Your shoulders perform a wide range of motions, making them very susceptible to injury. These ball-and-socket joints include your humerus bones, shoulder blades, and collarbone. The labrum is a ring of cartilage that goes around the socket of your shoulder joint in order to stabilize it. It’s also where many of the ligaments in your shoulder attach. When the top part of the labrum is injured, it’s known as a superior labrum anterior and posterior (SLAP) tear.
SLAP tears often heal on their own with rest, physical therapy, and medications to treat pain and inflammation. When the damage is severe or the pain doesn’t subside, however, surgery may be necessary.
Whether your SLAP tear is minor or requires surgery, it can significantly impact your life. Recovery from a SLAP tear can take a long time, especially if surgery is involved, making it difficult to work, drive, or perform daily tasks. If you can’t work or have extensive medical bills, it can also impact you financially.
If an accident or negligence led to your SLAP tear injury, you have a right to hold the at-fault party responsible and seek financial recovery for your injury. Here are some things to consider as you determine your legal options and how you can improve your chance of recovering damages for your injury.
Damages in a SLAP Tear Injury Case
While many people with a SLAP tear injury make a complete recovery, others have ongoing pain that requires physical therapy or even surgery. The costs associated with your injury depend on the extent of your SLAP tear and what type of treatments you receive.
Generally, if you were injured in a car crash or other type of accident through no fault of your own, you should be able to recover the following costs and losses:
- Medical bills. From diagnosis to treatment, expenses associated with a SLAP tear injury add up, especially if you have surgery. Keeping track of your medical bills and other medical expenses can help you determine how much you may be able to recover in a personal injury case.
- Lost wages and earning potential. When you injure your shoulder, you may not be able to work, leaving you unable to earn money and support yourself or your family. In some instances, it may also affect your long-term ability to bring in income. If this is the case, you may be able to recover damages for lost wages and future lost income.
- Daily expenses. An injured shoulder can leave you unable to perform everyday tasks like grocery shopping, cooking, and taking care of your kids. You may need to hire someone to help you manage your daily life. If you do, you may be able to recover these expenses in your case.
- Physical pain and impairment. Shoulder injuries can result in long-term limitations on your physical capabilities. This includes restrictions on your ability to handle daily affairs or engage in the hobbies you enjoy. The law allows you to recover financial compensation for short- and long-term physical impairment and the pain that can come with serious shoulder injuries, and it is important to understand how to adequately prove these losses.
What Factors Can Affect Your SLAP Tear Injury Case?
Because every SLAP tear injury case is different, it’s difficult to establish how much you can recover or how long your case will last. There are a variety of factors that can affect your case, including:
- The extent of your injury. The severity of a SLAP tear can range, as can the time it takes to heal. If you experience a severe SLAP tear that requires more medical treatments and more time to heal, you’ll likely get more compensation than if your tear quickly heals on its own. More severe injuries can also take longer to resolve.
- If your actions contributed to the accident. It can be easier to resolve a case when it’s clear that the other party’s actions caused the accident that led to your injury. If your actions contributed to the accident or it’s unclear who is liable, it can limit the amount of damages you’ll be able to recover. You may even need to work harder to show that you aren’t fully responsible for your SLAP tear injury.
- Whether your case gets settled or goes to trial. If your lawyer isn’t able to settle the case for a fair amount, they may advise you to bring a lawsuit. If your case goes to trial, it can take longer to be resolved.
How a Lawyer Can Help with Your SLAP Tear Injury Case
If you are considering pursuing a SLAP tear injury case, it’s helpful to consult with an accident injury lawyer who has experience in personal injury law. An attorney can answer any questions you have about your legal options and walk you through your case. Some of the ways accident and injury lawyers can help include:
- Providing expert guidance. It can be hard to figure out where to start when you decide to pursue a personal injury claim. An Austin accident and injury lawyer can help you determine if you have a case and let you know your legal rights as they relate to the specific facts of your case. Your lawyer can let you know how successful your claim may be and what you can do to keep your rights protected throughout every step.
- Helping to manage your case. Experiencing and recovering from an accident is stressful. Often, putting together all the information and documentation you need for a personal injury claim can feel like the last thing you have the energy for. A lawyer can help you manage all aspects of your case, including working with insurance companies and medical providers, gathering needed evidence, and filing needed court documents.
- Raising your chance of getting damages. Accident injury lawyers can evaluate how much compensation is possible in your case and negotiate to get you the financial recovery you deserve. When you work with an attorney, you have a higher chance of recovering compensation — and more compensation — than you otherwise would.
Why Hire FVF Law to Help with Your SLAP Tear Injury Case?
Our experienced accident and injury lawyers at FVF Law in Austin know how hard it can be to deal with the aftermath of an accident, especially when you’re injured. Our compassionate attorneys work hard to help you understand your rights and options in a personal injury case so you feel supported and heard.
We have years of experience helping clients get a fair settlement in personal injury cases, including in challenging cases involving negligent drivers and commercial vehicle carriers. Our accident law firm aims to not only help you understand the best way to maximize your financial recovery, but also offer support and guidance in the midst of difficult circumstances.
We know that deciding to hire a lawyer is a big decision, which is why we offer a free, no-commitment case consultation. To learn more about your options, contact us today.