Shoulder Impingment/Rotator Cuff Tendinitis: Accident Claims

Rotator Cuff (Muscles from back view of scapula)

If someone’s negligence caused your shoulder impingement or rotator cuff tendinitis, you may have a case.

Many people complain of shoulder pain after an accident. The shoulder is composed of many joints, tendons and muscles that give you a large range of motion in the arm.

Your rotator cuff is a frequent source of pain in your shoulder.

Anatomy

The shoulder is comprised of 3 bones: your clavicle (collarbone), scapula (shoulder blade) and humerus (upper arm) bone.

The rotator cuff keeps your arm in the shoulder socket. Muscles and tendons make a covering around the head of the upper arm bone and join it to the shoulder blade.

The bursa is a lubricating sac that is in the middle of the bone on the top of your shoulder (acromion) and the rotator cuff.

Acromion is in red. (Left scapula. View from the back.)

The bursa lets your rotator cuff tendons slide when the arm is moved.

Pain in the Shoulder

Pain in the rotator cuff may be caused by:

Tendinitis. The rotator cuff tendons may be damaged or irritated.

Impingement. If you raise your arm to the height of your shoulder, the area between the rotator cuff and acromion narrows. The acromion may rub against or impinge on the bursa and tendon. This may cause pain and irritation.

Bursitis. Your bursa may swell and get inflamed with additional fluid. This may cause pain.

Cause

Rotator cuff pain is typical in middle-aged people and young athletes. Young athletes that move their arms over their head for tennis, baseball or swimming are particularly at risk.

If you do repetitive lifting or overhead tasks with the arm, like painting, construction or paper hanging, you are at increased risk.

If you fall into either of the groups of people who I described above, the responsible party’s insurance company may argue that your rotator cuff pain was caused by your lifestyle, and not the accident.

Tip: Remember, it is your burden to show that someone’s negligence caused your shoulder impingement or rotator cuff tendinitis.

Can an Injury Cause Shoulder Impingement or Rotator Cuff Tendinitis?

Yes, pain may also start from a small injury. This should be your response to the insurance company if they argue that your shoulder impingement or rotator cuff tendinitis pre-existed the accident.

Hopefully your doctor states, in his medical records or a written report, that the accident caused your shoulder impingement or rotator cuff tendinitis.

Pain may also happen with no identifiable cause. For this reason, the adjuster may argue that your pain isn’t related to the accident.