Did you suffer a serious shoulder injury on the job in Virginia? Were you aware that most employees are entitled to workers’ compensation benefits from their employer’s policy if they’ve been injured? Depending on your situation, you could be eligible for your employer’s insurance policy to pay for your medical treatment, and you could receive a portion of your weekly wages as you recover.
Workers’ compensation benefits are a vital lifeline for people who’ve suffered severe shoulder injuries that leave them in pain and unable to work. Unfortunately, getting the benefits you are owed could be a lengthy and complicated process. However, this process can be significantly easier when you hire an attorney with experience handling workers’ comp claims to represent you.
At the law firm of Marks & Harrison, our team of Virginia workers’ comp attorneys have more than 100 years of experience helping injured workers in our community seek the benefits they deserve.
Contact us today for a free initial consultation to learn how we can make a difference in your case.
What Is the Average Workers’ Compensation Settlement Amount for Shoulder Injuries in Virginia?
No two workplace shoulder injuries are exactly alike. The potential value of your unique workers’ comp case can vary significantly depending on several factors. If you are eligible for benefits, you may be entitled to compensation for:
- Medical bills – Workers’ comp benefits should cover the total cost associated with any reasonable and necessary medical care you receive to diagnose and treat a work-related shoulder injury.
- Lost wages – If you are forced to miss work or can only perform light-duty work due to your shoulder injury, you may be able to claim disability benefits for lost wages. In most cases, you can receive two-thirds of the average weekly wages you earned before the injury. Specific statewide payment limits
- Rehabilitation costs – If you need help with your recovery after a shoulder injury, workers’ comp benefits can cover the costs of physical therapy and other types of rehabilitation. If you need to relearn specific abilities to return to work or adapt to a new line of work, these benefits can also cover vocational rehabilitation costs such as tuition and retraining expenses.
- Death benefits – Survivors may be entitled to death benefits if a family member died due to an on-the-job shoulder injury. These benefits can cover funeral expenses and the loss of your loved one’s financial support.
What Are the Different Types of Shoulder Injuries?
Here are some of the most common types of workplace shoulder injuries in Virginia workers’ comp cases:
- Dislocated shoulders
- Separated collarbones
- Shoulder and collarbone fractures
- Torn and pinched rotator cuffs
- Labral tears
- Overexertion injuries
- Soft tissue strains and sprains
- Impingement syndrome
What Are the Different Levels of Disability Based on My Injury?
If your occupational shoulder injury prevents you from returning to your usual job duties at any time, it’s considered a disability. The four primary levels of disability from work-related injuries in Virginia include:
- Temporary partial disability – If you are partially disabled, you can still perform some job-related tasks even though your injury prevents you from returning to your regular duties. A partial disability is considered a temporary partial disability (TPD) if you are expected to recover from it eventually.
- Temporary total disability – If you are totally disabled, you cannot work in any capacity, even with accommodations. With a temporary total disability (TTD), your doctor will typically order you to stay home from work for one or more days until you recover enough to return.
- Permanent partial disability – If you are still partially disabled after reaching maximum medical improvement (MMI), your doctor will likely classify your condition as a permanent partial disability (PPD). If you return to work with a permanent partial disability, you may be entitled to recover disability benefits if you receive an impairment rating.
How Are Virginia Workers’ Compensation Benefits Calculated?
Your workers’ comp benefits should fully cover reasonable and necessary medical expenses associated with a work-related shoulder injury. If your injury forces you to miss time at work, calculating the amount of money you can expect to receive in wage loss benefits is a bit more complicated.
If you are disabled, you should be entitled to weekly wage loss benefits equal to two-thirds of the average weekly wages you earned pre-injury, up to the statewide weekly maximum. So, if you earned $1,000 per week before you sustained the shoulder injury, you could expect roughly $667 in weekly benefits until you recover. Keep in mind that you must be out of work for at least seven days before claiming temporary total disability payments.
If you are partially disabled, you should receive two-thirds of the difference between your current weekly wages and the average weekly wages you earned before the injury. So, if you used to make $1,000 per week but can only earn $500 per week since the injury, you could expect two-thirds of the $500 difference, or $333 in weekly benefits.
What Will My Workers’ Comp Cover?
If you are entitled to workers’ compensation benefits in Virginia, you can generally expect to cover the following:
- Ambulance rides and emergency medical care
- Visits to primary care doctors or specialists
- Outpatient hospital visits or inpatient stays
- Medical tests and other diagnostic expenses
- Physical, psychological, and vocational rehabilitation
- Prescription medications and durable medical equipment
- Replacement limbs and other prosthetic devices
- Costs of transportation to and from appointments
- A portion of any lost or reduced wages
- Up to $10,000 in funeral and burial expenses
Contact a Virginia Workers’ Compensation Lawyer Today
If you’ve suffered a shoulder injury and need to claim workers’ comp benefits in Virginia, don’t hesitate to seek legal assistance. Contact the knowledgeable legal team at Marks & Harrison. Our lawyers are ready to guide you through the process. Our consultations are always free and confidential.
