Solicitors for Shoulder Injuries

Rotator cuff tears are commonly missed at the initial presentation, particularly in the days after an accident when pain and swelling make examination difficult. This is a recognised difficulty rather than a sign that nothing is wrong. Where a tear is identified later, medical evidence can link it to the original accident, using the mechanism of injury and the clinical history.

Frozen shoulder is a condition where the shoulder becomes stiff and painful, and it can develop after an injury even where the original damage was modest. It typically passes through stages over many months, sometimes a year or more, and the recovery can be incomplete. Because of the timescale, the claim often needs updated medical evidence before it is settled.

Yes. Where surgery is needed, the operation itself, the recovery period, the time off work and any scarring all form part of the claim. Where further surgery may be required in future, that can also be claimed if the medical evidence supports it. The claim should account for the full course of treatment, not just what has happened so far.

A soft tissue shoulder injury that resolves within a few months may settle within six to nine months. Where there is a tear, a dislocation requiring surgery, or a frozen shoulder that persists, it usually takes considerably longer, because the claim cannot be valued properly until the outcome is clear.

Yes, where the effect can be evidenced. If you can no longer do overhead work, heavy lifting or repetitive tasks, or can only work fewer hours, the financial difference forms part of the claim. Evidence about what the job requires, alongside the medical evidence, is needed to establish it.

For most claims in England and Wales the limit is three years from the accident. Where the injury developed gradually, such as from repetitive work, the three years usually runs from the date you knew or ought to have known that the injury was connected to the work. Different rules apply to children and to people who lack capacity.

Often yes. Where an accident is partly your responsibility, compensation is usually reduced to reflect your share of the blame rather than refused. This is known as contributory negligence, and the reduction is a percentage applied to the total value of the claim.

You are not required to use one. That said, shoulder injuries involve more medical complexity than many injuries, and the evidence on whether damage was caused by the accident or was pre-existing often decides the outcome. A solicitor can help ensure the medical evidence addresses those questions properly.