Shoulder Injury
Compensation Claims

If you have been affected by a shoulder injury, we can help you claim compensation

Shoulder injuries can be both painful and debilitating, affecting your ability to move, work, and perform everyday tasks. Whether caused by a fall, a road accident, or poor working conditions, shoulder injuries like rotator cuff tears, dislocations, or fractures can require surgery, rehabilitation, and time off work.

Understanding your rights and options for making a shoulder injury claim can be a crucial step in your recovery. If your injuries were caused by someone else's actions or negligence, we can help you can make a No Win, No Fee compensation claim with the support of a personal injury solicitor.

What to consider when you claim for a shoulder injury

• You're eligible to claim whether your shoulder injury was caused by negligence at work, in a road accident, or in a public place.
• You can also claim if your shoulder injury was worsened by misdiagnosis, inadequate treatment or other medical negligence.
• Compensation payouts can vary from £2,700 for a soft tissue shoulder injury to over £50,000 for a brachial plexus injury with permanent disability.
• You must start your claim within 3 years from when your shoulder was injured - the longer you wait, the harder it can be to gather evidence to support your claim.
• You can make a no win, no fee claim.
• Your compensation will depend on the seriousness of your shoulder injury, any ongoing pain and restricted movement, and your financial losses and expenses. You can find out how much you can claim with our compensation calculator.

With over 50,000 admissions for shoulder and arm injuries each year, you are not alone

Shoulder injuries are a common result of accidents at work, road collisions or slips, trips and falls in shops and other public places.

There were 58,169 hospital admissions for shoulder and upper arm injuries in 2022-23, from an analysis of NHS reports (digital.nhs.uk).

An estimated 7% of the UK's population suffer from shoulder pain, according to recent data published by the British Society for Rheumatology.

If you have suffered a shoulder injury as the result of another party's negligence, you may be able to claim compensation.

If you decide to make a shoulder injury claim, your personal injury solicitor will take you through every step of the claims process. Your solicitor will be with you until you win your claim and get the compensation you need to move forward.

If you are looking for information on shoulder injury symptoms and treatment, see: dislocated shoulder (nhs.uk).

How much compensation can I claim for a shoulder injury?

Compensation for your shoulder injury is based on:

• how severe your injury is,
• the disruption caused by your injury to your daily life and work,
• any financial expenses or losses you?ve had due to your injury.

General damages are awarded for pain, suffering and loss of amenity (PSLA). Awards for general damages are set by the Judicial College (judiciary.uk) and published in their guidelines for personal injury awards.

Special damages will be awarded for any lost earnings, loss of commission or bonuses, and loss of pension contributions. It may also be possible to claim for loss of future earnings, if the medical prognosis establishes that you won't be able to work for any period in the future.

These damages will also cover the cost of any medical procedures you might need to treat or recover from your shoulder injury such as arthroscopic surgery, corticosteroid injections, joint distension and physiotherapy.

Read more:

A complete list of recoverable losses in a personal injury claim

How is compensation calculated if I have multiple injuries?

Average shoulder injury general damages compensation table

The following shoulder injury payouts refer to the Guidelines for the Assessment of General Damages in Personal Injury Cases, 17th Edition by the Judicial College (oup.com).

These tables are used by solicitors or by the courts as a starting point when calculating your compensation.

Please note: these average figures represent general damages only, and do not include any element of special damages (e.g. lost wages).

Shoulder injury

Can I claim for PTSD or other psychological trauma?

Although psychiatric injuries are less obvious than physical injuries and illness, mental health conditions can be no less debilitating.

Our 2024 Personal Injury Claimant Survey found that 29.03% of claimants reported a psychological injury, with 70.97% of these relating to a physical injury.

Shoulder injuries might cause frustration and anxiety about restricted arm movement and fears linked to potential long-term impairment. Depression linked to chronic pain and PTSD are also possible.

Although psychiatric injuries are less obvious than physical injuries and illness, mental health conditions can be no less debilitating.

Our compensation calculator can estimate your compensation for psychological injuries. Or you can call us on 0800 376 1001 to speak to a specialist advisor.

Do I qualify for shoulder injury compensation?

Yes, you are entitled to make a claim for a shoulder injury, if:

• you were made ill within the last 3 years, and;
• another person was responsible, and;
• that person owed you a legal duty of care.

Find out online if you can claim with our injury claim calculator. Alternatively, you can speak to a claims advisor on 0800 376 1001 and find out if you have a claim in minutes.

What if I was partially at fault?

Personal injury claims where both the defendant and claimant share some responsibility are relatively common.

In our recent 2024 Personal Injury Claimant Survey, 13.99% of respondents thought they could be partially to blame for their accident.

You may still be able to claim compensation even if your actions may have contributed to the accident. Claims where there is fault on both sides (contributory negligence) are often resolved with a split liability agreement.

Read more:

Can I claim if I feel I was partly responsible for my accident?

How long do I have to make a shoulder injury claim?

For most injury claims, you have up to 3 years from the date of your injury to start the claims process.

The 3 year limitation period does not apply to minors (under 18s). A parent, guardian or litigation friend can start a claim on a child's behalf up to their 18th birthday and the child has until their 21st birthday to claim for themselves.

How will shoulder injury compensation help me?

Shoulder injuries, including frozen shoulder, dislocation and rotator cuff disorders can cause significant, lasting pain and disruption.

The debilitating nature of these injuries can mean those affected are often unable to work during their recovery.

Your solicitor can help you claim compensation for the pain and suffering caused by your injury, and for financial losses including:

• lost earnings if you have had to take time off work
• future loss of earnings if you are unable to return to work
• the cost of medical treatment and future care to support your recovery
• expenses such as travel costs to and from hospital

How have we have helped injured claimants?

The panel of solicitors have a wealth of experience assisting clients with a range of injuries including:

• Rugby tackle shoulder injuries
• Contact sports
• Shoulder injuries sustained during other sporting events and gym workouts
• Manual handling and lifting injuries at work
• Rotator cuff tears
• Dislocated shoulder injuries
• Shoulder injuries affecting the brachial plexus

What affects the process when claiming for a shoulder injury?

How you injured your shoulder will determine the claims process. Click the icons below for more information.

Work accidents Public places Road accidents Medical negligence Other accidents

Injury FAQ's

Can I claim for someone else?

Yes. In certain circumstances, it is possible to claim compensation on behalf of another person in the capacity of a 'litigation friend'.

If an injured person is either too young or vulnerable, too injured or otherwise unable to claim on their own behalf, their litigation friend can handle the claim process on behalf of the injured person.

The litigation friend will be responsible for communicating with the solicitors, and for making decisions in respect of the claim.

Can I claim if I feel I was partly responsible for my accident?

Yes. You may still be able to claim compensation even if your actions may have contributed to the accident.

However, if you were partly to blame (known as contributory negligence), your compensation may be reduced and it may be more difficult to prove liability.

How long do I have to make an injury claim?

In general, you have a time limit of up to 3 years from the date of the injury to make an injury claim.

The last date you can make a claim is known as the claim limitation date - after which your injury claim becomes 'statute barred'.

Can I claim for an injury after 3 years?

Possibly. The general rule for adults is that a claim must be started within three years.

However, the three-year countdown starts on the day you learned of your injury or illness. This will usually be the date of the accident, but could be the date your doctor gave you a diagnosis.

If you were injured as a child, you do have up until your 21st birthday to make a claim.

There other circumstances that can also impact the limitation date. Call us now on 0800 376 1001 to find out if you are still able to claim injury compensation.

In reality, there are a number of factors that can affect whether an injury claim will be taken on by a solicitor.

Will I need to travel to a solicitor's office?

There's no need to visit your solicitor's office in person if you are thinking about making a shoulder injury claim.

On a quick phone call with a friendly advisor, you can explain what happened and find out if you may have a claim. There is no obligation to start a claim.

If you decide to start a claim, you will speak to a specialist personal injury solicitor. Your solicitor will always be available to answer any questions, and they will keep you updated every step of the way.

I need the money now - what are my options?

If you are unable to work and have bills to pay, you may be able to claim an interim compensation payment.

An interim payment is an advance on your compensation payment. Any amount you receive in interim payments would be deducted from your final compensation payment.

Sources

Author:
Chris Salmon, Director

About the author

Chris Salmon is a co-founder and Director of Quittance Injury Claims. Chris has played key roles in the shaping and scaling of a number of legal services brands and is a regular commentator in the legal press.