$225,000 Workers’ Compensation Settlement for Shoulder, Arm, and Neck Injuries
Settlement for Work-Related Shoulder, Arm, and Neck Injuries
This workers’ compensation claim was filed with the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission on behalf of our client, who was injured while performing job duties. His shoulder, arm, and neck were all injured as a result of the accident. After lengthy negotiations with opposing attorneys and adjusters, Sexner Injury Lawyers LLC secured a $225,000 result for this injured worker.
Work-Related Shoulder Injuries
The shoulder is one of the most mobile joints in the body, but that mobility can also make it vulnerable to injury. MedlinePlus explains that the shoulder is held in place by muscles, tendons, and ligaments, and that common shoulder problems include strains, dislocations, separations, bursitis, rotator cuff tears, frozen shoulder, fractures, and arthritis.
Shoulder pain may come from the shoulder joint itself, surrounding muscles and tendons, nerve involvement, arthritis, or “referred pain” from another part of the body. In a work setting, shoulder, arm, and neck injuries may result from a single accident or from repetitive stress over time.
How Shoulder, Arm, and Neck Injuries May Happen at Work
Work-related shoulder injuries can occur in many different occupations. A construction worker may be hurt while lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling, reaching overhead, or using heavy tools. A warehouse, delivery, maintenance, or factory worker may suffer injury from overexertion, awkward positioning, repetitive movement, or a fall. Even office workers may develop compensable shoulder, arm, or neck injuries when repetitive reaching, typing, lifting, or workstation positioning contributes to the condition.
When an injury arises out of and in the course of employment, it may qualify as a workers’ compensation claim. These cases may involve medical care, therapy, injections, work restrictions, lost time from work, and compensation for permanent injury, depending on the facts and medical evidence.
Common Types of Shoulder Injuries
Some of the shoulder conditions that may appear in work-related injury claims include:
- Shoulder separation: A separation may involve the acromioclavicular joint, where the shoulder blade and collarbone meet. A hard blow or fall may tear ligaments, move the collarbone out of position, and leave a visible bump or deformity.
- Labral tear: A labral tear affects the cartilage around the rim of the shoulder socket. Symptoms may include weakness, catching, locking, popping, grinding, pain, or instability.
- Bursitis: A bursa is a fluid-filled sac that cushions the joint. Repeated motion, impact trauma, or other irritation may cause swelling and pain.
- Frozen shoulder: Also called adhesive capsulitis, frozen shoulder may occur when tight bands of tissue limit movement and make the shoulder feel stiff or locked.
- Rotator cuff tear: The rotator cuff includes muscles and tendons that help hold the arm in place and allow overhead movement. A tear may result from a fall, forceful movement, repetitive use, or degeneration over time.
- Shoulder impingement: Impingement may occur when rotator cuff tendons are pinched, causing pain, swelling, and reduced range of motion.
- Dislocation: A dislocation may occur when the upper arm bone comes out of the shoulder socket. Symptoms may include pain, weakness, numbness, swelling, bruising, or visible deformity.
- Fracture: A hard blow, fall, or other trauma may fracture the clavicle, humerus, or other bones near the shoulder, often causing severe pain and difficulty lifting the arm.
Legal Help After a Shoulder, Arm, or Neck Injury at Work
Workers’ compensation shoulder and neck cases can involve disputes over how the injury happened, whether work activities caused or aggravated the condition, what medical treatment is reasonable, and what settlement amount fairly reflects the lasting harm. An attorney can review the medical records, job duties, accident facts, restrictions, and settlement position before the worker accepts a final resolution.
Since 1990, Sexner Injury Lawyers LLC has represented injured workers in Chicago and throughout Illinois. If you suffered a shoulder, arm, or neck injury at work, call 312-243-9922 or contact us for a free case evaluation.
