Shoulder injuries can derail steady work in manufacturing, healthcare, construction, and logistics. Many claims result in workers’ compensation shoulder injury settlements that reflect wage loss, medical care, and any permanent limitations. Our experienced Gastonia workers’ compensation lawyers at Horton & Mendez, Workers’ Compensation Attorneys, will explain how these rules apply to your situation and also how we will ensure an accurate calculation of your claim.
Insurance carriers study patterns and push for low numbers. Our firm’s lawyers formerly worked for insurance companies, so we know the tactics used to minimize arthroscopic shoulder surgery settlements that workers’ compensation claimants deserve. We will bring a coordinated strategy to your case from day one. Please don’t hesitate to contact our office for more information.
Common Workplace Accidents That Cause Shoulder Injuries
Shoulder harm at work often stems from force, repetition, or awkward motion. The facts you document about the task and the body movement will matter later.
Lifting and handling are the primary causes of workplace injuries and claims. Warehouse picks, overhead installs, and shifting patients can strain the rotator cuff or labrum. A mid-shift slip on an oily floor or a sudden jerk from a faulty hoist can also produce a tear. When discussing your options, a workers’ compensation lawyer from our firm will outline how those facts connect to benefits under state law, without requiring you to guess on your own.
A surprise event, like a falling load, may cause a traumatic tear that needs surgery. Vehicle or equipment jolts can cause the arm and shoulder to twist, leading to instability that may not be apparent until the swelling subsides. In team meetings, an attorney will compare these mechanisms to medical findings so the record aligns with what really happened.
Types of Shoulder Injuries Covered by Workers’ Comp in NC
Typical diagnoses include rotator cuff tears, labral tears, impingement, bursitis, AC joint sprains, and biceps tendon injuries. North Carolina law requires employers to provide medical treatment that’s reasonably necessary to cure, give relief, or lessen disability.
When surgery is needed, many patients undergo arthroscopy to repair a tear, remove bone spurs, or address instability. Physical therapy and work restrictions follow. After recovery reaches maximum medical improvement, a treating doctor may assign an impairment rating, which the North Carolina Industrial Commission (NCIC) uses to evaluate permanent partial disability. Your lawyer will explain how that rating affects a workers’ comp shoulder injury settlement.
Average Settlement Amounts for Shoulder Injuries
North Carolina calculates weekly checks at two-thirds of your average weekly wage, subject to annual caps set by the NCIC. The statute also lists a “schedule of injuries.” For total loss of an arm, compensation is available for 240 weeks at the weekly rate; partial loss pays a proportional share of those weeks based on the percentage rating. An attorney will take care of all the math and give you a clear idea of how much you can expect to receive.
Shoulder injury settlements consider more than ratings. Time out of work, the need for future care, permanent work restrictions, and whether you can return to your old job all affect outcomes. Some cases resolve as clincher agreements that close medical benefits; others resolve by accepting the rating weeks while leaving medical open. Our team will map both paths and the tradeoffs that come with each.
How Long-Term or Permanent Shoulder Injuries Affect Compensation
Permanent limits change the conversation from “weeks on the chart” to how the shoulder affects earning power. Under North Carolina law, you can choose between the rating route under Section 97-31 or wage-loss benefits under Section 97-30 if partial disability continues. The better option depends on job demands, restrictions, and actual wages after recovery. In a review meeting, a lawyer will compare those routes before recommending a decision.
Future medical care is also crucial. Cortisone injections, therapy boosters, hardware removal, or revision surgery can be significant costs. The law requires employers to furnish reasonably necessary medical treatment, and the NCIC can apply utilization guidelines to resolve disputes. When a carrier disputes care, an attorney will prepare the medical support and push for approval or negotiate funds in settlement to cover that risk.
Steps to Take After a Work-Related Shoulder Injury in Gastonia
First, report the injury to your employer promptly and follow the company’s procedures so that the claim is properly noticed and recorded. Next, seek approved medical care, follow restrictions, and keep copies of visit summaries and work notes.
File required forms with the NCIC to protect benefits, and keep a running list of missed time and restricted duty shifts. In follow-up calls, a lawyer will track deadlines, wage data, and provider approvals so gaps do not weaken the claim.
Average weekly wage drives almost every dollar in a settlement. Pay records, overtime, and bonuses should be gathered to confirm an accurate calculation. During negotiations, an attorney will insist on the correct wage figure before discussing any workers’ compensation shoulder injury settlements.
How to Strengthen Your Workers’ Compensation Case
Consistent medical history supports causation. Describe job tasks the same way to every provider, and bring work notes to each visit. Clear restrictions help the employer place you in a light-duty position that fits, which avoids accusations of non-cooperation. In strategy sessions, a lawyer will coordinate with your doctor to ensure restrictions match the actual job.
Communication records matter. Keep emails about modified duty offers, shift assignments, and missed time. Save calendars and therapy attendance logs. If a rating is assigned too early or seems low, North Carolina allows a second opinion on the percentage of permanent disability under the NCIC’s rules. When ratings are contested, an attorney will arrange an independent evaluation and present the stronger report at mediation.
Work With a Gastonia Workers’ Comp Lawyer to Maximize Your Settlement
Horton & Mendez, Workers’ Compensation Attorneys, brings a team approach to every workers’ comp shoulder injury settlement. In formal conferences and mediations, a lawyer will present a complete wage package, ratings support, and proof of ongoing restrictions.
You will not have to sort through ratings, wage math, or medical approvals alone. Horton & Mendez, Workers’ Compensation Attorneys, will organize the facts, apply North Carolina law, and pursue the clearest path to a fair result. Begin your free case evaluation with our secure online form.
