HEALTH
What Know When Seeking Benefits for Shoulder Injury Through Workers’ Compensation Insurance
What Know When Seeking Benefits for Shoulder Injury Through Workers’ Compensation Insurance
If you sustained a severe shoulder injury at work, you could be entitled to benefits under your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance. These benefits can pay for your necessary medical treatment and give you a portion of your gross weekly wages while you recover from your shoulder injury.
Workers’ comp benefits are an important lifeline for you after sustaining a serious shoulder injury that leaves you in pain and cannot work. However, getting these benefits can be a long and complicated process. To make this process easier, you should hire a skilled workers’ compensation attorney to handle your case. Before you hire an attorney take your time visiting their website for more information.
What Can Your Compensation Cover?
Shoulder injuries sustained on the job are not the same. The possible value of your case depends on some factors. If you are entitled to benefits, you can be compensated for the following:
- Medical bills. The benefits you can get through workers’ compensation insurance must cover all the medical expenses related to your shoulder injury.
- Lost wages. Did your shoulder injury force you to miss work or perform light-duty work? If so, you can claim lost wages. Often, you can get 2/3 of your average weekly wages before the injury.
- Rehabilitation costs. Workers’ compensation benefits may be able to cover your physical therapy costs. If you have to relearn certain abilities to go back to work or adjust to a new type of work, such benefits can cover vocational rehab costs.
- Death benefits. If a member of your family died because of a work-related shoulder injury, you can be eligible for death benefits. Such benefits cover the loss of financial support and funeral expenses.
Common Shoulder Injuries that Result in a Worker’s Comp Claim
Shoulder injuries can vary in severity. You could sustain mild strains or sprains or require surgery. Common job-related shoulder injuries that can lead to workers’ comp claims include the following:
- Fractures. Immobilization, icing, and pain relieves can usually treat upper arm bone fractures. But compound collarbone fractures and dislodged bond fragments that resulted from a shoulder blade fracture may require surgical operation.
- Rotator cuff tears. If initial treatment for this injury does not work, surgery may be necessary. This injury can make it hard to raise your arm, experience arm weakness, and feel a dull shoulder ache.
- Shoulder impingement. You could sustain this injury if you have to raise your hands above your shoulder, irritating the rotator cuff muscles’ tendons. This can lead to pain, difficulty raising your arm, and shoulder weakness. Your treatment often includes icing the injury, taking pain medication, and physical therapy.
- Should dislocation. This happens when your upper arm pops out of your shoulder socket. Treatment includes immobilization, surgery, and physical therapy.
