Rotator Cuff Injury at Work Requires Surgery

As a construction worker, JC specialized in demolition, breaking up concrete with a jackhammer all day and knocking down existing walls so a building could be renovated.

This meant a lot of heavy lifting and physically demanding work, all day, every day.

When JC felt a pull in his shoulder after lifting a piece of broken concrete at work, he experienced immediate pain. Like most of us, he figured it would go away, so he rested it, applied ice, and took some ibuprofen.

He kept working, using only his left hand and arm to perform tasks. JC did the right thing by reporting the injury to his boss, and they involved their HR department and workers’ compensation insurance company.

However, as is common with most insurance companies, they sought to minimize the injury. They sent him to a “worker’s clinic” – a facility that exclusively treats individuals referred by insurance companies. Whose side do you think they are on?

Since the shoulder wasn’t improving, he contacted a lawyer who recommended he reach out to us for assistance. Many people are referred to us by other lawyers or individuals we’ve helped in the past, knowing our success rate. JC was concerned because his injury wasn’t improving, he couldn’t work, and he had a young son to care for.

We worked to connect him with a proper doctor, an orthopedic specialist, who ordered an MRI revealing a torn rotator cuff. A month later, his surgery was approved, and his extensive rehabilitation process began.

JC had been attending night school and trying to start a small business – goals we aimed to support. However, let’s acknowledge the financial aspect involved.

Therefore, when negotiating his case with the workers’ compensation insurance company, we focused on JC’s future. We collaborated with him to ensure he could pursue both goals and have more time to spend with his young son.

JC didn’t have much knowledge about the workers’ compensation system, but he knew he needed assistance navigating it. Once he made that decision, we were able to provide him with the necessary support.