Shoulders are essential for countless tasks and inevitably get put through a lot of strain. When one or both are injured, you may be unable to work or do the things that you love. Seeking shoulder injury compensation if the accident was due to a liable party’s actions/inactions in regard to your safety can be one way to lessen any burden from a sudden loss of movement.
In this guide, you will find out what factors decide how much compensation for a shoulder injury at work, in a road traffic accident or in a public place you could receive. We will also delve into some of the most common causes of shoulder injury, reveal how you could make a personal injury claim, and discuss your options for pursuing compensation.
Reach out to our team today for a free assessment and advice about shoulder injury compensation claims. To get started:
- Ring us at 0800 408 7826.
- Contact us by filling out our online form.
- Use our live chat service.
Select A Section
- How Much Compensation You Can Get For A Shoulder Injury
- Am I Eligible To Make A Shoulder Injury Claim?
- Common Causes Of Shoulder Injuries That You Can Claim For
- How To Make A Shoulder Injury Compensation Claim
- How Our Panel Of Solicitors Can Help You Claim
- More Information
How Much Compensation You Can Get For A Shoulder Injury
If you’ve injured your shoulder, you probably want to know how much compensation you could receive. Payouts for a shoulder injury will take into account physical injuries and psychological damage.
We can provide you with figures for shoulder injury compensation amounts sourced from the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG). Those who value personal injury claims may refer to these guidelines alongside your medical evidence to help calculate your compensation. These guidelines cannot be guaranteed as every personal injury case is different. What amount of compensation you receive will depend on your particular circumstances and the severity of your injury. Please note that the figure in the first row was not taken from the JCG.
| Injury | Severity | Compensation Guideline | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Serious Injuries and Special Damages | Severe | Up to £250,000+ | Multiple severe injuries alongside financial losses, including loss of earnings. |
| Neck Injury | Severe (ii) | £80,240 to £159,770 | Covers severe injuries like permanent damage to the brachial plexus or considerably impaired neck movement. |
| Other Arm Injuries | Severe Injuries | £117,360 to £159,770 | Extremely serious injuries without amputation that drastically impact the arm, such as severe damage to the brachial plexus. |
| Shoulder Injury | Severe | £23,430 to £58,610 | Frequently connected to neck injuries, such as a disability resulting from brachial plexus damage. |
| Shoulder Injury | Serious | £15,580 to £23,430 | Cases involve shoulder dislocation, brachial plexus damage, and permanent soft tissue injuries. |
| Shoulder Injury | Moderate | £9,630 to £15,580 | Frozen shoulder that limits movement and causes pain for around two years. In addition, temporary soft tissue injuries that present for over two years. |
| Shoulder Injury | Minor (i) | £5,310 to £9,630 | Significant pain from a soft tissue injury and a relatively full recovery in under two years. |
| Shoulder Injury | Minor (ii) | £2,990 to £5,310 | Soft tissue injury that causes significant pain but is almost fully healed in less than a year. |
| Shoulder Injury | Minor (iii) | Up to £2,990 | A soft tissue injury that leads to considerable pain and almost fully heals in under three months. |
| Shoulder Injury | Fracture of Clavicle | £6,280 to £14,940 | This category will take into account the severity of a fracture, disability, and any persistent symptoms. |
Use Our Personal Injury Compensation Calculator
Our personal injury compensation calculator makes answering “how much compensation for a shoulder injury in a car accident,” a straightforward process. It uses data from the Judicial College Guidelines to quickly estimate your potential compensation amount. If you would like to discuss the compensation calculator, please speak to a member of our advisory team.
Special Damages In Compensation Claims
In addition to general damages, you could claim for additional losses. Keep in mind that you will need to demonstrate that you suffered financially due to your shoulder injury. For instance, you might have:
- Incurred medical costs due to your shoulder injury
- Been unable to work, leading to a loss of income
- Paid out of pocket for transportation to medical appointments
- Needed to make childcare arrangements due to reduced movement
- Required help from others, including family and carers
No matter your additional expenses, you will need evidence supporting a claim for special damages. These could include wage slips, bank statements, receipts, invoices, and bills.
Call us to learn more about how much compensation you may be eligible for.
Am I Eligible To Make A Shoulder Injury Claim?
If you were owed a duty of care and were hurt in the past three years, you may have grounds to claim shoulder injury compensation. You will need to demonstrate:
- A third party owed you a duty of care (a legal obligation to ensure your reasonable safety)
- They were in breach of that duty of care
- That breach led to your injury
If you’d like to confirm your eligibility, contact our team of advisors for advice specific to your situation.
Common Causes Of Shoulder Injuries That You Can Claim For
Shoulder injuries can happen to anyone and at any time, but they do have some common causes.
Accidents At Work
Physically demanding jobs like warehouse, construction, and factory work can put a lot of strain on the shoulder. For instance, lifting a heavy object can lead to rotator cuff tears and dislocated shoulders.
Employers owe their workers a duty of care under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. They may be in breach of that duty of care if they fail to take reasonable steps to keep employees safe from being injured at work. That can include:
- Inadequate training for workers
- Unsuitable or defective work tools
- A lack of appropriate PPE
- Risk assessments for manual handling not being carried out
Road Traffic Accidents
Traffic accidents are a common cause of shoulder injuries, not only as a result of pedestrians being hit by cars. Even a minor collision can leave a lasting impression on your shoulder.
Anyone using a road has a duty of care to others to ensure that they navigate in a safe manner that avoids causing injury and damage to other road users. To comply with this duty, road users need to adhere to the Road Traffic Act 1988 and the Highway Code. That expectation extends to cyclists and pedestrians.
You might be eligible for shoulder injury compensation if you can show that someone breached that duty of care. Whilst this is not an exhaustive list of possible negligence on the road, consider the following:
- Driving under the influence or whilst fatigued
- Ignoring speed limits or otherwise driving too fast
- Being distracted by eating or using a handheld device
- Failing to signal for a turn or stop at a pedestrian crossing
- Neglecting to perform essential car maintenance
Accidents In Public Places
Councils and local authorities have a legal responsibility to keep public spaces safe. When they fail in that duty of care, leading to accidents like a trip on a pavement, they may be liable for any damages incurred.
Moreover, the Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957 also requires private property owners to take practicable steps to keep spaces like supermarkets and pubs safe for visitors. You may be eligible to claim shoulder injury compensation if, for example:
- Spills are not cleaned up on supermarket floors
- Wet surfaces are not adequately marked with signs
- Aisles are not properly organised, resulting in items falling off shelves
- Roads and pavements are poorly maintained, leading to potholes or other hazards
- Pubs and nightclubs lack suitable lighting, making trips and falls more likely
If you would like to discuss the circumstances of your accident, speak to one of our advisors today.
How To Make A Shoulder Injury Compensation Claim
Whilst making a shoulder injury compensation claim can seem daunting, you can make the process easier with supporting evidence and experienced legal representation.
Gather Supporting Evidence
You may need to demonstrate why a third party is liable for your injuries and prove the severity of your shoulder injury.
In particular, you can strengthen your shoulder injury compensation claim with evidence like:
- Receipts for prescriptions related to your shoulder injury
- Letters confirming medical appointments, including consultations and treatments
- An accident book report if the incident occurred at work
- Photographs of where the accident occurred and how it happened
- CCTV footage that captures the accident, such as a fall
- Contact information from anyone who witnessed your injury and is willing to give a statement later on.
- Insurance details and contact information for the other driver if the injury occurred in a road traffic accident.
Time Limits When Beginning A Claim
The Limitation Act 1980 stipulates that you must make a claim within three years of the accident, but there are caveats to that timeframe.
Claimants who are under 18 can wait until they are of age or enlist the help of a litigation friend, such as a parent or guardian, to pursue justice. Otherwise, minors will have three years from when they turn 18 to make a claim.
The time limit does not apply to claimants who prove they do not have the mental capacity to make a claim independently. They can also use a litigation friend, but the time limit will apply if they do regain capacity.
Considering A No Win No Fee Agreement
Conditional Fee Agreements (CFA) are a common type of No Win No Fee arrangement. They can take some of the stress out of the claims process. CFAs are designed to offer claimants a degree of financial protection. So, you can expect:
- No immediate costs for legal services
- Not to pay out of pocket for your solicitor’s work if your claim is unsuccessful
- No hidden solicitors fees as the claims process progresses
- Only a small percentage of any compensation awarded to you to be deducted for a solicitor’s services, commonly called a “success fee” and legally capped at 25%
Are you considering making a shoulder injury compensation claim? Our friendly advisors can help you with starting your claims process.
How Our Panel Of Solicitors Can Help You Claim
Our panel of solicitors have a track record of achieving successful outcomes for clients. Alongside extensive experience with personal injury claims, they are:
- Committed to securing the best possible settlement for your circumstances
- Knowledgeable of the compensation amount you may be entitled to
- Fully transparent about the claims process from the start
- Ready to help gather evidence for your compensation claim
- Supportive and happy to explain any legal jargon you’re unfamiliar with
- Consistently professional when handling all aspects of your shoulder injury compensation claim
If you’re looking to learn more about our services, reach out today to discuss your options.
More Information
It can be easy to forget just how important our shoulders are until an injury makes even the simplest tasks burdensome. Seeking shoulder injury compensation can help ease the stress of lost earnings and impaired mobility.
If you want to learn more about making a shoulder injury compensation claim, speak to one of our advisors today. They will assess the strength of your case and put you in touch with a personal injury specialist solicitor from our panel. To get more information, you can:
- Ring us at 0800 408 7826.
- Contact us by filling out our online form.
- Use our live chat service.
We have other helpful guides:
- Read our guide to public liability claims.
- Discover how much compensation you could receive for a neck and shoulder injury.
- Find out more about car accident compensation claims.
These external links may prove insightful:
- More information about dislocated shoulders from the NHS.
- Details of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.
- Statistics concerning the leading causes of non-fatal injuries in Britain.
Thank you for reading this guide about shoulder injury compensation. Please get in touch if you think you are eligible to claim.