Available 24/7
The short answer: A shoulder injury from a car accident can range from a rotator cuff tear or dislocation to a labral (SLAP) tear or fracture, and it’s often missed at first because adrenaline masks the pain. Treatment runs from rest, physical therapy, and injections to surgery, and claim value depends on the severity, whether you need surgery, any permanent loss of motion, your medical bills, and lost wages. There’s no set figure or average, and in South Carolina, you generally have three years to file a personal injury claim.
A shoulder injury after a crash can affect almost everything you do, from getting dressed to sleeping through the night to doing your job. You may be in real pain, unsure how serious it is, and worried about bills piling up while you are unable to work. We understand, and you don’t have to sort this out alone.
In this article, our Moncks Corner car accident lawyers discuss:
– How a car accident injures your shoulder.
– The most common types of shoulder injuries.
– Why shoulder injuries are often missed at first.
– Treatment options from conservative care to surgery.
– What affects the value of your claim.
– How South Carolina law applies to your case.
How Does A Car Accident Injure Your Shoulder?
The shoulder takes the force of a crash in three main ways. First, your seat belt runs diagonally across your chest and shoulder, and in a hard stop, it locks and digs in, straining the soft tissue underneath. Second, many drivers brace against the steering wheel or door in the split second before impact, forcing the joint past its normal range. Third, direct impact from the door, window, dashboard, or an airbag can bruise, tear, or break the shoulder outright.
The shoulder is one of the most mobile joints in the body, which also makes it one of the most vulnerable in a wreck.
What Are The Most Common Types Of Shoulder Injuries From A Car Accident?
The most common types of shoulder injuries after a crash involve the rotator cuff, the labrum, the joint itself, or the surrounding bones. These are the ones our attorneys see most often:
– Rotator cuff tears: Damage to the muscles and tendons that stabilize the joint, making it hard to lift or rotate your arm.
– Labral tears and SLAP tears: Tears to the cartilage rim around the socket, often causing deep aching, catching, or loss of strength.
– Dislocations: The upper arm bone is forced out of the socket, stretching or tearing nearby tissue.
– Fractures: Breaks to the collarbone, shoulder blade, or upper arm bone.
– Impingement: Tendons pinched or inflamed inside the joint, causing ongoing pain with movement.
Some heal with rest and time. Others need months of treatment or surgery.
Hurt your shoulder in a Moncks Corner or Berkeley County crash? Contact West Law Firm Personal Injury Lawyers for a free consultation. Call our Moncks Corner office at 843-483-8630.
Why Are Shoulder Injuries Often Missed After A Crash?
Shoulder injuries are often missed at first because adrenaline and shock can hide the pain for hours or even days. In the chaos after a wreck, you may feel fine or assume the soreness will fade. Then the stiffness, weakness, and deep ache set in, and they can worsen over the following weeks as inflammation builds or a small tear widens.
That’s why it’s so important to see a doctor promptly. If a car accident injured your shoulder, prompt care protects your health, and it creates a medical record linking the injury to the crash. Gaps in treatment are one of the first things an insurance company points to when it argues your shoulder wasn’t really hurt in the accident.
How Are Car Accident Shoulder Injuries Treated?
Treatment usually starts with conservative care and moves to surgery only when needed. For many individuals, the path begins with rest, ice, anti-inflammatory medication, and physical therapy to rebuild strength and range of motion. Doctors may also use corticosteroid injections to calm pain and swelling so therapy can work.
When conservative care is insufficient, or when there’s a full tear, a bad fracture, or a joint that keeps dislocating, surgery may be the next step. That can mean an arthroscopic repair or, in serious cases, a shoulder replacement, followed by a long stretch of rehab. Every injury is different, and only your doctor can map out the right plan for you.
What Is A Shoulder Injury Claim Worth In South Carolina?
There’s no set figure, range, or average for a shoulder injury claim, because the value depends on the specific facts of your case. When we look at what a case may be worth, we weigh factors such as these:
– How severe the injury is and whether surgery was required.
– Whether you’re left with permanent damage or lost range of motion.
– Your medical bills, both past and future.
– Lost wages and any reduced ability to earn a living.
– How the injury affects your daily life, work, and the activities you enjoy.
A shoulder that never fully recovers, or that keeps you from doing your job, generally involves more significant damage than one that heals in a few weeks. Because every case is different, we assess value on a case-by-case basis, which is exactly what a free consultation is for.
Don’t let an insurance adjuster put a number on your future. Call 843-483-8630 for a free, no-obligation consultation.
How Does South Carolina Law Affect Your Shoulder Injury Claim?
Two South Carolina rules matter most here: the filing deadline and how shared fault is handled. Under S.C. Code Ann. § 15-3-530, you generally have three years from the date of the crash to file a claim for an injury to the person. Miss that window and the court can bar your claim for good, so don’t wait, since evidence and memories fade over time.
South Carolina also follows modified comparative negligence. Under the rule the state Supreme Court adopted in Nelson v. Concrete Supply Co., 303 S.C. 243, 399 S.E.2d 783 (1991), you can recover as long as you’re not more than 50% at fault, though if you’re found 51% at fault, you recover nothing, and your recovery is reduced in proportion to your share of fault. Insurance companies know this, so they often try to pin part of the blame on you. Our attorneys build cases that push back on those tactics.
Frequently Asked Questions About Car Accident Shoulder Injuries
How long do I have to file a shoulder injury claim in South Carolina?
In most cases, you have three years from the date of the crash under S.C. Code Ann. § 15-3-530. It’s best to act well before the deadline, because records and evidence are easier to gather early. Talk with an attorney as soon as you can.
My shoulder didn’t hurt until days after the crash. Do I still have a claim?
Often, yes. Adrenaline can mask a shoulder injury, and symptoms frequently appear days later. See a doctor right away and mention the crash so the connection is documented. Delayed pain doesn’t mean your claim isn’t valid.
Can I still recover if I were partly at fault?
Often, yes. South Carolina’s modified comparative negligence rule lets you recover as long as you’re not more than 50% at fault, with your compensation reduced by your share. This is why it helps to have attorneys who know how to answer blame-shifting.
What does it cost to talk to a lawyer?
Your consultation is free. We’ll listen to your story, answer your questions, and explain your options with no obligation. There’s no cost or pressure to find out whether we can help.
Talk With West Law Firm Personal Injury Lawyers About Your Shoulder Injury
A shoulder injury from a car accident can be painful, slow to heal, and costly, and insurance companies won’t always treat you fairly. You don’t have to face it alone. West Law Firm Personal Injury Lawyers has served the Lowcountry since 1945, and motor vehicle accidents are our primary focus. As a family-owned firm with nearly 80 years of roots here, we handle the legal side so you can focus on healing.
Hurt your shoulder in a Moncks Corner or Berkeley County crash? Contact West Law Firm Personal Injury Lawyers for a free consultation. Contact our Moncks Corner office at 843-483-8630. We also serve clients in Beaufort, Summerville, and throughout the Lowcountry.