Workers’ Comp Shoulder Injury Settlement: How Does it Work in Maryland?
By Sean Dobbs on October 2, 2025
A workers’ comp shoulder injury settlement can provide critical financial relief after a workplace accident. Understanding how Maryland handles these claims is essential. Shoulder injuries are among the most common workplace injuries in Maryland. This guide explains what you need to know about settlements and compensation.
Understanding Shoulder Injuries in the Workplace
Shoulder injuries happen all the time in Maryland workplaces. Construction workers, warehouse staff, and office employees all deal with this problem. These injuries usually come from lifting heavy stuff, doing the same motions repeatedly, or taking a fall. Common shoulder injuries include rotator cuff tears, dislocations, and fractures. Each type of injury impacts your work life differently. Some people bounce back quickly, while others are left with limitations that persist.
Workers’ Comp Settlement for Shoulder Injury: How Maryland Works
Maryland’s workers’ compensation system gives you benefits no matter who’s at fault. You don’t have to prove that your employer made a mistake. The system covers medical treatment, lost wages, and permanent disability benefits. Medical coverage includes doctor visits, surgery, physical therapy, and medications. Wage replacement pays two-thirds of your average weekly wage. Benefits start once the Workers’ Compensation Commission approves your claim.
Maryland’s workers’ compensation system provides benefits regardless of fault. You don’t need to prove your employer was negligent. The system covers medical treatment, lost wages, and permanent disability benefits. Medical coverage includes doctor visits, surgery, physical therapy, and medications. Wage replacement pays two-thirds of your average weekly wage. Benefits begin once the Workers’ Compensation Commission approves your claim.
Types of Benefits Available
Maryland offers temporary partial disability benefits for individuals with reduced earnings during recovery. Temporary total disability applies when you cannot work at all. Permanent partial disability is most common in shoulder injury workers’ comp settlement cases. This compensates for lasting physical limitations. The severity determines your compensation amount. Maryland uses a rating system to assess permanent impairment levels.
The Settlement Process
Filing a workers’ comp claim starts the process. Report your injury to your employer immediately to protect your rights. Your employer must file with Maryland’s Workers’ Compensation Commission. You’ll need medical treatment from approved providers. The insurance company may request an independent medical examination. Negotiations typically begin once you reach maximum medical improvement.
Key Factors Affecting Your Workers’ Comp Shoulder Injury Settlement
Several key factors influence your final settlement amount in Maryland. Understanding these elements helps you build a stronger case for maximum compensation.
Medical Documentation
Your medical records need to clearly show your injury diagnosis and what you can’t do. Complete documentation includes imaging results, surgical reports, and what your doctors say about your condition. Gaps in your treatment records can really hurt your settlement value.
Ability to Return to Work
Whether you can return to work is crucial for settlement calculations. If the injury makes it impossible to return to your job, you may receive vocational training for new work. Compensation cannot be denied based on your job’s risk level.
Nature of Your Work
The type of work you perform matters significantly in workers’ comp settlement amounts for shoulder injury negotiations. Manual laborers with shoulder injuries may face greater challenges returning to physically demanding work. However, settlement amounts are determined by your actual pre-injury wages and permanent impairment rating, not simply by occupation type.
Age and Future Earning Capacity
Your age affects calculations since younger workers have more earning years ahead. A 30-year-old construction worker gets looked at differently than a 55-year-old nearing retirement. How much you could’ve earned in the future matters a lot when figuring out permanent disability.
Why You Need a Workers’ Compensation Attorney
Many shoulder injury cases require legal representation. Insurance companies have experienced adjusters protecting their interests. Lawyers gather medical evidence and negotiate on your behalf. They ensure you understand your rights throughout the entire process. Legal representation becomes essential when claims are denied. Shoulder injury claims face denials for various reasons.
Additionally, disputes about injury causation are common in Maryland. Questions about whether the injury occurred at work also arise frequently. Your attorney can appeal denials and fight for your benefits.
Ready to Discuss Your Workers’ Comp Shoulder Injury Settlement?
Shoulder injuries disrupt your life and threaten your financial security. You deserve fair compensation for your workplace injury in Maryland. Don’t navigate the complex workers’ compensation system alone. At Dial Dobbs Law, we fight for injured workers throughout Baltimore County and nearby areas in Maryland. We understand local courts and know how to maximize your workers’ compensation settlement. We handle negotiations so you can focus on recovery. Call (301) 801-0694 today for a free consultation. You can also reach us online to discuss your case.