The shoulder is one of the most complex joints in the human body. Unfortunately, many people seriously injure one of their shoulders in a fall, car wreck, or truck accident. When they do, they suddenly can miss work and lose thousands of dollars in lost wages, not to mention stagger beneath additional expenses, such as medical care.
Shoulder pain is the first sign of injury, and some workers can slowly develop long-term injuries from constant repetitive motion. You should contact Ball, Kirk & Holm, P.C. if you have suffered a shoulder injury. Our Des Moines personal injury lawyer will gladly discuss how you injured your shoulder and what steps are necessary to seek compensation. We can travel to you from our offices in Iowa City and Waterloo, when convenient, for a consultation. No matter where you are located, we remain available for our clients 24/7.
How People Suffer Shoulder Injuries
Typically, people hurt their shoulder in accidents:
- Slip and falls. You can land on your shoulder, causing a direct blow to the joint. Other people fall forward with their arms stretched out, which ends up damaging some of the muscles around the shoulder.
- Workplace accidents. A person can injure their shoulder when lifting heavy objects. Some shoulder injuries develop slowly as a worker constantly lifts their arm over their head. Other workers suffer a traumatic injury when they fall to a different level.
- Car or truck accidents. Motorists smash their shoulder into the side of the car, or the seat belt can cut into the muscles and other soft tissues.
Go to the hospital at the first sign of pain in your shoulder. Some people feel fine but then wince when they try to move their arm. It’s worth having a doctor check things out.
Common Shoulder Injuries
The shoulder has many parts, including the collarbone (clavicle), the shoulder blade (scapula), and the upper arm (humerus). The shoulder joint is a ball and socket joint, with the head of the humerus nestled into the glenoid cavity.
This ball-and-socket joint explains why the arm has a greater range of movement than the knee, which only flexes back and forth. You can rotate your arm close to 360 degrees. Muscles and tendons stabilize the shoulder and keep the head of the humerus in the glenoid cavity. Muscles also help people move their arms.
Prominent shoulder injuries include:
1. Rotator cuff injury. A group of muscles make up the “rotator cuff,” which stabilizes the joint. The cuff prevents your arm from migrating upward and out of the cavity. Unfortunately, many accidents can damage these muscles or their tendons, leading to weakness and pain. You might feel instability in your arm.
2. Shoulder dislocation. The humerus can get dislodged out of the glenoid cavity, leading to a shoulder dislocation. A doctor will need to “pop” it back in, possibly using manual pressure or in extreme cases surgery.
3. Clavicle fracture. The collar bone can fracture under pressure, making it hard to use your arm when the clavicle is broken.
4. Humerus fracture. The arm bone could fracture, especially close to the ball at the end. This is a tough injury to stabilize so that the bone can heal. You might need pins inserted to keep bones together.
5. Bursitis. Joints have bursa sacs which reduce friction and allow you to move the joint freely. Inflammation can lead to pain and ultimately stiffness.
Shoulder Injuries Are Often Expensive
This might not seem like a dramatic injury. But any pain in the shoulder can prevent people from working. Many jobs require that you lift your arm over your head several times a day, whether to stock shelves or clean high places. When your shoulder is injured, you might lose the use of your entire arm.
Other economic losses include the cost of medical care. Some shoulder injuries respond well to conservative treatment like ice, rest, and corticosteroid injections to reduce inflammation. However, more serious injuries can require surgery. In extreme cases, a patient might need a shoulder replacement, especially where the ball and socket joint is damaged.
Most shoulder injuries will require some measure of physical therapy to regain full use of the shoulder. After weeks of immobility, a person can suffer weakness due to muscle atrophy, and physical therapy can help with regaining strength. This rehabilitation is also expensive.
Receiving Compensation for a Shoulder Injury
Ball, Kirk & Holm, P.C. will fight to obtain fair compensation for a shoulder injury. If you suffered an injury at work, we can help you get workers’ compensation benefits. But most people will suffer an injury due to a dangerous driver or the negligence of a property owner, which means they can sue for compensation.
Call our office. We can seek compensation for losses tied to your shoulder injury:
- Medical treatment, including cost of surgery.
- Lost wages and job-related benefits if you needed time away from your job.
- Pain and suffering.
- Mental anguish or distress linked to your shoulder injury.
- Any property damage (such as a car damaged in a crash).
Shoulder injuries are particularly complicated because they might degenerate. Arthritis is a real concern after accidents because the cartilage can be permanently damaged, leading to stiffness. Even young people can develop arthritis in a joint after an accident, which means they face the prospects of a lifetime of pain.
Let us review. We seek full compensation for all past, present, and future expenses, as well as ongoing pain and inconvenience. Some people underestimate the full value of their claim, so never accept a settlement until you talk to us about your shoulder injury.
We Can Come Meet You
Travel is difficult after an accident which leaves you with bodily injuries. Don’t worry—we can travel to meet you. We want to hear from anyone who suffered a shoulder injury in an accident. Call our firm to schedule a free consultation. Our legal team is always available 24/7 for clients, and we can answer any questions you have in a consultation.