Rotator Cuff Injuries
When you injure the muscles and tendons that stabilize your shoulder and allow it to move, this is called a rotator cuff injury. These injuries occur due to sudden trauma or because the muscles and tendons become inflamed, torn, or strained due to repetitive motion. These workplace injuries are most common in occupations that require lifting, reaching, pushing, or pulling.
You could qualify for workers’ compensation for a rotator cuff injury in Florida if you can show that your injury is work-related. Our Florida workers’ compensation lawyers are here to help you. Rosenberg & Rosenberg has spent more than 50 years fighting for the wrongfully injured. We can help Florida workers get the money they need and deserve after a workplace rotator cuff injury.
Contact us today for a free consultation.
Rotator cuff injuries can occur in a wide range of workplaces due to both repetitive use and traumatic injuries. Some common events that could make you eligible for workers’ compensation for a rotator cuff injury in Florida include:
Workers who must make repetitive overhead movements are at an increased risk of rotator cuff injuries over time. The repetitive motions wear down the tendons, leading to inflammation, strains, and tears. These injuries could happen to anyone who has to lift or reach frequently, such as painters, carpenters, and electricians.
Lifting, especially at shoulder height or above, strains the tendons that make up the rotator cuff. This strain is amplified if you do not use proper lifting techniques. This could cause repetitive stress injuries or traumatic injuries in anyone who often lifts and carries heavy equipment or boxes, such as stockers, movers, or warehouse workers.
Some jobs require regular pulling or pushing, which can cause stress to the rotator cuff. Sudden jerking movements or awkward, improper positions can increase the risk. This might occur to workers in maintenance, shipping, stocking, or delivery.
Some rotator cuff injuries occur due to sudden trauma. This could be a fall, vehicle collision, or other on-the-job accident that tears the rotator cuff. Falls can happen at any job site, but they are a common cause of injury on construction sites.
Working in tight spaces can cause those in some industries to repeatedly put their shoulders into awkward or unnatural positions. This could lead to strain on the rotator cuff and injuries that build up and worsen over time. Examples include plumbers, mechanics, electricians, and others who perform manual labor.
Sometimes, even office workers can suffer repetitive stress injuries to their shoulders. This is usually due to poor ergonomics. Their workspace is not designed to encourage proper posture, and their necks, backs, shoulders, and arms suffer.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that shoulder injuries, including rotator cuff issues, account for a significant proportion of workplace injuries that result in days away from work. From 2021 to 2022, shoulder injuries ranked ahead of all other types of upper extremity injuries except hand injuries in terms of prevalence.
According to a 2021 study published in Cureus, rotator cuff tears are one of the most common reasons for workers to seek workers’ compensation benefits.
If you have a rotator cuff injury and believe it to be work-related, you need to talk to a doctor approved by your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance provider as soon as possible. You should also notify your employer in writing about the injury, which ensures you have a paper trail to show when and how you reported it. This could be necessary to get workers’ compensation benefits.
If you suffered an on-the-job or work-related rotator cuff injury, our workers’ compensation attorneys in Florida can help you assess your options for financial recovery. We understand why you need compensation to get you through this challenging and frustrating time, and we are here to help.
Rotator cuff injuries often cause significant pain and disability. They make it extremely painful or impossible to lift your arms and reach up, which could prevent you from doing your job or even managing daily tasks at home. The treatment can be time-consuming, calling for rest, physical therapy, corticosteroid shots, or even surgery. The time away from work could be extensive.
We know you need to have an income during this time, and we want to help you secure the compensation available to you. You should not have to stress about your financial situation when you should be focused on healing.
Our legal team is here for you whenever you are ready to begin. We handle workers’ compensation claims, denials, and other issues. We can also assess, build, and file third-party negligence lawsuits based on a workplace injury.
If you encounter any issues in the workers’ compensation claims process, contact us immediately. Rosenberg & Rosenberg can help if your employer fails to report the incident, the insurer claims your injury isn’t work-related, or there are other issues preventing you from getting the benefits you deserve.
Under Florida law, you must report your injury to your employer within 30 days and file your workers’ compensation claim within two years. However, you should report the injury and file the claim as soon as possible to ensure you get the process started quickly.
If you already received a denial or are encountering other issues with your workers’ compensation claim, you need to act fast. There is only a limited time to appeal or otherwise challenge an unfair decision.
You also have a limited time to sue a liable third party for causing your accident and injuries. Under Florida Statutes § 95.11, you likely only have two years to file a lawsuit to hold them legally accountable for your rotator cuff injury and the resulting expenses and losses.
Florida law requires most businesses with four or more employees to provide workers’ compensation coverage from the first day they hire a new worker. If that worker suffers an on-the-job accident or work-related injury, the workers’ compensation insurance should cover:
In the case of a rotator cuff injury, you should receive medical care for all the treatments you need to make the fullest possible recovery, as well as partial lost wages for as long as you are out of work. If you cannot return to your old job, workers’ comp will help you train for a new position.
While you cannot sue your employer in Florida, you can file a case if a third party caused your injuries. For example, imagine a delivery driver struck you with their vehicle on the construction site where you were working. The driver’s negligence caused your injuries, so you deserve personal injury compensation.
If you pursue a case against the driver and their employer, our workplace injury attorneys in Florida could recover additional compensation for:
At Rosenberg & Rosenberg, we have secured millions of dollars for injured clients in Florida. We provide free consultations and are available 24/7. We handle each case like the client is a member of our family. We will listen closely to understand what you are going through and how we can best help.
We handle complex cases, fighting to secure financial recovery and protect your rights from start to finish. You can count on us to answer your calls, return your emails, and ensure you get answers to every question. Clients have access to a law firm partner and know each member of their personal legal team.
We know this time is full of hardship, turbulence, and uncertainty. We want to do all we can to reduce stress and make this process easier. As a contingency-fee law firm, you will not have to pay anything up front. We only get paid from the money we recover for you.
Our team from Rosenberg & Rosenberg provides free consultations for injured workers. We can help you understand your options for workers’ compensation for a rotator cuff injury in Florida and any other options you might have to seek a payout. We are here for you, fighting for your best interests. Contact us to get started today.
