Two Factors That Significantly Contribute To Your Shoulder Injury Compensation
The shoulder is one of the most critical joints in the body. The shoulder joint is extremely mobile and facilitates many movements, such as reaching for or throwing things. Thus, a shoulder injury can ruin your life in multiple ways and deserves adequate compensation. These two factors greatly determine how much you should get for your shoulder injury.
1. The Injury's Treatment and Recovery
Shoulder injury treatment depends on the injury's extent, among other things. Your doctor may perform diagnostic tests, such as:
- X-rays
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
- Ultrasound scans
You may need various treatments, depending on the diagnosis. Typical treatments include physiotherapy, pain management, and even surgery. For example, you may need shoulder replacement surgery if you suffer an extensive shoulder injury that other treatments cannot fix.
You need compensation for every stage of your diagnosis, treatment, and recovery. You just need to prove the necessity of the diagnostic and treatment methods. For example, you may need to justify why you opted for the more expensive MRI instead of an x-ray.
The recovery period affects the treatment costs for most injuries. For example, your doctor may start with relatively simple and inexpensive treatments before proceeding to intensive and expensive treatments if the initial treatments fail. In addition, a lengthy recovery also prolongs your shoulder injury's effects on your life.
2. The Injury's Effects on Your Life
Many people need a healthy shoulder to perform daily chores, enjoy hobbies, interact with family members, and work. For example, you need a healthy shoulder to:
- Carry your baby
- Cook
- Do laundry
- Type
- Carry heavy boxes
- Drive a car
- Operate a crane
Your pre-injury lifestyle determines which things you cannot do because of the injury. You need evidence of your pre-injury life to get compensation for the changes the injury has caused you.
Say you need compensation because you cannot play golf because of your shoulder injury. You must prove that you used to play golf before the injury. Eyewitnesses' testimony, video footage, or photos of you on the golf course can help prove your claim. You may get more compensation as a professional golfer than as an amateur golfer.
Different injuries attract different compensation levels, but the compensation varies by person. Therefore, don't use another person's compensation as your claim's basis since your lifestyles may differ. Consult an experienced injury lawyer to analyze your losses, determine your claim's value, and help you pursue compensation.
For more information, contact a personal injury lawyer near you.