After a car accident, shoulder pain could occur due to a variety of injuries. If negligence played a role in your accident, you may be able to pursue a legal claim against the responsible party. If successful, you could recover a monetary award for your medical bills, lost wages, and other accident-related expenses.
Potential Causes of Shoulder Pain Following a Car Accident
According to the Mayo Clinic, a car accident could result in shoulder pain in a variety of ways. One common cause of shoulder pain is inflammation and bruising caused by the impact. These injuries are relatively minor and can heal on their own.
A major impact could result in fractures or dislocations of your shoulder. Serious soft tissue injuries could also include strains or tears on the rotator cuff or the muscles surrounding the shoulder.
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Compensation You May be Able to Receive
Depending on the severity of the injury causing your shoulder pain, you may stand to recover various forms of compensation. How your injuries affect you going forward will also factor into your potential damages.
Some forms of compensation you may receive include:
- Medical bills, including diagnostic testing, surgery, rehabilitation, and medication
- Pain and suffering
- Lost wages if your shoulder pain kept you from working while you were recuperating
- Reduced earning capacity if your injuries prevent you from returning to work or change the way in which you can work
- Loss of quality of life if your shoulder injury keeps you from enjoying the activities you once did
Other damages may apply, and our firm can help you calculate your losses to ensure you seek a fair settlement.
What to Do If You Are Experiencing Shoulder Pain
If you are suffering from shoulder pain following an accident, there are a number of steps that could increase your chances of a full recovery. Likewise, your actions could also have an impact on your potential personal injury claim. The important steps to take when dealing with shoulder pain after a car accident include:
Seeking Medical Care Immediately
You should be evaluated by a medical professional immediately after an accident if you are injured in any way. Even if this pain seems minor, you could benefit tremendously from an immediate evaluation.
The longer you wait, the more likely your pain will worsen. Delaying medical care could also prove problematic for your personal injury claim.
Obtaining Treatment
Once you are evaluated and receive a diagnosis, it is important that you follow the doctor’s treatment plan to the letter. The failure to do so could result in your injury worsening.
Documenting Your Treatment
Documentation of your medical care is an important part of a personal injury claim. Thankfully, your doctor will create records documenting each of your visits. Your role is to follow the treatments recommended by the doctor and discuss any pain or injuries at each visit.
Considering Working with an Attorney on Our Team
Before you agree to a settlement or pursue an injury claim, you can learn about working with a personal injury lawyer on our team. Your attorney could help you understand what to expect from the claims process and fight for fair compensation.
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Why Insurers Reject Shoulder Pain Claims
Unfortunately, an insurance company may deny a claim involving shoulder pain. They may point to conditions like rotator cuff tears and claim that the injuries resulted from years of wear and tear. By shifting the blame, they could avoid any liability for your shoulder pain. It is your attorney’s job to establish that your shoulder pain resulted from an acute injury in a car accident as opposed to some kind of degenerative condition.
Another common issue with these cases involves difficulty proving soft tissue damage, in general. It is one thing to provide an insurance company with an x-ray that shows your shoulder is fractured or dislocated. It is another trying to convince the insurer that an injury that is not visible on an x-ray deserves monetary compensation.
The good news is there are a few ways you could document your claim and improve your chances of a favorable outcome. Keeping careful records regarding your treatment and your symptoms could prove invaluable. Photo and witness statements could also come in handy.
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Consider Working with a Kaine Law Attorney After a Car Accident
If you are living with shoulder pain after a car accident, you deserve to hold the responsible party accountable. In some cases, the cost of dealing with shoulder pain can be substantial. By pursuing a personal injury claim, you could recover a monetary award that covers these costs.
The attorneys of Kaine Law understand the challenges that come with chronic pain. Shoulder pain can prevent you from doing what you love or maintaining the employment you need to keep food on the table. Our firm is prepared to help you get back on your feet. For your free consultation, call as soon as possible.
Call or text 404-214-2001 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
