Shoulder injuries after a car accident can be especially excruciating, and the treatment options are often invasive and expensive. If another party is responsible for causing your damages, you can hold them accountable. Make them compensate you fairly for your suffering.
A shoulder injury lawyer at Staver Accident Injury Lawyers, P.C. can help you recover medical expenses and other damages after a car accident. Contact our office for a free consultation today at (312) 236-2900 to get started on your shoulder injury claim.
What Shoulder Injuries Can a Car Accident Cause?
Shoulder injuries are known to have delayed symptoms. You may not know you’ve suffered critical harm after a crash, but the sooner you seek treatment, the better. Even if you feel fine, getting a medical evaluation after an accident can reveal severe injuries and help your case immensely.
Some of the top symptoms associated with shoulder injuries include:
- Decreased range of motion
- Pain when lowering or lifting arms
- Arm stiffness
- Numbness or tingling in the arms or shoulders
- Shoulder swelling
- Grinding or popping sensation in your shoulder
- Weakness in the shoulders or muscle spasms in the arms or shoulders
- Pain when pulling or lifting other objects or any inability to complete daily living activities
- Discoloration or bruising in the shoulder and bulges or bumps on the shoulder or collarbone
Car accidents can cause many kinds of shoulder injuries, such as:
- Whiplash
- Musculoskeletal injuries
- Torn rotator cuff
- Clavicle or humerus fractures, scapular fractures, and shoulder separation
- Shoulder joint dislocation and brachial plexus injuries
- Muscle damage and deep tissue bruising
- SLAP tearing (Superior Labrum Anterior and Posterior), or tears in the labrum
- Soft tissue damages
- Ligament damages
These are just a few common shoulder injuries caused by car accidents. If you have suffered any shoulder injury or have yet to be diagnosed, discuss your symptoms with your health care provider. From there, contact a shoulder injury attorney at our firm to learn the most suitable legal options for your case.
How Are Shoulder Injuries Diagnosed?
Diagnosing shoulder injuries can be complex. It will depend on the extent of your injuries, symptoms, medical history, and other factors. You can expect your healthcare provider to examine you and use the proper methods to identify your injury.
Your health provider might order magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or x-rays of your shoulder. These scans can reveal whether you have suffered broken or fractured bones.
By accurately diagnosing your shoulder injury, your doctor can determine the most suitable treatment options. Your attorney can start to calculate the value of your medical expenses. Your shoulder injury could significantly impact your life and the foreseeable future.
What Treatments Can Help Fix a Shoulder Injury?
Proper treatment for a shoulder injury is crucial if you hope to regain functionality after a car accident. The type of treatment you receive will be based on the severity of your injuries and other factors.
Some of the most common treatment options for shoulder injuries include:
- Physical therapy
- The use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) medications
- Using an immobilization sling
- Injecting steroids into the shoulder joint to reduce inflammation
- Anterior acromioplasty
- Subacromial decompression
- Reconstructive surgery
You may also need mental health counseling to adjust to the impact of your shoulder injury.
The cost of health care and your medical bills may be exceedingly high. However, the liable party should cover these damages when you file a claim with the insurance company or pursue a car accident lawsuit.
What Can I Recover From a Car Accident Shoulder Injury?
You have the right to be made whole after suffering significant shoulder injuries in a car accident. Your attorney should consider every loss to calculate the full value of your claim. To do so, we will categorize your damages as economic or non-economic.
Economic Damages
Economic damages are financial losses. They are easier to calculate since they can be proven with medical bills, receipts, bank statements, and other financial records.
Some examples of economic damages available for shoulder injury victims include:
- Costs of outsourcing your household maintenance responsibilities
- Childcare expenses
- Costs of surgery, counseling, physical therapy, co-pays, accommodations to your vehicle or home, and future medical expenses
- Damage to your vehicle, car replacement fees, rental costs, diminished value of your vehicle, and the difference in what the car is worth and what you owe (if leasing or financing)
- Lost income, potential future earnings, bonuses, employer-provided health insurance coverage, and contributions to your 401(k) or other retirement savings account by your employer
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages are a little more complicated since they do not have a direct financial value. Your lawyer must quantify them to demand fair compensation. Some examples of non-economic damages after a shoulder injury could include the following:
- Loss of enjoyment and quality of life
- Mental anguish and chronic physical pain, and suffering
- Embarrassment, shame, and shock
- Anticipation, fear, and anxiety
- Disfigurement or scarring
- Loss of an intimate spousal relationship, love, companionship, protection, support, advice, guidance, and society
These are only a few damages that could be available if a car accident caused your shoulder injury. Our team will carefully evaluate every loss you experience to ensure you are fairly compensated.
How Do I Prove the Accident Injured My Shoulder?
Proving the car accident caused your shoulder injuries is critical. The insurance company will look for any reason to reduce your payout or avoid paying you. Your car accident lawyer must prepare sufficient evidence to prove the severity of your injuries. You must prove the car accident caused your shoulder injuries.
It is not unusual for insurance companies to argue that a pre-existing condition should be disclaimed, meaning you should not receive compensation for every loss. However, with the proper supporting documents and evidence, you can receive the compensation that is rightfully yours. Examples of evidence that might be used to prove the car accident caused your shoulder injuries include:
- Statements and testimony from your treating physician
- Copies of your medical records
- Photos of your injuries
- Footage from dash cams, traffic cams, and surveillance cams from homes or businesses nearby
- Copies of the liable party’s driving history, medical records, blood alcohol concentration levels, and cell phone records
- Accident reconstructionist reports
- Crash data and police accident reports
What Can a Personal Injury Lawyer Do for Me?
You are not legally required to have an attorney to file your insurance claim or bring your case to trial. However, when recovering from debilitating injuries, a legal advocate on your side could be invaluable. Your lawyer will handle every detail of your case. That way, you can devote your time and energy toward healing.
Some of the many benefits of a personal injury lawyer include:
- Exploring your legal options
- Organizing the argument to support your case
- Conducting an in-depth investigation into how your shoulder injuries occurred
- Assigning fault and identifying liable parties
- Obtaining powerful supporting evidence
- Preparing court filing documents and insurance claims
- Negotiating with insurance companies
- Pursuing a civil lawsuit for your shoulder injuries, where necessary
Call a Chicago Shoulder Injury Lawyer Now
Your shoulder injuries may have a substantial impact on you for years to come. There is no reason you should be stuck covering the costs if another party is responsible for contributing to your injuries.
You can bring them to justice and access total financial compensation when you work with an experienced Chicago shoulder injury lawyer at Staver Accident Injury Lawyers, P.C. Our firm proudly offers free, no-obligation consultations to car accident victims across Chicago. Claim yours by calling us at (312) 236-2900 or filling out our contact form today.
