Motorcycle Accident Shoulder Injuries In Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania motorcycle accidents can result in many different types of injuries. Shoulder injuries are fairly common in motorcycle crashes. In some cases, you might experience immediate pain, but in others, you might experience delayed symptoms. Here is some information about shoulder injuries in motorcycle accidents in Pennsylvania and what you should do.

Types Of Shoulder Injuries From Motorcycle Accidents

Many different types of shoulder injuries can be caused by motorcycle collisions. The specific type of injury that you might suffer will depend on how your shoulder was injured, whether you were thrown from your bike, and the forces released in the crash. Some common types of motorcycle crash-related shoulder injuries are described below.

• Dislocation—If you were thrown from your motorcycle and landed directly on one of your shoulders, it might be dislocated at the joint. If your shoulder is dislocated, you might experience severe pain. A visible deformity might also be apparent. The treatment you might require will depend on the severity of the dislocation. The doctor might use some gentle manipulations to try to force your shoulder back into the proper position. You might also have to wear a sling for several weeks to keep your shoulder immobilized while it heals followed by rehabilitation to restore your range of motion. If the dislocation is severe, surgery might be required.
• Fracture—Both your proximal humerus in your upper arm and your clavicle in the upper chest are joined to form part of your shoulder along with your scapula. If you suffer a direct blow to your shoulder or land on it, it is possible to break these bones. Signs that you might have suffered a fracture include a limited range of motion, severe pain, or swelling. If the fragments are displaced, surgery might be needed to fix them back together with screws or plates. If they are not displaced, your doctor might recommend placing your affected arm and shoulder in a sling to immobilize it while it heals.
• Rotator Cuff Tear—Your rotator cuffs are large tendons made up of a group of four muscles located at the top of your arm bones. It helps you to lift and move your arm. If one of your rotator cuffs is torn, it might be impossible, difficult, or painful to move your arm. If you have a torn rotator cuff, it can be very difficult to complete the activities you normally do. Your doctor might treat a rotator cuff tear with medications, corticosteroid injections, or surgery.

• Tear To The Cartilage Surrounding The Socket—The cartilage surrounding your shoulder joint socket is called the superior labrum anterior and posterior. If this cartilage is torn in a motorcycle collision, you will experience symptoms that are similar to what you might experience with a torn rotator cuff, including difficulty moving and severe pain. The treatment will vary, depending on the severity of the tear, and might include anti-inflammatory medications and surgery.
• Tears Of Other Tissues—Your shoulder also includes a number of other muscles, tendons, and ligaments. If any of these are torn, you will likely experience symptoms similar to a tear to the cartilage or the rotator cuff. The treatment might include medications and surgery to repair the torn tissues.
• Frozen Shoulder—In some cases, different types of shoulder injuries can cause a frozen shoulder. This involves pain and stiffness in your shoulder that makes it difficult to move. If you can’t move your shoulder for a lengthy time, your shoulder can undergo changes that can cause it to freeze. Frozen shoulders are normally treated with physical therapy to help you regain your range of motion. When you see your doctor for a shoulder injury following a motorcycle wreck, he or she will conduct a physical exam. Your doctor might also order imaging tests, including x-rays, CT scans, or MRIs. These tests help your doctor to see what is going on so that he or she can properly diagnose your shoulder injury and develop an appropriate treatment plan.

Why Are Shoulder Injuries Significant?

The shoulder includes multiple muscles, tendons, ligaments, a joint socket, and several bones, including your shoulder blade, the clavicle, and your upper arm bone. An injury to any of these components can impact how the other parts function. Shoulder injuries in a motorcycle accident can cause severe pain, immobility, and prevent you from completing daily tasks such as washing, reaching, carrying, or driving. A shoulder injury can leave you with temporary disabilities and place a large strain on you and your family.

What To Do After A Motorcycle Accident

It can be difficult to know what to do in the immediate aftermath of a motorcycle collision.

If you are involved in a crash with another motorist, follow these tips to protect your potential claim:

• Call 911 and remain at the scene until help arrives.
• Check yourself and others for injuries and provide first aid if you can.
• Take photos of the accident scene, including pictures of your bike and the other vehicle, the other vehicle’s make, model, and license plate number, any debris, the road conditions, the weather conditions, skid marks, and all other relevant details.
• Tell the responding police officer what happened, but do not apologize or admit fault.
• Seek immediate medical attention to treat your shoulder injury and any others that you might have suffered in your accident.
• Ask for the names and contact information of all witnesses.
• Avoid talking to an insurance adjuster until you have had a chance to meet with a personal injury lawyer.
• Do not post any information about your motorcycle crash on social media.
• Consult an experienced motorcycle accident attorney as soon as possible.

Reasons To Hire A Motorcycle Accident Injury Attorney

While you are not required to retain a lawyer to file a claim after your accident, it is a good idea to do so. Juries tend to be biased against motorcyclists and believe that they are reckless and likely are at fault for their crashes. Since insurance companies understand this, they frequently try to dispute liability or make unreasonably low offers to accident victims. When you retain an experienced lawyer, your attorney can thoroughly investigate what happened and build the strongest case of liability for you. This might help you to secure full and fair compensation for all of your losses.

At Raynes & Lawn, our team of personal injury lawyers has been fighting for the rights of accident victims for more than five decades. We understand how to investigate claims and negotiate with insurance companies to secure maximal compensation. If you have been injured in a motorcycle accident, call us today for a free consultation at 1-800-535-1797.

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