Workers’ Compensation Case – $225,000 Settlement

Work Related Injury To Shoulder, Arm And Neck

This claim was filed at the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission on behalf of our client who was injured while on the job. His shoulder, arm and neck were all injured as a result of this accident. After long negotiations with the opposing attorneys and adjusters, an award in the amount of $225,000 was secured on behalf of our injured client.

Types of Shoulder Injuries

The shoulder joint is one of the most used and most movable joints on your body. By its very structure, it is also very unstable and susceptible to injury because the shoulder socket that holds the ball of the upper arm is smaller and need tendons, muscles and ligaments to keep it in place. When people refer to shoulder pain, it may relate to “referred pain” that comes from other parts of the body, from arthritis, or from an actual injury to the structure of the should joint itself.

These injuries may be the result of a car, truck or motorcycle accident, a slip & fall, or from over-exertion in any number of jobs. Highly strenuous jobs that involve heavy lifting such as that of construction worker are at risk, but so are people who work desk jobs. Especially if the office position involves repetitive trauma, such as constant reaching, the shoulder may become injured over time and give way to a valid workers’ compensation claim. Some of the most common types of these injuries include:

Separation: The acromioclavicular joint (AC) is where the shoulder blade and collarbone meet. If a strong blow or a fall happens, the ligaments may tear pushing the collarbone out of place and leaving a bump.

Joint Tear: If it feels like your shoulder is weak, or is locking, catching, or grinding, it may be because the cartilage that surrounds the shoulder joint rim may have been injured. It could be the result of a forceful blow, repetitive stress or a fall. A tear of the labrum cartilage is called a labral tear.

Bursitis: A bursa is a fluid-filled sac that acts as a joint cushion. Whether from repeated motions or another injury, it may become irritated or swollen.

Frozen Shoulder: When adhesions (abnormal tissue bands) get built up in your joint and thereby limit movement, it may feel as if the shoulder is frozen.

Rotator Cuff Tear: The muscle and tendon group that holds the arm in place and allows overhead movement may be damaged in a fall or from too much use. It may also just happen from old age. Sometimes a crackling noise can be heard.

Impingement: When rotator cuff tendons get pinched in the shoulder bones, pain and swelling may be the result.

Dislocation: The top of the arm may actually pop out of its socket if it is rotated too much or pulled back too far. As a result, the person may experience numbness, swelling, weakness, pain and/or bruising.

Fracture: In the event of a hard blow, bones such as the collarbone (clavicle) or the upper arm bone (humerus) may fracture and break, creating problems for lifting of the arm and extreme pain.

Whether as a result of a work-related injury or some other type of accident, the shoulder bones are highly susceptible to injury. The attorneys affiliated with Sexner Injury Lawyers LLC have successfully helped injured clients for over 25 years and offer a free consultation at (312) 243-9922.

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