traumatic arthritis resolve quickly, while others become chronic. Symptoms include joint pain, swelling, and limited range of motion.
9. Shoulder Replacement (arthroplasty)
Depending on the severity of your car accident shoulder injury, you may need a shoulder replacement. Implants are made with metal and plastic and replace the original shoulder parts. Recovery can involve substantial healing time, physical therapy, limitations on daily activities, and time away from work.
If you have sustained a shoulder injury from a car accident, please seek medical treatment immediately and contact a car accident lawyer.
Insurance companies will argue that your accident did not cause your shoulder injury if there is a lack of medical evidence.
Waiting to receive medical treatment not only endangers your financial recovery for your car accident injury, but it is also bad for your health.
North Carolina Personal Injury Lawyers for car accident lawsuits
The Bishop Law Firm is located in Raleigh and represents car accident victims throughout North Carolina, including:
- Raleigh
- Cary
- Durham
- Rocky Mount
- Wilson
- Fayetteville
- Smithfield
- Louisburg
- Chapel Hill
- Roanoke Rapids
- Apex
- Greensboro
- Winston-Salem
- Greenville
- and more!
We look forward to working with you and wish you a speedy recovery.
Also read: North Carolina Car Accident Lawyer and Neck Injury After Car Accident
