Shoulder and Knee Injuries

Knee and shoulder injuries can remain with you long after the initial accident or event that caused the damage. If your injury occurred on the job, or was the result of someone else’s negligence or wrongful actions, you may be entitled to substantial financial compensation.

At Heiting & Irwin, our Riverside injury lawyers are committed to dealing with knee injuries and / or shoulder injuries and maximizing your financial recovery. We have shown this same commitment to our clients since we opened our doors five decades ago, even when James Heiting was President of the California state Bar and all the attorneys in California.

Heiting & Irwin is located at 6346 Brockton Ave, Riverside, CA 92506, near the center of Riverside and the Riverside Plaza and DMV. Call us today at (951) 682-6400 for a free initial consultation.

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One client recently wrote: “I called for a consultation and my call was returned promptly. All my questions were answered which put a smile on my face. Mr.Heiting was so kind and never made me feel like I was wasting his time. I highly recommend him.”

Common Types of Knee and Shoulder Injuries

Shoulders and knees are complex joints. They consist of a number of ligaments, and they are cushioned by sacs and cartilage. Whether it is the joint itself that is hurt or the bone or the cushion surrounding it, such an injury can certainly cause a great deal of difficulty in a number of areas of your life.

Common knee and shoulder injuries include:

• Ligament tear: A ligament is tough connective tissue that connects bones together. They can be sprained or torn (partially or completely).
• Rotator cuff tears: This is a group of muscles and tendons in the shoulder.
• Bursitis: Inflammation of fluid-filled sacs cushioning joints and tendons.
• Traumatic arthritis: The trauma of an injury can cause swelling and stiffness and arthritic changes
• Joint damage: This affects cartilage and bones, causing pain and reduced mobility.
• Injury to cruciate ligaments (example: ACL tear)
• One of the meniscus ligaments tear
• Cartilage damage
• Fractures

Your injuries can be identified by film studies such as X-rays, cat scans (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In some cases, your injury will be established by your symptoms, test results and medical provider observation.

Why Knee and Shoulder Injuries Are Debilitating

Your joints play a crucial role in nearly all aspects of your daily life. Your knees bear the weight of your body when you are standing, walking, running, stooping, etc.; and they play a huge role in your mobility. If you are unable to put weight on your knee, or if the joint loses its full range of motion, you will not be able to perform activities of daily life.

Your shoulder controls the strength and range of motion in your arms. When your shoulder is inflamed or injured, you will have difficulty performing any tasks with your hands. You will struggle to drive, get dressed, reach for things, hold things, carry things, work overhead; and you will certainly encounter challenges in trying to lift anything. In addition, shoulder injuries often result in continuous and dull pain. The inability to get comfortable enough to sleep at night can be life changing.

What to Do if You Have Suffered a Knee or Shoulder Injury

Many knee and shoulder injuries will not heal on their own. Not only will you need initial care to diagnose and treat the injury, but you may also require surgery and then rehabilitation. It will be your obligation to pursue all necessary medical care and follow all reasonable recommendations that your doctor makes. If, for example, physical therapy orders can lead to a better medical result and your participation will not only help your condition, but it can also keep the insurance company from arguing that you did not do what you should have been doing to get better.

Compensation for a Knee or Shoulder Injury

• If your injury occurred on the job and there was no other party responsible, the California’s workers’ compensation system is available. You may be entitled to benefits if your injury was job-related. Your lawyers can help you prove that.
• If you were hurt due to the actions of someone other than your employer a personal injury claim may be available. Your attorneys can help you with that, as well. Here, you must prove negligence to qualify for compensation.
• Sometimes an injury will involve both / all aspects decribed above

Your Damages from a Knee or Shoulder Injury

If you are able to successfully file a claim or lawsuit, you may be entitled to the following in damages:

• Medical expenses (past and future)
• Lost wages and earning ability (past and future)
• General damages including pain, suffering, disabilities, loss of enjoyment of life, embarrassment and humiliation
• Temporary disability payments and “indemnity,” sometimes for life (worker’s compensation)

Never underestimate the amount of damages suffered by these injuries. These joints are crucial to your quality of life. If you continuously experience debilitating pain, it will take away the life that you once had and subject you to a difficult daily existence. Future dreams and expectations may be lost relationships affected, life forever changed. The insurance company will likely try to minimize your injury, so you must fight back with both objective test results and testimony that establishes your actual damages.

Contact a Riverside Injury Law Firm

At Heiting & Irwin, our Riverside shoulder and knee injury lawyers handle the case in such a way that you can focus on healing and rehabilitation. An online message or a phone call to us at (951) 682-6400 is all it takes to talk to an experienced member of the team (and you pay us nothing for the legal services and effort unless and until you win your case).