Trip and Fall Accidents on Construction Sites: Rotator Cuff Injuries

A rotator cuff injury is one of several common shoulder injuries a construction worker is likely to suffer in a trip and fall accident. If you have suffered a rotator cuff injury at your construction job because of someone else's negligence, you should consult with a Philadelphia construction injury lawyer to discuss filing a personal injury claim.

Symptoms of a Rotator Cuff Injury

With debris and other hazards littering construction sites, the risk of tripping and falling is relatively high. When you fall, the impact of your body hitting the floor or pavement is all it takes to injure your rotator cuff. Unusual twisting or any other kind of stress can also cause a rotator cuff injury.

Symptoms of a rotator cuff injury include: 

• Pain - the pain usually worsens when you lift your arm to comb your hair or grab an item from a shelf. The pain could also worsen while you are asleep or lying on the affected shoulder. In severe cases, the pain will be continuous and you'll experience muscle soreness.
• Weakness - the affected shoulder will be weaker than your other shoulder.
• Guarding - you will be inclined to guard the affected shoulder and keep it immobilized. 

Left untreated, a rotator cuff injury could lead to permanent disability or a diminished quality of life. This is why it's important to seek medical treatment and speak with a Philadelphia construction injury lawyer if you suspect you have suffered a rotator cuff injury at your construction job.

A Philadelphia construction injury lawyer can look at the specifics of your accident to determine if you are eligible for compensation beyond what is offered through Workers' Compensation.

Treatment for a Rotator Cuff Injury

Although a minor rotator cuff injury might heal on its own with rest, ice, heat and pain medication, severe injuries require diagnostic testing to determine the extent of your shoulder's damage.

You might undergo tests including: 

• physical examinations;
• ultrasounds;
• X-rays;
• arthrograms; and
• MRIs. 

Medical treatment for your rotator cuff injury, depending on the damage, could include any of the following: 

• Physical therapy - to improve the range of motion in your shoulder, increase flexibility and balance the strength of each shoulder.
• Steroid injections - to reduce inflammation and ease pain.
• Surgery - to repair a tear in your rotator cuff. 

With severe rotator cuff injuries, there's a good chance that you will be unable to work and will face a mound of medical bills. If the negligence of a third-party (not your employer) was involved in your rotator cuff injury, a Philadelphia construction injury lawyer can help you file a personal injury claim against said party that is completely separate from your Workers' Compensation claim.

Contact a Philadelphia Construction Injury Lawyer

If you have been severely injured in a Philadelphia construction site accident, you shouldn't have to suffer and pay for expensive medical bills that were caused by another person's negligence. Contact a Philadelphia construction injury lawyer at White & Williams LLP today. We will provide a free, no obligation consultation on your case - 1-877-944-8396.