Shoulder Injury Lawyer in Massachusetts

Shoulder Injuries From Accidents in Massachusetts

The shoulder is a complex ball-and-socket joint that offers wide range of motion at the cost of inherent instability. This design makes it vulnerable to injury in motor vehicle accidents, falls, and workplace incidents. A single accident can produce multiple simultaneous shoulder injuries, a rotator cuff tear combined with a labral tear and AC joint injury, for example, requiring comprehensive orthopedic evaluation. When another party’s negligence causes your shoulder injury, you are entitled to full compensation for every element of treatment and its consequences. Attorney Jeffrey C. Lavey represents shoulder injury victims throughout Massachusetts.

Types of Accident-Related Shoulder Injuries

• Rotator cuff tears: partial or full-thickness tears of the four-tendon rotator cuff
• Shoulder dislocation: the humeral head is forced out of the glenoid socket
• Labral tears: tears to the fibrocartilaginous rim of the shoulder socket (SLAP and Bankart tears)
• Acromioclavicular (AC) joint injuries: separation of the collarbone from the shoulder blade
• Glenohumeral fractures: fractures of the humeral head or proximal humerus
• Frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis): can develop after shoulder trauma or immobilization

The Diagnosis Process

Shoulder injuries require careful orthopedic evaluation including physical examination and appropriate imaging. While X-rays identify fractures and major dislocations, MRI, and in some cases MRI arthrography, is necessary to evaluate the rotator cuff, labrum, and other soft tissue structures. A thorough diagnostic workup early after the accident ensures that all injuries are identified and treated, and creates the medical documentation that supports your legal claim. Attorney Lavey advises every shoulder injury client on the importance of comprehensive imaging.

Surgical Treatment Options

Many significant shoulder injuries require surgical treatment. Arthroscopic rotator cuff repair addresses full-thickness tears. Bankart repair and Latarjet procedures address shoulder instability from labral tears and bone loss. AC joint reconstruction addresses severe acromioclavicular separations. Shoulder replacement addresses unrepairable humeral fractures or severe glenohumeral arthritis. Each surgical procedure involves significant costs, recovery time, and physical therapy, all of which are compensable from the at-fault party.

Compensation for Shoulder Injury Victims

Shoulder injury compensation covers all medical expenses from emergency treatment through surgery and physical therapy, all lost wages during recovery, pain and suffering during healing and from any chronic shoulder pain, future costs for anticipated additional procedures or arthritis management, and any permanent limitation in shoulder function that affects employment or quality of life. Attorney Lavey documents every element of shoulder injury damages comprehensively and pursues full compensation for every client.

Frequently Asked Questions