If you have dislocated your shoulder while at work, not only are you likely to be in pain but you may need to take some time off work to recover. This may have a significant effect on your earning ability and the money available to support you and your family. Things aren’t really so bad if you know your rights, as most workers who have fallen sick or been injured while undertaking work duties are entitled to workers’ compensation. This may cover you for part of the loss in earnings and the value of your medical treatment too. If you suffered a shoulder injury while on the job, the medical bills will add up quickly. When you file a workers’ compensation claim, workers’ comp will cover the cost of your medical care, so that can be very beneficial in itself. The cost of medical care for a shoulder injury can vary greatly. A dislocated shoulder will require treatment by a physician. The physician will move the bone in place, splint it, provide prescription medication for the pain and inflammation, and then prescribe physical therapy or rehabilitation. Where you live does affect the overall cost, and the kind of facility where you seek treatment – non-profit or for profit – also comes into play. According to CostHelper.com, a dislocated shoulder can be an expensive injury. Without health insurance, the diagnosis of a dislocated shoulder along with the treatment of the injury, including x-rays, facilities fees, and the physician charges run slightly less than $1,000. In some extreme cases, when the dislocation was severe, surgery may be needed. In those cases when anesthesia is necessary, the cost could be as much as $8,000. On average, a shoulder x-ray is $210, but some providers reportedly charge $1,500 or more. Treatment without anesthesia is about $400, but that doesn’t include the physician charges. Treatment of the shoulder while using anesthesia could cost anywhere from $2,400 to as much as $8,700. The physician’s fee could range from $250 to $950 depending on the injury’s severity and the extent of the care that is required. How a Dislocated Shoulder Might Lead to a Workers’ Comp. Claim A dislocated shoulder can be caused in many types of occupations. It can take place in a slip and fall accident and an accident involving any type of vehicle including forklifts and trucks. Once the dislocated shoulder has been forced back into its correct position it will take up to 12 weeks to fully recover. Some of this time may involve help from a physiotherapist. You may need to take a considerable period of time off work, especially if your job requires strength and mobility such as a forklift driver. A forklift driver, for example, earns approximately $15 per hour, but this will depend on location and experience. Also, the more time spent as a forklift driver, the higher the wage. You will get some of this money in a workers’ compensation claim. The Accidents That Might Cause a Dislocated Shoulder A dislocated shoulder occurs when force is exerted on the shoulder causing the joint to be forced apart. This can be very painful because the tissues situated around the shoulder joint are torn and stretched. There may be bleeding and swelling and the joint may look as though it’s deformed. Many Workplace Injuries are due to Shoulder Dislocation Injuries like a dislocated shoulder usually happen to adults and make up a considerable number of workplace injuries. In turn, these result in many work days lost due to the injury. Millions of dollars are paid out in workers’ comp every year due to a shoulder dislocation. Calculating The Cost of A Dislocated Shoulder Claim If you have suffered a dislocated shoulder in a workplace accident, you will want to make sure you ask for a fair settlement. Only specific expenses and damages are covered by workers’ compensation insurance. When you file your claim, you will want to make sure you provide supporting documentation. Your medical care, of course, should be covered by workers’ compensation insurance. You can claim all your medical expenses. This will include physician visits, any hospital or facility fees, lab and medical tests costs, and any rehabilitation or physical therapy expenses. Keep copies of medical records and medical bills to support your claim. You should also consider any future medical costs associated with treating your injury. For example, if your physician says you will need several follow-up visits, or if you may require surgery in the future, be sure to figure in those expenses and needs when you determine the value of your claim. You should get documentation from your physician that indicates the need for future care, and what that care may consist of. Also, workers’ compensation will cover about two-thirds of your lost wages. Be sure to maintain thorough documentation that shows your lost wages. You should keep track of any lost time by keeping copies of timesheets and pay stubs. Also, you should keep copies of any medical excuses. You will need proof that your treating physician said you were unable to work during that time. Other supporting records for your claim will include a copy of the accident report completed by your manager along with any witness statements. To calculate the cost, you should add up all the past medical care, figure in any future medical needs, add up all the past lost earnings, and then figure in any future lost wages. As an example, you may only be able to work part-time for the next three months, or you may require surgery that will involve an additional 12 weeks off work. All those costs and losses should be added into the value of your workers’ compensation settlement for a dislocated shoulder. A workers’ compensation lawyer will help you add up your losses and determine a fair settlement for your workplace injury claim. What You Will be Paid in a Workers’ Comp Payment for a Dislocated Shoulder? If you are in a job that entitles you to workers’ compensation you can expect to receive a percentage of the income you received before your accident as well as the costs of all your medical treatment. There are certain situations that could occur because of your dislocated which include: Temporary Total Disability where your dislocated shoulder stops you from performing your job’s role for a short period. Permanent Total Disability wouldn’t usually happen with a dislocated shoulder injury but it could happen if you fail to completely recover. Temporary Partial Disability occurs when the dislocated shoulder limits the use of your shoulder for a relatively short period of time. Permanent Partial Disability takes place when you are unable to perform the allocated duties for certain areas of your job due to a dislocated shoulder. Dislocated Shoulder Settlement When you file a workers’ compensation claim for a dislocated shoulder, you will want to make sure you add in all your losses. You cannot go back and ask for more damages after you have agreed to a settlement. Of course, the value of a dislocated shoulder settlement can vary greatly from one claim to another. Each individual settlement must be addressed individually. Of course, a claim that involves shoulder surgery and that requires at least three months off work will be valued more than a claim that involves four physician visits, 10 physical therapy visits, and three weeks of light duty work. Supporting documentation and a careful review of your losses is a necessity so you can determine the value of your dislocated shoulder settlement. As an example, if your dislocated shoulder has led to $7,500 in past medical bills and will require $4,000 more in medical care, that total is $11,500. If you have missed enough work to lose $10,000 in wages and workers’ compensation pays about two-thirds your lost wages, that will be about $6,700. If you will lose out on another $1,000 of wages, that will add up to be $670 more. In that specific scenario, your losses will be $6,700 plus $670 for lost wages and $11,500 in medical bills. That total amount adds up to be $18,870. Of course, if your medical bills add up to a larger total, or if you miss more work, the figure could add up to even a greater amount. You Will Need To Gather Evidence to Prove Your Claim Your physician will undertake specific diagnostic tests which will confirm the presence of a dislocated shoulder. You should keep these results safe and the invoices and receipts for any payments you have made for doctor’s appointments and x-rays and other tests. If you have been feeling the pain from a dislocated shoulder for some time you should keep any written accounts from witnesses which show your injury was caused on the job. The witnesses could be work colleagues, managers or supervisors who saw the accident happen. You May Need to Speak to an Attorney Filing a workers’ comp. case can sometimes be awkward as insurers never want to pay the workers’ comp entitlements you deserve. You should consider hiring a workers’ comp attorney who will ensure you get the workers’ comp that’s rightfully yours. If you have never filed a workers’ comp claim before an attorney will help you do this and will ensure you get your full entitlement.
