Understanding Long-Term Effects of Shoulder Impingement

Sep 16th, 2020 | Firm News

Shoulder impingement is a very common injury in many auto accidents, and particularly in Connecticut motorcycle mishaps. Bike riders who are involved in an accident often are thrown from their motorcycle or hit front on, many times jamming the shoulder in either scenario. It is common to land on a shoulder when being thrown from a bike, and contact in the front can force the handlebars backwards. And shoulder injuries can occur in any other type of accident as well, especially with a rollover collision in a passenger vehicle. These injuries commonly have long-lasting impact on the victim, and understanding how to deal with the injury is essential because they typically last the remainder of the injured party’s life.

What is the Impact of a Shoulder Impingement?

The shoulder is comprised of three major bones and four primary muscles. The bones are the humerus, clavicle, and scapula, with the encapsulating muscles being the teres minor, infraspinatus, supraspinatus, and subscapularis. The combination of bones and muscle make up the rotator cuff. The tearing of the muscles and tendons in this body region can often result in catastrophic shoulder impingement, and injuries to this area of the body create significant long-term pain and take extensive rehabilitation for recovery. They are usually caused by sudden acceleration followed by deceleration of the victim.

Shoulder impingement is a common personal injury in motorcycle accidents due to zero protection for motorcycle riders when being involved in a collision. Some cases of shoulder impingement can be successfully treated by immobilizing the injured area and treating it with anti-inflammatory medications and pain killers. Pain is often intense, and while many times therapeutic massage and chiropractic therapy can work, this can truly only be alleviated with an eventual surgery.

How Can a Personal Injury Lawyer Help?

Victims who suffer shoulder impingement in any accident should always retain an experienced and aggressive New Haven personal injury attorney because long-term general damages are always a vital part of accident settlements following these injuries. All insurance claims adjusters in Connecticut want to avoid general damage allowances for pain-and-suffering in an accident case, and it always takes solid legal representation for equitable damages for long-term shoulder injuries. The claim is often more valuable than the victim realizes.