Shoulder Injuries And Illinois Work Comp Overview

We assist injured workers in Illinois every day, especially those suffering from shoulder injuries. These injuries are unfortunately quite common, and we ensure that workers get the right attorney for their case, along with the necessary medical care and a settlement once they are fully recovered. With over 20 years of experience, we are ready to help you. Contact us at 312-346-5320 for help everywhere in Illinois.

Causes of Shoulder Injuries

The workers we assist get injured in various ways. Here are some of the most common causes:

Overexertion/Heavy Lifting: Workers who consistently lift, push, or pull heavy items are prone to shoulder injuries. Improper lifting techniques or being asked to lift too much can lead to these injuries.

Traumatic Events or Falls: Shoulder injuries can occur after one-time events such as slips, falls, or high-impact accidents. These injuries are common in construction and warehouse jobs where heavy machinery and working from heights are prevalent.

Repetitive Motion: Jobs that require employees to repeat the same motion repeatedly can cause shoulder problems. Activities such as carpentry , assembling products, or painting are common examples.

Specific Types of Shoulder Injuries

Common shoulder injuries that occur at work include fractures, dislocations, torn rotator cuffs, bursitis, labrum tears, frozen shoulder, SLAP tears, and impingement. There are varying degrees of how bad you can be hurt of course, but most injuries require at least physical therapy and many require epidural steroid injections and/or surgery.

Workers’ Compensation Process

Whether your shoulder injury occurred due to a one-time traumatic event or developed over time, it is crucial to report your injury to your employer. Seeking medical care is critical for your recovery and your workers’ compensation claim. The sooner you do so, the better.

We recommend you keep notes during this process on the following:

• What was the cause of your injury?
• What is your diagnosis? How severe is the injury?
• What are the dates of your doctor visits? Who treated you? What was the treatment plan?
• How has your injury impacted your job duties? How has it affected your daily life activities?
• When did you get injured?

Also, keep copies of all your medical bills, doctors’ reports/opinions, insurance statements, etc. and make sure to report the accident/injury to your employer ASAP. If you wait too long, you could lose your right to benefits even if you otherwise have a great case.

Under Illinois work comp law, you should receive payment for time missed from work, payment of 100% of your medical expenses and eventually a settlement when you are better.

A workers’ compensation lawyer can help ensure that you get what you are owed under the law. A great one will also make sure that you don’t get taken advantage of in ways you may not be aware of. This includes not allowing recorded statements or for nurse case managers to interfere with your medical care or talk to your doctor. And of course in the end, a great Illinois work comp attorney will get you the best settlement possible. Every lawyer we recommend works on a contingency basis which means they only get paid if they make a recovery and even then their fee is limited to 20%.

We have assisted tens of thousands of injured workers in Illinois. For free assistance, please contact us anytime at 800-517-1614. We promise to give you the same guidance we’d give to a family member or friend.