Wisconsin Workers’ Compensation For Workplace Shoulder Injuries And Surgeries
A torn rotator cuff or shoulder replacement can affect your work and daily life. This can be harder if your job requires lifting, pushing or reaching overhead. If you hurt your shoulder at work, you may qualify for workers’ compensation benefits.
At Domer Law, S.C., our Wisconsin workplace shoulder injury lawyers help nurses, machine operators, truck drivers and delivery workers seek benefits for work-related shoulder injuries.
How Shoulder Injuries Happen On The Job
Shoulder injuries can happen suddenly or develop over time. Repeated overhead lifting, awkward reaching, heavy pushing or pulling and falls can damage your shoulder.
Common injuries include rotator cuff tears, labral tears and severe injuries that require shoulder replacement. Whether your injury happened at once or built up over time, you may qualify for workers’ compensation benefits.
What Wisconsin Workers’ Comp Covers For Shoulder Care
Wisconsin workers’ compensation may cover needed medical care for a work-related shoulder injury. Benefits may include:
- Scans, physical therapy and injections
- Surgery, including rotator cuff repair and shoulder replacement
- Follow-up visits and therapy after surgery
Care continues after surgery ends. Ongoing therapy tied to your injury stays part of your claim.
Permanent Partial Disability And Independent Medical Exams
Some shoulder injuries leave you with lasting limitations. You may qualify for permanent partial disability (PPD) benefits based on the lasting loss of use in your shoulder.
An insurance company may also send you to an independent medical exam (IME). Our attorneys can help you prepare and review the doctor’s report to see if it matches your condition and limits.
When A Shoulder Injury Affects Your Career
Permanent shoulder limits may keep you from returning to a job that requires heavy lifting, overhead work, machine operation or patient transfers. Depending on your situation, you may qualify for:
- Loss of earning capacity benefits if you move to lower-paying work
- Job retraining through the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
Our team can review these options based on your medical limits and work history.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to some common questions about surgery, returning to work and permanent disability benefits in Wisconsin.
Does Wisconsin workers’ comp cover total shoulder replacement surgery?
Yes. Wisconsin workers’ compensation may cover needed shoulder replacement surgery when a work injury causes the condition.
What if I tore my rotator cuff at work and cannot return to my previous job?
You may qualify for loss of earning capacity benefits or job retraining based on your lasting limits and work history.
How are permanent disability benefits calculated for a shoulder injury?
PPD benefits depend on your doctor’s impairment rating, the state’s value for the injured body part and Wisconsin’s weekly PPD rate for the year of injury.
If you have questions about your claim, our attorney can help you understand what benefits you may be able to seek.
Talk To A Wisconsin Workplace Shoulder Injury Lawyer Today
A shoulder injury can affect your ability to work and earn a living. Our attorneys serve clients throughout Wisconsin, including Milwaukee and Waukesha.
Contact Domer Law, S.C., at 414-312-4120 or through our online contact form for a free consultation. If we take your case, our fee comes from any compensation recovered in your case.