Shoulder Injuries at Work in Maryland

Workplace accidents, and even routine work duties, can result in traumatic and stress-related injuries, which may be compensable through the Maryland workers’ compensation system. Shoulder injuries can occur as traumatic injuries in unexpected, single-event accidents, as well as a result of repetitive motion or repetitive stress. What should you know about shoulder injuries in the workplace and seeking workers’ compensation coverage for a serious shoulder injury? Consider the following information from our Maryland workers’ compensation lawyers.

Common Workplace Shoulder Injuries 

What kinds of injuries can affect workers in Maryland? According to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS), most types of shoulder injuries that happen in the United States “involve the muscles, ligaments, and tendons, rather than the bones.” At the same time, however, accidents can result in traumatic bone fracture injuries that affect the shoulder. These bone breaks typically involve fractures of the humerus (which is the arm bone) or the glenoid (which is the shoulder socket).

Signs You Could Have a Shoulder Workplace Injury 

How can you determine if you have a shoulder injury? The AAOS says you should consider the following symptoms, which can be signs of traumatic or stress-related shoulder injuries:

• Shoulder stiffness;
• Inability to rotate the arm in all positions;
• Feeling like your shoulder could come out of the socket; and/or
• Lacking typical shoulder strength to perform your regular work duties.

Causes of Shoulder Injuries in the Workplace 

How do shoulder injuries happen? Shoulder injuries can occur in a range of ways, including but not limited to:

• Repetitive overhead motions, like hanging items above the head or moving objects stacked above the head;
• Heavy lifting, especially with improper technique;
• Slips and falls; and
• Falls from heights.

Shoulder injuries can occur in many different types of industries, from construction to manufacturing to retail work.

How to Seek Workers’ Compensation Coverage for a Shoulder Injury 

To be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits in Maryland after a shoulder injury — including medical care and wage-replacement benefits — you will need to prove that your injury arose out of and occurred in the course of employment.

Given that workers’ compensation is a no fault system, there is no need to show that another person’s negligence caused your shoulder injury or that another person is liable. Often, even if your own negligence resulted in the shoulder injury, it can still be compensable through the Maryland workers’ compensation system as long as you meet the other requirements. If you have any questions or concerns, you should seek advice from a lawyer to ensure you take all necessary steps to be eligible for compensation.

Contact a Maryland Workers’ Compensation Lawyer 

Did you sustain a shoulder injury as a result of your work? It may be possible to seek workers’ compensation benefits to cover your medical care and to help pay for your lost wages during your necessary time away from work. You should get in touch with one of the experienced Maryland workers’ compensation attorneys at the Law Offices of Steinhardt, Siskind and Lieberman, LLC for more information. Contact us today to discuss your work injury and your workers’ compensation claim.

Sources:

orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases–conditions/common-shoulder-injuries/

wcc.state.md.us/gen_info/faq_employees.html