South Jersey Workplace Shoulder Injury Attorney

Experienced South Jersey Workers’ Comp Lawyers Fight for Workers Who Suffered Shoulder Injuries at Work

Shoulder injuries sideline South Jersey workers more often than injuries to other body parts. After a shoulder injury, you may need to take time off work, switch to different work, or limit the work you can do. You may need medical attention. You may also need help covering your family’s expenses while you cannot work.

Workers’ compensation provides benefits to help employees who suffer work-related shoulder injuries. If you’ve been injured on the job, talk to the experienced South Jersey workplace injury attorneys at Petrillo & Goldberg today. 

Common Causes of Workplace Shoulder Injuries

Shoulder injuries can occur in nearly any workplace and be caused by nearly any situation. According to the National Safety Council (NSC), common causes of work-related shoulder injuries in 2022 included:

• Carrying or managing containers. 59,300 people suffered shoulder injuries from carrying boxes and other containers in 2022. These injuries made up 25 percent of all shoulder injuries that required time away from work to heal.
• Slip and fall accidents. Slips, trips, and falls caused 26,980 serious workplace shoulder injuries in the US in 2022. These accidents occurred among 12 percent of workers who needed time off work, a transfer, or a work restriction after their shoulder injury.
• Vehicle-related injuries. Entering, exiting, and loading vehicles, as well as vehicle accidents, caused 17,020 shoulder injuries nationwide in 2022, according to the NSC. 7.4 percent of people who needed time off work, transfers, or restrictions for shoulder injuries got hurt in a vehicle-related accident. 
• Using machinery or hand tools. Using machinery or hand tools caused over 15,000 serious shoulder injuries to US workers in 2022. 

Transportation and material moving workers were most likely to suffer shoulder injuries in 2022, followed by service workers. Those who worked on assembly lines, performed installations, maintenance, and repair, and worked in healthcare or construction were also more likely to suffer shoulder injuries than workers in other occupations. 

What Makes Shoulder Injuries Tough to Treat? 

Shoulder injuries caused more days away from work, job transfers, and job restrictions than injuries to any other body part in 2022, according to the National Safety Council (NSC). The average worker needed 30 days off work after a shoulder injury in 2022. 

Even after returning to work, workers needed an average of six days of job restrictions or a transfer to a different job as their shoulder injuries healed. About 7 percent of all shoulder injuries resulted in time off work, a job transfer, or a job restriction. 

The most common shoulder injuries at work are sprains, strains, and tears, according to the NSC. These injuries can be difficult to treat. Some shoulder injuries in this category, like rotator cuff tears, may require surgery to treat. For others, there is little the injured person can do except rest and let the body recover – which can be difficult when there’s work to be done on the job and at home. 

In 2022, 151,880 workers nationwide experienced a shoulder sprain, strain, or tear severe enough to require them to take time off work, switch to another job, or have their duties at work restricted. Of all serious on-the-job shoulder injuries, 66.4 percent were strains, sprains, and tears. 

The second most common category of workplace shoulder injuries in 2022 was “soreness and pain.” Shoulder soreness and pain can be difficult to treat because it can be difficult to pin down the cause. Repetitive strain injuries can result from doing the same work or the same motion repeatedly. Often, rest is required – but rest directly conflicts with the demands of the job. 

What to Do After a Shoulder Injury at Work

If you experience a shoulder injury at work, the first step is to report the injury. Tell your supervisor, personnel office, or anyone in authority at your workplace. You do not have to report in writing, but it may help you to make a record of when you reported the injury and what you said. 

Once you report the injury, your employer must open a workers’ compensation case with their insurer and report the injury to the state. Your employer must also give you a list of approved doctors who can treat your injury. See a doctor as soon as possible. Follow the doctor’s advice and keep all your follow-up appointments. 

Speak to an Experienced Workers’ Comp Injury Lawyer Today

Navigating workers’ comp can be confusing, especially if you’ve never done it before. An experienced attorney like the team at Petrillo & Goldberg can answer your questions and defend your legal rights. Contact us today to schedule a free, confidential consultation.