Shoulder Injuries After a Car Accident

Motor vehicle crashes can result in a wide variety of injuries, from minor and temporary injuries to permanent and severe injuries that result in lifelong disabilities. The gravity of a car accident injury depends on numerous factors, including the speed at which the vehicles were traveling immediately prior to the crash, the type of collision, and whether the vehicle occupants were wearing seatbelts. Many car accidents result in shoulder injuries, from bruising and sprains to serious fractures.

Like other types of traffic collision injuries, shoulder injuries after a car accident can vary in terms of severity. The following will provide you with more information about shoulder injuries that often result from crashes. If you were injured, a car accident lawyer can speak with you about filing a claim, or a lawsuit if the circumstances warrant it.

As an article in WebMD explains, there are many different causes of shoulder injuries and shoulder pain. Sometimes arthritis or repetitive movement can result in shoulder problems. The types of shoulder injuries that happen in car accidents typically are known as traumatic shoulder injuries. The following are common types of traumatic shoulder injuries:

• Separation: This is a type of shoulder injury that affects your acromioclavicular (AC) joint. This joint is located where your collarbone and shoulder blade meet. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) notes that calling this injury a “separated shoulder,” as it is frequently known, is not quite accurate since the joint that has been injured is not actually a shoulder joint.
• Fracture or broken bone: Many different types of bones in the shoulder region can suffer a fracture or a break if you are involved in a high-speed collision. The most frequent types of shoulder fractures are clavicle fractures (or a broken clavicle) and a broken humerus (which the bone in your arm that is closest to your shoulder).
• Tears: similar to fractures, tears can occur in different parts of the shoulder. While some shoulder tears can be repetitive motion injuries, tears can also occur “anytime your shoulder absorbs a lot of force,” according to WebMD. Both rotator cuff tears (tears in the muscles or tendons that hold your arm in place) and shoulder joint tears can occur in car crashes.
• Bursitis: When the bursa, or fluid-filled sac that serves as a cushion for your joint, becomes irritated, you can experience pain. Similar to tears, this can be a repetitive motion injury in some cases, but it can also be a traumatic injury.

As we mentioned, shoulder injuries can vary widely in severity. The AAOS cites the following as some of the signs and symptoms of the injuries listed above, all of which should lead to a visit to your healthcare provider:

• Pain;
• Swelling;
• Bruising;
• Difficulty moving your shoulder;
• Grinding sensation when you attempt to move your shoulder;
• Deformity, or any sense that your shoulder “does not look right” visually;
• Bump on the top of the shoulder;
• Inability to lift your arm; and/or
• Dead arm.

Did you suffer a shoulder injury in a car accident? You should learn more about filing a car accident claim by speaking with an attorney with experience in shoulder injury cases. An advocate at our firm can discuss your options for seeking financial compensation. Contact the Walton Law Firm for more information and receive a consultation absolutely free.