Key Points of this Article

• Neck and shoulder pain after a car accident could be a sign of a severe shoulder injury.
• If you sustain a shoulder injury after a car accident, seek medical attention as soon as possible.
• You can file a lawsuit for shoulder pain after a car accident if your injury meets certain thresholds. 

If you are experiencing shoulder pain after a car accident, you should seek immediate medical attention. Neck and shoulder pain after a car accident could be a sign of a more serious injury. And if left untreated, it can result in further damage or complications that can end up costing you more money to have treated. 

Car accidents can result in all kinds of injuries, but shoulder injuries are some of the most common as the muscles and joints in this part of the body can easily become damaged, even in minor car accidents. Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon for those who suffer shoulder pain after a car accident to ignore the symptoms. 

Many will assume the shoulder pain is just a minor injury that will heal on its own, but as mentioned above, shoulder and neck pain could also be a sign of a more severe injury that requires medical treatment. So even if you think you have suffered only a minor shoulder injury after a car accident, you should still get checked out by your doctor to be sure. 

Medical treatments for shoulder injuries can be expensive, especially if surgery is required. But if you are the victim of a Kentucky car accident, you can file a personal injury claim to recover compensation that can help you pay for your medical bills and other losses.

Common Shoulder Injuries Sustained After a Car Accident

When you are in a car accident, you can easily damage your shoulder by hitting the car door, the steering wheel, or the seat, or you can sustain damage from the violent whipping motion your body makes from the force of the impact. The exact type of shoulder injury can vary depending on what happens and how your body is impacted, but some of the most common shoulder injuries from car accidents include:

• Whiplash: This is technically considered a neck injury that occurs from rapid back-and-forth head movement, but as the neck and shoulders are connected, whiplash can result in both neck and shoulder pain after a car accident.  

• Rotator Cuff Tear: The rotator cuff comprises a group of muscles and tendons that keep the shoulder joint in place. When one of these muscles or tendons tears, it can cause a deep ache or pain in the shoulder, and you may also struggle to reach your arm above your head or behind your back. 

• SLAP Tear: SLAP is an acronym for superior labrum from anterior to posterior, also referred to as a labrum tear. This is an injury in the cartilage around the shoulder joint, which can result in instability in the arm. 

• Shoulder Dislocation: The shoulder is made up of three bones that are held in place in the socket by the rotator cuff. If any of these bones slips out of place, it is called a dislocation. If the shoulder bones are completely ejected from the socket, it is considered a shoulder separation.

• Shoulder Impingement: An impingement is what happens when an injury causes the shoulder blade to rub against the tissues of the rotator cuff. This type of injury can cause pain and inflammation. 
• Shoulder Fractures: If the shoulder is impacted hard enough in a car accident, the bones can fracture and break. Some shoulder fractures can result in damage to multiple areas, including the shoulder blade, the upper arm bone, and the clavicle. 

Symptoms of Shoulder Injuries Caused by a Car Accident

The symptoms of a shoulder injury after a car accident can vary depending on the specific injury and where exactly it occurred. The primary symptom is localized shoulder pain in the area that was affected. But other common shoulder injury symptoms can include:

• Stiffness 
• Limited range of motion
• Instability in the arm or shoulder joint
• Numbness and tingling
• Weakness
• Swelling and inflammation
• Bruising
• Upper back and neck pain
• Popping, cracking, or scraping sound when moving the arm
• Muscle cramps or spasms
• A lump or bulge in the shoulder area

If you experience neck and shoulder pain after a car accident or any of the above other symptoms, you should get checked out by a medical professional as soon as possible. Delaying treatment can result in further damage. 

Can You File a Lawsuit for Shoulder Pain After a Car Accident?

If you experience shoulder pain after a car accident, compensation from a personal injury claim could help you pay for your medical expenses and other damages. Kentucky is a no-fault state, which means you must first file a claim through your own no-fault Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage. However, PIP coverage does not offer much, so you may need to file a lawsuit to recover further compensation. 

If your shoulder injury results in more than $1,000 in medical expenses or if your shoulder injury has resulted in permanent damage or impairment, you may be eligible to file a lawsuit against the guilty party. However, you will need to provide a detailed account and evidence that shows how the at-fault driver’s actions caused you harm, which often requires the help of an attorney. 

Kentucky Personal Injury Lawyers – Rhoads & Rhoads

At Rhoads & Rhoads, our Kentucky car accident attorneys have years of experience handling shoulder injury cases and are dedicated to helping each client get the settlement they deserve. 

If you are suffering from neck or shoulder pain after a car accident and need help filing a claim, call us at 888-709-9329 to schedule an appointment with one of our Madisonville or Owensboro personal injury attorneys.

We offer free initial consultations, and all cases are taken on a contingency fee basis, so no initial payment is required. We get paid only if we win or settle your case, and there is NO RISK involved.