Updated July 2, 2026
Rotator cuff tears, dislocations, and labrum injuries all fall under this page, and insurers tend to scrutinize them more than they scrutinize a knee or back claim, because shoulder pain is harder to see on a quick exam and easier to dismiss without imaging. Here's what actually moves the number on this site's calculator.
What insurers look at first
The first question an adjuster asks is whether imaging confirms structural damage, a torn rotator cuff or labrum shows up clearly on MRI, while a strain or bruise usually doesn't. The second question is whether the injury restricts overhead motion or lifting in a way a physical therapist or orthopedist has documented; a shoulder that "hurts" is a much weaker claim than a shoulder with a measured, recorded loss of range of motion. Any delay between the accident and your first shoulder-specific appointment gets flagged, since insurers use it to argue the injury either wasn't caused by the incident or wasn't serious enough to seek prompt care.
How the math works
| Severity tier | Multiplier | Typical shoulder injury example |
|---|---|---|
| Moderate | 2.5× | Strain or minor impingement, resolves with therapy |
| This page's default | 2.8× | Shoulder injury claims generally, per this site's convention |
| Serious | 3.5× | Arthroscopic surgery for a confirmed tear |
| Severe | 4.5× | Documented permanent loss of range of motion or strength |
The injury claim calculator adds your medical bills and lost wages to the multiplier result. A prior shoulder injury at the same joint is the complication insurers raise most often here, similar to how a knee claim gets challenged over pre-existing arthritis.