Adam Baron, a top Ft. Lauderdale work injury attorney, explains Florida’s anti-retaliation law and what to do if you’re punished for filing a claim.
For jobs that require physical activity, your shoulder is involved in almost everything you do at work. You use it for lifting, for reaching, carrying, pushing, pulling, and using tools.
A serious shoulder injury can make even basic tasks difficult and may keep you away from work for weeks or months.
If you injured your shoulder on the job in Florida, workers’ compensation may provide medical treatment and wage-loss benefits.
The Law Offices of Adam Baron, P.A. represents injured workers throughout Florida, including Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Broward County, Palm Beach County, and South Florida.
How Do Shoulder Injuries Happen at Work?
Work-related shoulder injuries can happen during a single accident or develop gradually from repetitive work.
Common causes include:
- Lifting heavy objects
- Reaching overhead
- Pulling or pushing equipment
- Falling onto the shoulder
- Being struck by an object
- Repetitive lifting
- Construction work
- Warehouse work
- Manufacturing
- Healthcare and patient-care work
A worker may also develop a shoulder condition after years of repetitive movements.
What Are Common Work-Related Shoulder Injuries for Florida Workers?
Some of the most common shoulder injuries include:
- Rotator cuff tears
- Torn tendons
- Shoulder dislocations
- Labral tears
- Shoulder fractures
- Sprains and strains
- Impingement
- Bursitis
- Chronic shoulder pain
A shoulder injury can require physical therapy, injections, specialist treatment, or surgery.
In one recent Florida workers’ compensation case, a restaurant employee injured her shoulder while reaching for cups on a high shelf and ultimately required rotator cuff surgery.
Can Repetitive Work Cause a Shoulder Injury?
Not every work-related injury happens at one specific moment.
Workers who repeatedly lift, reach, carry, or perform overhead movements may develop shoulder problems over time.
This can be particularly important for construction workers, warehouse employees, healthcare workers, painters, mechanics, restaurant employees, and others whose jobs require frequent use of their shoulders.
Repetitive injuries can sometimes be more difficult to establish because there may not be one obvious accident date. Medical evidence connecting the condition to the work being performed can become particularly important.
If you feel like your injury was due to repetitive use, rather than a single incident, it’s important to review your work injury claims with an attorney.
What If the Insurance Company Says Your Shoulder Problem Is Degenerative?
Shoulder injuries can sometimes involve age-related or degenerative changes. An insurance company may argue that your condition was not caused by your work. That does not necessarily end the claim.
The important question may be whether your work caused or contributed to the injury or need for treatment under the applicable Florida workers’ compensation standards.
Your medical history, diagnostic testing, job duties, and medical opinions may all be relevant.
What Workers’ Compensation Benefits Are Available?
If your shoulder injury is accepted as a compensable workers’ compensation injury, you may be entitled to medical care related to the condition.
Treatment could include:
- Diagnostic imaging
- Orthopedic care
- Physical therapy
- Injections
- Prescription medication
- Surgery
- Rehabilitation
- Follow-up appointments
If your injury prevents you from working or limits your ability to perform your regular job, you may also qualify for wage-loss benefits under Florida’s workers’ compensation system.
What Should You Do After Injuring Your Shoulder at Work in Florida?
Report the injury to your employer promptly. Florida generally requires workplace injuries to be reported within 30 days, although reporting an injury as soon as possible is always the better approach.
Seek medical attention and explain exactly how the injury happened and what work activities you were performing.
Keep records of your treatment and follow your doctor’s restrictions. If your employer gives you light-duty work, make sure you understand the restrictions your doctor has placed on you.
Do not ignore persistent shoulder pain simply because you can still work.
A condition that begins as minor pain can eventually require significant medical treatment.
When Should You Contact a Florida Workers’ Compensation Lawyer?
Consider talking to a Florida workers’ compensation attorney if your shoulder injury involves surgery, significant time away from work, a disputed claim, a pre-existing condition, or an insurance company that refuses to provide treatment.
An attorney can also help if the insurer disputes the connection between your job and your shoulder condition.
At the Law Offices of Adam Baron, P.A., our attorneys have more than 30 years of experience representing injured workers throughout Florida. We work directly with our clients and help them navigate the workers’ compensation system.
What If My Shoulder Injury Claim Was Denied?
If your workers’ compensation claim was denied, an attorney like Adam Baron can help you file an appeal to challenge the decision. Every year, tens of thousands of on-the-job injuries and illnesses are reported in the state of Florida. However, only some of the individuals who suffer from these injuries and illnesses will receive the workers’ compensation benefits they deserve. If your claim was denied, do not wait to involve a lawyer. Together, you can appeal the denial and fight for the benefits you rightfully deserve.
In the state of Florida, you have exactly 30 days from the date of your injury or illness to file a workers’ compensation claim for benefits. Claims filed after the 30-day limit will be denied. However, even claims filed within the 30-day time frame can be denied. Florida employers, and the insurance companies that represent them, can deny workers’ compensation claims if they believe them to be invalid.
At the Law Offices of Adam Baron, P.A., we’re here to help you appeal a workers’ compensation claim denial. Backed by decades of experience and a history of successful case results, we are prepared to help you fight any unfair denial made against your claim.
Injured Your Shoulder at Work in Florida?
A shoulder injury can affect your ability to work and perform everyday activities.
If you were injured while working in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, Coral Springs, or anywhere else in Florida, the Law Offices of Adam Baron, P.A. can review your situation and explain your options.
Contact us for a free, no-obligation case review.