Shoulder injuries from car accidents are among the most common types of bodily harm experienced during a traffic collision. Shoulder injuries result from rubbing against hard surfaces, being yanked around, or bracing for impact. Shoulder injuries can be extremely painful, take months or even years to heal, and restrict movement, making it difficult to carry out daily tasks.
The Quad City personal injury lawyers at Winstein, Kavensky & Cunningham explain some of the most common shoulder injuries after a car accident and how we can help if you’ve been injured.
Shoulder Injuries from Car Accidents
After a car accident, a shoulder injury might not be evident right away. It might take a few days or weeks for symptoms of a shoulder injury to appear, such as pain, stiffness, and pain when moving the arm. However, many shoulder injuries also have similar symptoms. If you think you might have a shoulder injury from a car accident, you should see a doctor immediately for a proper diagnosis. Here are some common shoulder injuries from car accidents.
Shoulder Dislocation
This injury occurs when the bone has moved out of its usual position in the shoulder socket. A dislocated shoulder needs to be treated as soon as possible. It is possible to suffer from a partial shoulder dislocation, which might be overlooked, as a partial dislocation is not as visually evident as a fully dislocated shoulder. See a doctor immediately if you are experiencing shoulder pain after a car accident.
Torn Rotator Cuff
The muscles that join the arm bone to the shoulder blade are collectively referred to as the rotator cuff, which allows the arm to rotate and lift. Torn rotator cuff symptoms include pain and a cracking sound when moving the arm. This injury often requires surgery.
Fracture
A shoulder fracture is another painful injury many people experience after a car accident. Breaking bones in the shoulder can be tricky to heal as oftentimes, the shoulder must be immobilized to treat the fracture. Many shoulder fractures also include torn ligaments.
Soft Tissue Injury
A soft tissue injury is when muscles, tendons, and ligaments are damaged. These kinds of soft tissues support the shoulder joint’s healthy operation. Additionally, they give the joint support and stability so that your arm can move freely. A soft tissue injury requires CT scans or MRIs to diagnose, meaning doctors can sometimes miss these injuries in an exam after a car accident. Like other injuries, symptoms of a soft tissue injury might not appear until some time after an accident.
Whiplash
Whiplash, though commonly thought of as a neck and head injury, can result in pain and swelling that compresses or harms surrounding nerves. You may get sharp, excruciating pains that shoot into your shoulder and down your arm. Additionally, shoulder injuries can also impact other parts of the spine.
What Treatment Options Do I Have After a Shoulder Injury from a Car Accident?
Visiting a doctor and obtaining the proper treatment after a Quad Cities car accident will both help you heal properly and will help further your personal injury case by providing a paper trail of your injury treatment. Like other injuries, there is no one-size-fits-all treatment for a shoulder injury after a car accident. If you are injured in a car accident, it is likely that you will need some sort of treatment, such as:
- Medication
- Steroid shots
- Physical therapy
- Chiropractic care
- Surgery
- Immobilization devices like slings and braces
Compensation obtained from a personal injury lawsuit can help pay for any shoulder injury treatments you might need after a car accident.
How Can a Personal Injury Attorney Help with My Shoulder Injury?
If you or a loved one have suffered a shoulder injury from a car accident, call a personal injury attorney at Winstein, Kavensky & Cunningham as soon as possible. One of our attorneys can use evidence from the car accident and medical records from your injury to help build your personal injury case. You may be entitled to compensation for pain and suffering, lost wages, property damage, and more.
We’ve helped shoulder injury victims in Rock Island, Henry, Mercer, Whiteside, and Knox counties in Illinois or Scott, Clinton, Muscatine, Cedar, and Jackson counties in Iowa. Ready for your free case consultation? You can reach us 24/7 by phone at (309) 794-1515, via LiveChat, or by filling out our contact form.