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Shoulder Injury

Workers’ Compensation
for Shoulder Injuries

The constant and persistent needs of work in the present day can generate difficulties through countless matters. Continuous use of the shoulder during work over various years can leave you vulnerable to a number of shoulder-related, and rotator cuff tears and injuries. Lifting, pressing, raising, and heaving several objects often creates various issues such as bursitis shoulder, frozen shoulder, shoulder impingement and rotator cuff injuries. Injuring your shoulder can have a substantial impact on your ability to complete your work, and enjoyment of life – that is why it is essential to seek compensation if you suffered an injury of this type at work.

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What are my first steps with a shoulder injury?

In the event that you have a hurt shoulder, commonly including injuries relating to subacromial bursitis, or an RC tear – it is crucial to commence the process by seeking a GP evaluation for an assessment of the injury and precise diagnosis.

There are rigorous time limits when making a claim for shoulder pain, or a rotator cuff injury. Claiming WorkCover must be done six months from the date of the injury, or when you become aware of the injury.

Safe Work Australia estimate that 13% of all work-related injuries and diseases revolve around the shoulder, meaning at Zaparas Lawyers we witness first-hand the vast effects of shoulder injuries from workplace environments every day, assisting us in recognising the stress and confusion arising alongside the troubles of prohibitive shoulder issues. This means we recognise the difficulties you may be experiencing and are here to help you understand what can be a complicated process.

What claims are available to me?

Injuries to the back, including dislocated shoulders, hurt shoulder blades, or shoulder impingements may permit you to several compensatory options.

For medical and like expenses, you can be covered for any shoulder treatment or therapy costs. This can become particularly useful for common shoulder injuries in the workplace, comprising of subacromial bursitis, labrum tears and cuff tears. Expenses can also be covered for a loss of wages, whereby you can be covered for past and future wages you will not receive as a result of your shoulder-related injury.

If a medical professional establishes that the shoulder injury sustained yields a permanent impairment rating of 11% or greater, you may be eligible to receive a lump-sum payment for the permanent impairment. Permanent impairment relates to shoulder injuries as it becomes the situation where an injury, like a rotator or shoulder cuff tear, remains in the same position and is not likely to improve with further treatment.

In a similar vein, any pain and suffering arising from shoulder pain can produce furthered compensation offers, where you can be reimbursed for the loss of enjoyment of life.

These claims are all considered to be no-fault, meaning that it cannot be proven that you did not cause the injury. The mere fact that you suffered an injury during work is adequate for eligibility for these claims.


To become eligible for a Workcover claim to cover an injured shoulder, it is vital you are an employee. However, to satisfy this it must be demonstrated that 80% of your income over the last 12 months has occurred at the place of work you were injured at.

Further to this, to be entitled to loss of wage compensation in addition to medical expenses, it is required to attain a certificate of capacity. This can be achieved by lodging a certificate to your employer, who is then given 14 days to complete it and send it to their insurer.

If you believe to be injured at work in a way that has affected your shoulder or rotator cuff, you may be entitled to a form of compensation. It is important to act fast, as often stern time limits may apply, so it is vital that you contact us for legal advice promptly.

We understand that making a claim can be stressful, which is why we have broken down the process in 3 simple steps to start you on your journey.

To contact us, simply fill out the form below and a member of our friendly team will contact you to set up a free, no-obligation appointment. Alternatively, you could give us a call on 07 5675 1300.

Once you have made contact, you will have your appointment with one of our lawyers. We have multiple convenient locations, so you can find an office that is closest to you. Alternatively, we offer home or hospital appointments, ensuring you can be heard no matter your circumstances.

Once you have had your Free, No-Obligation appointment, our team will discuss your options with you and make a collaborative decision of the best course of action.

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