Your rotator cuff consists of four important muscles in your shoulder joint: the supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor, and subscapularis. They’re secured to the top of your arm bone (humerus) by different tendons, making them extremely important to shoulder movement and stability.
When you experience a torn rotator cuff, it can cause chronic pain and a limited range of motion, both of which usually need a longer recovery time. What’s equally concerning is that they can prevent you from working, driving, lifting, or sleeping comfortably, and over time, your quality of life goes down, along with your income. In this guide, we’ll review how these shoulder injuries happen, what kind of financial compensation you could receive, and how a personal injury lawyer at The Champion Firm can help.
What Is a Torn Rotator Cuff Injury?
As stated previously, the rotator cuff is a group of muscles and tendons that hold your shoulder joint in place. When one or more of these tendons suffers a full or even partial tear, the result is pain, weakness, and a limited range of motion. You might have trouble lifting your arm, reaching overhead, or carrying anything that’s even slightly heavy.
When you see a doctor, they’ll typically confirm the rotator cuff injury using a combination of physical exams, strength tests, and imaging tools like MRIs. These evaluations help determine how the injury happened, which varies from person to person. Sometimes, the tear results from a sudden trauma like a fall or crash; other times, the damage builds up gradually from overuse and is aggravated by sudden trauma.
If the rotator cuff tear is relatively minor, your doctor may suggest rest, medication, and physical therapy to improve movement and reduce discomfort. In some cases, steroid injections are used to ease inflammation, although their effects tend to wear off over time. If the injury interferes with work or makes daily tasks difficult, surgery may be the most practical option. After rotator cuff surgery, it often takes months of physical therapy to regain strength and restore mobility in the shoulder.
Common Causes of Rotator Cuff Injuries in Personal Injury Claims
Rotator cuff injuries usually happen when the shoulder is forced to react to sudden pressure or awkward movement. These injuries can occur while driving, walking through a store, or working on a job site.
- Car Accidents: Rear-end and side-impact crashes can apply sharp force on the upper body. When your arm braces against the steering wheel or your torso twists under the pressure of a seatbelt, the muscles and tendons in your shoulder can stretch beyond their limit. These rotator cuff injuries are especially common when the force of the crash pushes your body into an unnatural position.
- Slip and Fall Accidents: A fall may not seem serious at first, but the way you land can cause deep tissue damage. People often try to break their fall by reaching out with one arm - that sudden motion, or the impact of landing directly on the shoulder, can tear the tissue supporting the joint. These incidents are common in parking lots, grocery stores, apartment complexes, and other spaces where routine maintenance has been ignored.
- Workplace Injuries: Many jobs require lifting, carrying, or reaching overhead. Even if you’re used to the movement, one wrong step or unexpected shift in weight can strain the shoulder. In some workplaces, falls from ladders or raised platforms are the cause. In others, repetitive tasks cause weakness that makes the joint more prone to injury after a fall or sudden motion.
- Unsafe Property Conditions: Areas with cracked pavement, poor lighting, loose handrails, or slick floors often lead to falls. When a property owner knew about a hazard but failed to correct it, they may be responsible for rotator cuff injuries that follow. These conditions are often found in older buildings, busy stores, or residential complexes where upkeep is overdue.
Rotator cuff injuries take time to heal and require surgery. This makes them expensive and disruptive, especially if you rely on your arms for work. If another person or a business caused your injuries, you have the right to hold them accountable.
Factors That Affect Settlement Value
Not every rotator cuff injury claim leads to the same result. The outcome normally depends on how badly you were hurt, how the injury changed your day-to-day life, and what steps you took to recover. Insurance adjusters will look at these factors when deciding what they’re willing to pay.
Here’s what usually affects your settlement value:
- Severity of the Injury: A mild rotator cuff tear that responds well to therapy is viewed differently than a full tear that limits your strength, range of motion, or long-term ability to work. The more serious the damage, the longer the recovery, and that increases the value of the claim.
- Medical Treatment Required: The type and length of medical treatment are both important. If you’ve needed injections, physical therapy, or shoulder surgery, those records show both the effort and cost involved in healing. A longer recovery can also mean more time off work and higher medical bills.
- Impact on Your Job: If you had to stop working, reduce your hours, or change your duties, those lost wages and diminished earning ability may be included in the claim. Some people are able to return to work after a short period, while others may be limited for months or forced to switch careers entirely. Pay stubs, HR reports, and doctor's notes help connect the injury to these changes.
- Daily Limitations: Rotator cuff injuries often make basic activities harder. You may struggle to lift your children, carry groceries, reach overhead, or even sleep through the night. These everyday effects help show how the injury has changed your quality of life.
- Proof of Fault: Strong evidence that someone else caused the injury can make the claim stronger. This could include surveillance footage, witness statements, maintenance records, or a police report. When fault is clear, insurance companies are more likely to settle.
- Available Insurance Coverage: The amount of coverage tied to the at-fault party can shape the final outcome. Even if losses like medical expenses are high, a limited policy may affect how much you can collect. Your lawyer can review all available policies to see what resources may apply.
Once you report the injury, the insurance company will begin looking for ways to reduce the value of your claim. They may request your medical records, ask for a recorded statement, or send you to an independent medical exam.
These steps aren’t meant to help you - they’re intended to find weak spots in your case. The insurance provider may ultimately claim that your rotator cuff injuries result from wear and tear or age-related issues. An experienced attorney can help push back against this tactic and make sure you’ve reached full recovery before agreeing to any settlement.
Financial Compensation for a Torn Rotator Cuff?
At The Champion Firm, we’ve handled rotator cuff injury claims across Georgia. We work with your doctors to collect detailed records and build a clear picture of how the injury affects you, both now and in the future. If someone else’s negligence is to blame, we pursue compensatory damages like the following:
- Medical Expenses: This includes the full range of treatment from emergency care and diagnostics to shoulder surgery, physical therapy, and follow-up visits. Medication, medical devices, and future treatment needs may also be included.
- Lost Income: If your injury kept you from working, you can claim any lost wages. This covers time off for a recovery period, reduced hours, and lost opportunities for bonuses, commissions, or promotions.
- Loss of Earning Capacity: If your shoulder injury limits your ability to return to your prior job or work in the same field, you may be able to seek payment for future income you won’t earn. This usually applies when long-term or permanent restrictions affect your ability to lift, carry, or reach.
- Pain and Suffering: Ongoing pain, discomfort, and reduced enjoyment of life can all be considered when determining compensation. If your injury makes it hard to sleep, exercise, or take care of basic needs, those effects carry weight in your claim.
- Out-of-Pocket Costs: Expenses like transportation to appointments, help around the house, or home modifications may be recoverable if they were necessary due to the injury.
- Property Damage: If the incident that caused your injury also damaged your vehicle or personal items, the cost of repair or replacement can be included in your claim.
Our personal injury attorneys prepare each case as if it’s going to trial. That pressure helps us get stronger offers from insurers. We won’t suggest you settle unless we believe the settlement amount covers what you need for medical care, time away from work, and future concerns.
What To Do If You’ve Suffered a Rotator Cuff Tear
If you’ve experienced a rotator cuff injury, get medical care right away. Seeing a doctor as soon as possible gives you a clear diagnosis and starts a medical record tied to the injury. If you wait too long to get treatment, the insurer may argue that something else caused the damage or that you weren’t as hurt as you later claim. After you’ve been seen, do the following:
- Follow Your Treatment Plan: Attend all follow-up appointments, stick with physical therapy, and avoid heavy lifting. Gaps in care or missed appointments may be used to claim that you made the injury worse or that you weren’t taking it seriously.
- Track Your Symptoms and Limits: Write down what movements cause pain, how your sleep is affected, and which daily tasks have become harder. These notes help show how the injury has changed your routine and can support your claim.
- Document Time Off Work: Keep copies of work restrictions from your doctor, as well as any communication from your employer about time off or schedule changes. Pay stubs, timesheets, or HR letters can help prove how the injury affected your ability to earn income.
- Hire Legal Representation: Speaking with a personal injury lawyer early on can keep you from making mistakes with the insurance company. Your attorney can gather medical documentation and accident records, deal with adjusters, and help make sure you aren’t pushed into accepting a settlement before you know the full impact of the injury.
Questions? Get a Free Consultation From a Georgia Personal Injury Attorney
A torn rotator cuff can disrupt your ability to work, care for yourself, or move without pain. These injuries are more serious than they might first appear, especially when they require surgery or long-term rehab. When someone else causes the incident, you have the right to hold them accountable and seek payment for what you’ve lost.
At The Champion Firm, we handle injury claims for people across Georgia. If your shoulder injury happened in a crash, fall, or other incident, we’re ready to review your case and help you take the next step. To schedule a free consultation, call our personal injury law firm at 404-738-7509 or contact us online today.