Shoulder injuries are some of the most common types of injuries sustained by workers in Arizona. These injuries are not only very painful, but they can also take a very long time to recover from. If you have hurt your shoulder while at work, you will likely incur significant medical bills to treat the injury. You also may not be able to return to work right away to pay for them.
Workers’ compensation is available for employees who have suffered an injury while on the job. Depending on the severity of your shoulder injury, you may be entitled to anywhere between $5,000 to $100,000, or even more. Below, our Arizona workers’ compensation lawyer outlines how much these injuries are worth, and what to do after a workplace accident.
Workers’ Compensation Medical Benefits Available After a Shoulder Injury
The shoulder joint is extremely complicated and it can take months, or sometimes even years, for accident victims to make a full recovery. Even when a shoulder injury does not require surgery, the cost of treatment can still equal $20,000 every year, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. If surgery is required for a rotator cuff injury, the cost typically ranges between $8,000 and $20,000. If a shoulder injury is more serious and surgery is required, the cost can be $100,000 or more.
Fortunately, the workers’ compensation system in Arizona provides employees with benefits that cover all reasonable medical expenses. This includes the cost of surgery if it is required to treat a shoulder injury that happened during the course of employment.
Common Causes of Shoulder Workplace Injuries
Employees can suffer a shoulder injury due to trauma at the joint, overworking the shoulder, or repeatedly using the shoulders or holding them in the same position for long periods of time. The following causes of shoulder injuries most commonly fall into one of these categories:
- Slip and fall accidents, car crashes, and other types of trauma that impact the shoulder
- Pulling, lifting, pushing, carrying, or holding heavy objects
- Repetitive motions
- Jobs that require working above the shoulders, such as working with ceilings, or that require holding the shoulders in an awkward position
- Vibrations
- Jobs that require maintaining the shoulders in the same position
There are other factors that can also make an employee more likely to sustain a shoulder injury. For example, women are more prone to these types of injuries than their male counterparts. Individuals who are overweight, have arthritis, or are of an advanced age are also at greater risk. Lastly, if three or more of the above factors are present, workers are more likely to suffer from a shoulder injury after three months of performing employment duties.
How are Shoulder Injuries Treated?
The workers’ compensation system in Arizona will cover all necessary medical treatments for shoulders that occurred at work. Benefits include the cost of surgery, medications, and rehabilitation. If these minimal treatments do not entirely repair your injury, treatment that is more advanced may be recommended, such as minimally invasive or open surgery. Some types of surgery required to correct shoulder injuries are as follows:
- Bankart repair
- SLAP repair
- Torn rotator cuff injury repair
- Arthroscopy
- Biceps tendon surgery
- Shoulder replacement surgery
- Reverse shoulder replacement surgery
- Acromioclavicular joint repair
- Shoulder fracture repair
Shoulder injuries are often so painful that employees are unable to perform any work at all, even light duties. As you recover from your injury, you may be deemed to have a temporary total disability (TTD) under workers’ compensation. Under this status, you are eligible for wage replacement benefits valuing two-thirds of your average monthly wage prior to becoming injured.
What to Do After Suffering a Shoulder Injury at Work
Under the workers’ compensation system in Arizona, you must apply for benefits after suffering a shoulder injury at work. These benefits are not automatic. The first step you must take when trying to obtain benefits is to notify your employer of the accident and resulting injury. Unlike in other states, there is no specific amount of time you have to do this. However, you should always notify your employer as soon as possible about any workplace injury.
You will then have to prove that your shoulder injury was caused by your employment duties. For example, if you were hurt in a workplace accident that injured your shoulder right away, medical records may indicate that trauma from the accident caused your injury. On the other hand, if you perform a repetitive motion and this resulted in a shoulder injury, you can still file a workers’ compensation claim.
It is important to note that you only have one year from the date of the injury, or the date you discovered the injury, to file your claim. For example, if a traumatic car accident directly caused your shoulder injury, you would likely have just one year from the date of the crash to file your claim. On the other hand, if a repetitive motion caused your shoulder injury, you may not be aware of it right away. It may take months, or even years, before you discover that you are injured. In this case, you would have one year from the date you discovered the injury to file your claim.
Regardless of how much time you have, it is always advised that you notify your employer and file your claim as soon as possible. Evidence may go missing over time, and your memories may fade. Filing a claim quickly will ensure your case is as strong as possible and helps you obtain the best possible outcome.
Call Our Workers’ Compensation Lawyers in Arizona Today
If you have suffered a shoulder injury, or any other while at work, it is important to speak to an Arizona workers’ compensation lawyer right away. At Snow, Carpio & Weekley, PLC, our experienced attorneys can help you file your claim and prove your case so you obtain the full and fair benefits you justly deserve. Call or contact us online to schedule a free consultation and to get the legal help you need.