Shoulder Injury at Work? Why These Cases Are the Most Disputed in Workers’ Comp

Video Transcript

If you’ve injured your shoulder on the job, it’s important to understand that shoulder injuries are some of the most complicated and most commonly disputed injuries in the workers’ compensation system. A shoulder injury may begin with pain, stiffness, or weakness, but underneath those symptoms could be a torn rotator cuff, a labral tear, nerve damage, or other conditions that don’t always show up immediately. These injuries often require advanced imaging and evaluation by the right specialist. If they aren’t properly diagnosed and treated early, they can permanently affect your ability to work and your quality of life. One of the biggest problems we see is injured workers being rushed through treatment. In many cases, the workers’ compensation insurance adjuster will direct you to a doctor who minimizes the injury, limits treatment, or avoids ordering the right tests, like MRIs or referrals to shoulder specialists that are necessary for a proper diagnosis. Another common tactic is for the insurance company to argue that your shoulder injury is preexisting. We often hear this even when the worker had no pain, no restrictions, or no trouble using their shoulder before the work accident. That label is frequently used to deny care, delay treatment, or reduce benefits. At the Goings Law Firm, we take a very different approach. We work to make sure our clients are evaluated by the right doctors — doctors who take shoulder injuries seriously, order appropriate testing, and clearly document how the work injury caused or worsened the condition. The quality of your medical care and documentation can make or break a shoulder injury claim. Our workers’ compensation attorneys bring over 45 years of combined experience representing insurance companies and employers in workers’ compensation cases. We understand how claims are evaluated, how treatment is controlled, and how injuries are minimized. We now use that experience to protect injured workers and push for the full benefits of the law, including proper medical care, wage replacement, and long-term disability benefits when appropriate. A shoulder injury can impact your job, your income and your future for years. If you are hurt at work and feel like your injury isn’t being taken seriously, you don’t have to face this process alone. Call the Goings Law Firm. We’ll help protect your health, your benefits, and your future.