Upper arm and shoulder injuries occur frequently in the workplace, and injured employees in Pennsylvania are entitled to workers’ compensation settlements for rotator cuff and bicep tears. These injuries can limit mobility, cause ongoing pain, and make it difficult to return to work without proper treatment and support. An experienced workers’ compensation lawyer is your best chance for recovering fair compensation for your injury from insurance companies.
Munley Law has represented injured workers in Pennsylvania for nearly seven decades. All of our attorneys are members of the Pennsylvania Bar Association, and one of our partners is a certified workers’ compensation specialist. Our award-winning legal team can review your case and help you secure a fair settlement for a rotator cuff or bicep tear. Call us today to schedule your free case review.
Contact a Munley Law Personal Injury Attorney
Call Us At 844-686-5397 Hiring a Lawyer for a Workers’ Comp Shoulder Injury Settlement
A workers’ compensation claim is complex, and even a minor mistake can lead to a claim denial. It is always in your best interest to hire a personal injury attorney experienced in the workers’ compensation process.
Upper arm and shoulder injuries can be severe. Treatment typically involves rest and physical therapy, while severe injuries can require corrective surgery. While you seek medical attention for your injury, Munley Law can get to work investigating your case and building your claim for maximum compensation.
Our workers’ compensation lawyers work with medical experts to verify that your injury happened at work or resulted from your job duties. Our medical contacts will also help determine maximum medical improvement, the long-term and permanent impact of your injury, and ongoing medical treatment you may require.
Insurance companies generally try to pay as little as possible. Munley Law will ensure you receive the full workers’ compensation benefits you are entitled to, including coverage for medical expenses and lost wages.
If you’ve suffered a work-related bicep or rotator cuff injury, call us today to discuss your workers’ compensation claim.
Rotator Cuff Injuries in the Workplace
The rotator cuff is a group of muscles and tendons that surround and support the shoulder joint. The rotator cuff keeps the upper arm bone in the shoulder socket, so a rotator cuff tear or injury can cause frequent shoulder dislocations and limited mobility.
Common shoulder injuries include:
Shoulder Impingement
When the space between the top of the shoulder and the rotator cuff tendons narrows, the tendons can become compressed, leading to inflammation and limited mobility. Poor posture and repetitive overhead motions are leading causes of rotator cuff impingement.
Symptoms include:
- Chronic pain radiating down the arm or a dull ache when the arm is at rest
- Muscle weakness or stiffness
- Limited mobility when reaching overhead or behind the back
Torn Rotator Cuff
Rotator cuff tears can result from a specific injury or develop gradually over time through repetitive motions. The severity of the injury depends on how many shoulder tendons are torn or damaged. Common symptoms include pain, weakness, limited mobility, and clicking or popping sensations when moving the arm.
Overuse Tendinitis
Overused tendons become inflamed from constant, repetitive motion. Many construction and manufacturing jobs can cause tendinitis. Poor posture can also cause tendinitis. Sudden muscular contractions, pain, and stiffness are the most common symptoms and can often be treated with rest, ice, and physical therapy. Employees with cervical disc injuries may be at higher risk for tendonitis. Any shoulder pain should be investigated to prevent more serious injuries.
While many shoulder injuries can be treated with physical therapy, rest from repetitive job duties, and other non-invasive treatments, severe injuries may require shoulder surgery and can cause permanent disability.
Pennsylvania’s Department of Labor and Industry reported 11,499 work-related shoulder injuries in 2023, and overexertion accounted for more than 25% of those injuries. Before accepting any shoulder injury settlement, you should consult with Munley Law’s Pennsylvania workers’ comp lawyers to ensure your compensation accurately reflects your losses.
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Torn Bicep Injuries
Bicep tear injuries are often caused by repetitive motions and overuse, or by a fall or blow to the arm. Minor bicep tendon tears can be treated with ice, rest, and physical therapy. Severely torn biceps tendons may require surgery and extensive physical therapy. Some torn bicep injuries result in permanent disability. The two common types of bicep tears include:
- Distal bicep tears occur at the elbow end of the tendon.
- Proximal bicep tears occur at the shoulder end of the tendon, where it attaches to the shoulder socket.
Bicep tendon tears are marked by sudden, sharp pain, and sometimes a snapping or popping sound. Bicep tears can be partial or total, which often determines treatment plans and the length of recovery.
Injured workers may face financial difficulties due to lost wages. Although workers’ compensation is available, getting a fair amount from the insurance company can be tough. Munley Law’s personal injury attorneys are experienced with work-related arm injuries, including full and partial tears. Call our law firm today to discuss your workers’ compensation case.
Common Causes of Workplace Shoulder Injuries
Workplace injuries can happen in any industry. Rotator cuff and bicep injuries are especially common in jobs with repetitive motions and chronic overuse of the shoulders and arms, including:
- Construction
- Vehicle mechanics and maintenance
- Manufacturing
- Stocking and warehouse work
- Nursing and caretaking
Employees may be injured as a result of an accident, such as an object dropping on or colliding with their shoulder or falling onto outstretched arms.
Many other employees suffer from shoulder injuries as a result of day-to-day job tasks, such as:
- Lifting heavy objects overhead
- Exposure to constant motion and vibrations, such as frequent use of power tools or machinery
- Repetitive upward motions, including painting, wallpapering, and vehicle repairs
- Stocking shelves or moving product
Work-related Car Accidents
Car accidents are another common cause of torn rotator cuffs and bicep tears. Employees involved in car accidents while on the job may be entitled to workers’ compensation.
To claim workers’ comp for a car accident, you must show one of the following:
- Driving is part of your job duties
- You were engaged in work-related activities at the time of the accident
Some employers, particularly rideshare companies, hire drivers as independent contractors, thereby exempting them from providing workers’ compensation insurance.
Average Settlement for Bicep and Rotator Cuff Tears
Workers’ compensation benefits provide financial coverage for medical expenses and lost wages while the injured worker heals. The average shoulder injury settlement in 2022 was $51,750, according to the National Safety Council.
Wage loss benefits in Pennsylvania are typically two-thirds of your average weekly wage, up to $1,347. Additional specific loss benefits are available depending on partial or total disability status and your ability to return to work and earn the same wages.
Workers’ compensation covers all reasonable and necessary medical expenses. Medical treatment is covered as long as your physician deems it necessary. If physical therapy and non-invasive treatment don’t successfully address your shoulder injury, your physician may refer you for arthroscopic shoulder surgery, where a camera and surgical instruments are inserted through a small incision.
Arthroscopic shoulder surgery settlements may be worth more than a settlement for an injury successfully treated with non-invasive methods. Other shoulder surgeries are more invasive and typically result in a higher settlement value.
Pain and suffering are not generally included in workers’ compensation settlements. However, if a third party caused your injury, you may be able to file a personal injury claim and recover compensation for your pain and suffering.
Workplace injuries can be complicated, whether you are trying to determine liability or correctly file your workers’ comp paperwork. Munley Law will guide you through your shoulder injury claim. Call us today to talk with our attorneys about the legal options for your torn bicep or rotator cuff injury case.
Speak To a Personal Injury Lawyer Now
Call Munley Law for a Free Consultation
If you’ve suffered a rotator cuff or bicep injury at work, workers’ compensation is available. A shoulder injury claim can be challenging, but Munley Law can help. Many rotator cuff and bicep injuries are easily treatable. When rotator cuff surgery is required, injured employees may be left with limited mobility and lingering shoulder pain.
Munley Law has nearly seven decades of success demanding fair workers’ compensation settlements from insurance companies and has won over $1 billion in verdicts and settlements for personal injury victims. Our attorneys have won numerous awards and accolades, are all members of the Pennsylvania Bar Association, and Caroline Munley is a certified workers’ compensation specialist. We will ensure that you receive the financial compensation you are entitled to for lost wages, medical expenses, shoulder surgery, and other related losses.
If you’ve suffered a torn rotator cuff, bicep tear, or another shoulder injury, contact Munley Law today. Our workers’ comp attorneys can help you pursue the benefits you deserve.
Frequently Asked Questions About Pennsylvania Workers’ Comp Shoulder Injury Settlements
How does the severity of the injury impact my settlement?
More severe or permanent injuries typically have larger settlement amounts. A left rotator cuff injury or a right biceps tear may also be higher if it is the injured worker’s dominant arm. Partial tears that can be treated with physical therapy will likely have a lower settlement value than an injury to the shoulder joint that requires corrective surgery.
Should I seek medical treatment for my shoulder injury?
You should seek immediate medical treatment if you feel or hear any popping or snapping in your shoulder joint or bicep, accompanied by sharp or sudden pain. If you feel pain or aching in your shoulder blade while performing job duties, you should make an appointment to see a doctor at your earliest convenience. Timely diagnosis and treatment can keep shoulder injuries from becoming permanent.
Can I claim workers’ comp for a company sport injury?
Some companies sponsor employee sports teams for team building or networking purposes. Shoulder injuries sustained as a result of these sports may be covered under workers’ comp law, particularly if your employer required participation, paid for jerseys, or paid league fees. An experienced lawyer can help you determine if you have a workers’ compensation case.
What is the difference between workers’ compensation payments and a settlement?
Workers’ comp payments are made during your recovery period. They comprise a portion of your wages and pay your medical bills. A workers’ comp settlement may be negotiated once you’ve reached maximum medical recovery. A settlement accounts for future medical care, lost earning capacity, and any permanent disability. A workers’ compensation settlement generally closes your claim.
How long do I have to file a workers’ comp claim?
Pennsylvania law requires you to report a workplace injury to your supervisor within 120 days of the occurrence, though sooner is always better. Filing a formal workers’ compensation claim must be accomplished within three years of the injury or occupational illness.
Many Pennsylvania workers suffer shoulder injuries as a result of day-to-day work activities. Munley Law’s Pennsylvania workers’ compensation attorneys are on your side. Let us make sure you recover the financial benefits you deserve. Call our law firm today.
Caroline Munley
Caroline is a passionate trial lawyer and courtroom advocate, a Pennsylvania Super Lawyer since 2022. Since 2018, she’s been listed in Best Lawyers in America (Personal Injury Plaintiffs; Workers’ Compensation Claimants, Northeastern PA) and named among PA’s Top 25 Women Trial Lawyers, the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates, and the Top 25 Medical Malpractice Trial Lawyers.
