Farmer, Cline & Campbell Personal Injury Lawyers | September 8, 2025 | Car Accidents
The shoulder joints are some of the most frequently used parts of the human body. Although you may not notice every time you move yours, it’s more than likely enough that an injury to the area can leave you with stiffness, the inability to perform many daily tasks, and significant pain.
If you have sustained a shoulder injury in a car accident, there are legal steps you can take to recover your losses. Learn more about these wounds and why a personal injury claim can be helpful below.
Understanding A Shoulder Injury
Your shoulder is a ball-and-socket joint with three main bones joined together by ligaments, tendons, muscles, and a joint capsule.
Although it’s referred to as a singular joint, there are actually two joints in the area of your shoulder: the acromioclavicular and the glenohumeral joints. The first connects the top of your shoulder to your collarbone, while the second joins your upper arm to your shoulder blade.
Because of the flexibility that the shoulder joints allow, injuries can easily occur if any kind of force is exerted on them. However, these damages are sometimes not as obvious as catastrophic injuries like disfigurement or head trauma; all too often, a day or two can pass after an accident before a victim realizes they may be hurt.
Common Symptoms Of A Shoulder Injury After Accidents
Shoulder injuries make themselves known via a number of symptoms, such as:
- Dull or sharp pain
- Bruising
- Swelling
- Weakness in the affected arm
- Limited range of motion
- Numbness or tingling in the arm
It can also feel like your shoulder is loose and moving within your body, causing popping sounds and painful grinding sensations. You may even notice that the shoulder looks misshapen, with unnatural lumps.
The specific type of shoulder injury you sustain will impact the pain you feel as well. For example, a rotator cuff tear could prevent you from being able to lift anything over your shoulder, while a soft tissue injury could lead to intense swelling around the area.
Can You File A Personal Injury Claim After Suffering A Shoulder Injury In A Collision?
If the collision occurred because of another party’s misconduct, such as speeding or driving under the influence, you may be entitled to file a personal injury claim and recover your losses. You can seek compensation for the medical expenses you’ve incurred, including rehabilitative care and those for any future treatments.
If you had to miss work because of the injury, you can also claim lost wages. And should your injuries be severe enough to cause lasting damage that won’t allow you to return to work, it’s possible to receive compensation for your loss of earning potential as well.
You can claim non-economic damages, too, which reimburse you for the emotional and physical distress you’ve experienced and your loss of enjoyment of life.
To successfully win your case and obtain these forms of compensation, however, you must show that the other party breached their duty of care toward you and that their conduct resulted in injuries for which you can be compensated.
Contact Farmer, Cline & Campbell Personal Injury Lawyers For a Free Consultation With A Charleston Car Accident Lawyer
After a car accident resulting in a shoulder injury in West Virginia, discussing your options with an attorney is the right next step. You should not pursue a claim on your own, as doing so runs the risk of you walking away with a far lower settlement than you deserve. With legal assistance, you can fight for the compensation you need to continue living your life.
For more information, please contact an experienced car accident lawyer at Farmer, Cline & Campbell Personal Injury Lawyers, to schedule a free initial consultation today. We have convenient locations in Charleston, Beckley, Morgantown, WV.
Farmer, Cline & Campbell Personal Injury Lawyers – Charleston
746 Myrtle Rd
Charleston, WV 25314
(304) 346-5990
Farmer, Cline & Campbell Personal Injury Lawyers – Beckley
101 N Kanawha St, Suite 101
Beckley, WV 25801
(304) 252-5990
Farmer, Cline & Campbell Personal Injury Lawyers – Morgantown
453 Suncrest Towne Centre Drive, Suite 300
Morgantown, WV 26505
(304) 225-5990