What Is the Average Workers’ Comp Shoulder Injury Settlement in Kentucky?
Did you injure your shoulder in a workplace accident in Kentucky? Shoulder injuries are common in jobs that require heavy lifting, reaching, or repetitive motion—like factory, warehouse, or construction work. These injuries can make it hard or even impossible to do your job.
Most Kentucky employers must carry workers’ compensation insurance. If you’re hurt on the job, this coverage can pay for your medical bills and part of your lost wages. If your shoulder injury is serious, you may also qualify for additional benefits. Knowing what to expect from a shoulder injury settlement can help you plan your next steps.
What Factors Affect the Value of a Shoulder Injury Settlement?
Unfortunately, determining the average settlement for shoulder surgery (or for a shoulder injury in general) isn’t straightforward. Even if you could calculate an average, it wouldn’t necessarily help you determine the value of your case.
Much like personal injury settlements, workers’ compensation settlement amounts are shaped by several factors, including:
- The severity of the victim’s injuries
- How long the injuries take to heal
- How much work the victim misses
- The total cost of necessary medical care
- The cost of any anticipated future medical care
- The injury’s impact on the victim’s future earning capacity
Although some states use a “scheduled loss” system that assigns a specific compensation value for each body part, Kentucky doesn’t.
Understanding Levels of Disability
One of the most important factors when it comes to determining the potential value of a shoulder injury settlement is the level of disability involved. In Kentucky, there are four distinct categories of workers’ compensation disability.
Temporary Total Disability (TTD)
If your injury prevents you from working but is expected to heal, you may qualify for TTD.
In Kentucky, your TTD benefits will be the lesser of the following two amounts:
- Two-thirds of your weekly earnings
- Two-thirds of the state’s average weekly wage
These benefits usually continue until your doctor declares that you’ve reached maximum medical improvement (MMI).
Temporary Partial Disability (TPD)
If you can still work with limitations after your injury (and your injury is expected to heal), you may qualify for TPD. Your TPD benefits will usually be two-thirds of the difference between your current and pre-injury wages. Kentucky doesn’t offer temporary partial disability until you reach maximum medical improvement.
Permanent Partial Disability (PPD)
Permanent partial disability settlements are more complex. If your injury permanently limits your earning capacity, you may qualify for ongoing PPD benefits. To calculate how much you’re entitled to, you must start with two-thirds of your average weekly wages.
Next, your doctor will assign you an impairment rating based on your degree of disability. Your impairment rating determines a specific multiplier. Multiplying two-thirds of your average weekly wage by this value will give you your weekly compensation.
Permanent Total Disability (PTD)
If your injury is so severe that it leaves you permanently unable to work, you may receive compensation for PTD. This compensation is paid at the same rate as TTD.
Contact the Louisville Workplace Accident Attorneys at HJV Car Accident Personal Injury Lawyers for Help Today
If you’ve suffered a serious shoulder injury that impacts your ability to work, you might understandably be left wondering, “How much should I settle for a shoulder injury?” If you’re in too big a rush to settle, you might miss out on thousands of dollars in potential compensation.
The best thing you can do for yourself after seeking medical care is to speak with a qualified Louisville workplace accident lawyer at HJV Car Accident Personal Injury Lawyers. Your lawyer can assess your situation, answer your questions, and help you put together a plan for the future. Contact us today for a free consultation.
For more information, don’t hesitate to contact HJV Car Accident Personal Injury Lawyers to schedule a free consultation with a personal injury lawyer in Louisville today. We have two convenient locations in Louisville and Fort Mitchell, Kentucky.
We proudly serve Jefferson County, Kenton County, and it’s surrounding areas:
HJV Car Accident Personal Injury Lawyers – Louisville, KY Office
600 W Main St Ste 200
Louisville, KY, 40202
(502) 540-5700
HJV Car Accident Personal Injury Lawyers – Fort Mitchell, KY Office
2380 Grandview Dr
Fort Mitchell, KY, 41017
(859) 578-4444