Episode 111: Calloway County injury attorney Jeff Roberts has handled many cases involving common shoulder, arm and hand injuries. He’s seen these in car wrecks, motorcycle accidents and truck collisions, but also in workers’ compensation claims. Jeff has over 33 years of experience representing injured clients.
Torn Rotator Cuff and Labrum Injuries
Jeff begins by commenting on how people who do a lot of overhead lifting in their jobs tend to experience shoulder injuries. This also occurs for people who are working with their arms raised above their head. Torn rotator cuff injuries are some of the most common occurrences. A torn labrum can also result from this type of work. Jeff’s represented a lot of these types of clients.
A torn rotator cuff can also happen in a car wreck when someone attempts to brace against the dashboard at the moment of impact. Along with this, it’s not uncommon to see a fractured or broken collar bone (i.e. clavicle). The collar bone connects to the shoulder.
Jeff takes a moment to comment on your duty to notify your employer, if you’ve been injured on the job. He covered this in Episode 72 of his podcast. Failure to do so could prevent you from collecting workers’ comp benefits for your workplace injury.
Arthritis from Repetitive Motion Injuries
Arthritis isn’t only an age-related condition. Repetitive motions in performing a job task can accelerate the onset of arthritis. If you’ve injured a joint, arthritis can also occur. If Jeff can prove that the arthritis was caused because of cumulative trauma (i.e. over-use), you may be able to qualify for workers’ compensation benefits. Jeff devoted an entire episode to repetitive motion injuries.
Jeff mentions the importance of leaving open your medical benefits, as part of your workers’ compensation claim settlement, to ensure workers’ comp covers the cost of any future surgeries and time off work should you have to get surgery for your arthritis pain.
Injuries to the Bicep and Humerus Bone
A torn bicep muscle is a very painful condition. Jeff’s represented several people who’ve torn a bicep. The muscle may be torn or the tendon that connects the bicep to the shoulder or elbow ruptures. This can be the result of lifting a heavy object at work, or even trauma to the shoulder.
A broken humerus is a common result of an automobile collision. This is the bone between your elbow and shoulder.
Elbow Injuries
Elbow injuries can occur as arthritis from repetitive motion at work. The tendons and ligaments can become inflamed. Elbow surgeries may require physical therapy. Jeff points out how important it is to complete your physical therapy for an elbow or shoulder injury. While this can be painful at first, the benefit to your physical wellbeing is much greater when you push through the pain and follow the instructions of your physical therapists. You will heal much more quickly and avoid ongoing pain, down the road.
In workers’ comp, if you fail to follow doctor’s orders, it can affect what you recover in your claim. It can also open the possibility that additional procedures will be denied because of your failure to comply with your treatment instructions.
A shoulder injury may result in adhesive capsulitis, commonly called “frozen shoulder.” This is a condition in which the injured individual is unable to use his/her shoulder. It’s a result of scar tissue buildup. The physical therapist or doctor will manipulate the shoulder joint to break up the scar tissue. If you’ve missed a lot of your PT sessions, the insurance company may argue against their responsibility to cover the manipulation under anesthesia because you caused the issue by not showing up for physical therapy.
Broken Radius, Fractured Ulna and Broken Wrist Injuries
People frequently break one or both of the bones in their forearms in car wrecks. The collision can also result in a broken wrist. The same could occur if someone falls at work. Damage to the carpal bones in the wrist can result in long-term pain and discomfort.
Carpal tunnel disease is another repetitive motion injury to the wrist. This can happen to someone who types a lot such as a secretary, office administrator or IT professional. It can also happen to someone who uses air tools or other power tools at work.
Cubital tunnel disease is a similar condition occurring near the elbow. The pain is similar to carpal tunnel but it goes higher up on the arm. In both conditions, this is a pinching of the nerves running through the bones of the wrist or elbow.
Injuries to the Hand and Fingers
Injuries to the metacarpals, the bones between your wrist and knuckles can be not only painful, but they can affect your grip-strength and movement, if not properly healed. The knuckles in your fingers can also be injured, including the early onset of arthritis. If you do heavy, manual labor, you may not be able to return to work or to the same job you had before the injury. These can be relatively common hand injuries that may qualify for workers’ compensation benefits.
Jeff has noticed a significant number of fractures to the hand and wrist in car wreck situations.
In some instances, if the shoulder, arm and hand injury is severe enough, you may have to file a social security disability claim, in addition to your car wreck claim and/or your workers’ compensation claim. It’s possible that you can file all three at the same time. Jeff is able to handle all three claims relate to your injury.
Loss of a Finger or Limb
Jeff has handled cases involving the loss of a finger or limb. This is frequently due to a car wreck or workplace injury. He’s been involved in cases with injuries resulting in the amputation of a person’s hand or other body part. Construction workers are at an elevated risk for severe cuts and amputations of fingers. If your hand, arm or leg gets caught in a piece of machinery at work or in a farm field, the results can be devastating. Some of these situations tragically result in death.
Nerve Damage Resulting from an Injury to the Shoulder, Arm and Hand
Another type of injury related to the shoulder, arm and hand is nerve damage. Jeff explains that the damage to specific nerves can have much more of an impact than people realize. Your brain tells these body parts to move. However, nerve damage interrupts those signals. This can result in paralysis or the loss of use of that limb. This too can lead to an eventual amputation. Jeff discussed this in Episode 13.
Nerve damage has other consequences, such as the loss of a protective sensation. This can happen when the person can no longer feel what’s happening to the limb. It can result in burns, excessive bleeding and other conditions, simply because the person couldn’t feel what was going on and didn’t sense the pain.
Jeff has represented several individuals who suffered from a catastrophic condition that can result from nerve damage called CRPS, which stands for Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome. It was previously referred to as RSD (Reflexive Sympathetic Dystrophy). The body can overcompensate for an injury to the nerve. This causes the area to become hyper-sensitive to any type of touch or contact. It’s often described as an intense burning sensation that doesn’t go away, even with the slightest of contact. In more pronounced cases, it can also result in abnormal hair growth in the impacted area and extreme changes in the finger nails.
We hope you found this episode insightful and helpful.
Thank you for listening!
What Do Other Clients Think About Jeff?
We always encourage listeners to read the Google Reviews Jeff Roberts has received from many of his clients. A 5-Star rating and the comments are earned recognition and demonstrate Jeff’s commitment to his clients. As a solo attorney, he has more Google Reviews than some firms with multiple attorneys. Jeff shares the credit with his staff at the Roberts Law Office. Successfully representing injured clients is a team effort. It’s why Jeff likes to say his firm offers small town service with big city results.
Jeff Roberts Represents Injured Clients Throughout Kentucky
With offices located in Calloway County (Murray) and now in Christian County (Hopkinsville), Jeff has a history of representing personal injury clients, workers’ compensation clients and social security disability clients across the state. He’s represented clients from Paducah, Bowling Green, Louisville, Covington, Whitesville and many other Kentucky locations. He’s not just a Western Kentucky injury attorney.
Is It Time to Speak with an Attorney about Your Workers Compensation Claim?
The office phone number is (270) 753-0053 or toll free at 800-844-5108. For more information, visit www.JeffRobertsLaw.com. This podcast is meant to provide information and is not legal advice. Jeff’s principal office is located at 509 Main Street, Murray, Kentucky. Co-host Jim Ray is a non-attorney spokesperson. This is an advertisement.
