How Much Compensation For Rotator Cuff Injury At Work Claims?

Last updated 27th March 2025. Have you hurt your shoulder whilst working? This guide about rotator cuff injury at work claims provides information about starting a case for compensation after an accident at work. If your employer has been negligent, you might be able to bring a claim against them.

You’re owed a duty of care in the workplace and we begin by detailing what this means. Shoulder damage can cause nagging and prolonged health problems. We explain what rotator cuff injuries are and give some typical examples of how such injuries might happen. Eligibility criteria apply to launching a personal injury claim, and this is also discussed.

After considering the relevant time limits for starting a claim, we examine compensation itself – what it aims to cover and how it is calculated. The guide ends by explaining how one of our No Win No Fee solicitors might be able to handle your claim and help you get the compensation you are owed.

Read on to learn more, or if you’d like to discuss your potential claim now, please connect with our advisors:

• Call 24/7 on 0800 073 8804 to get a free assessment of your claim.
• Ask a question through the live chat facility below.
• Start a claim online here.

Jump To A Section of Our Guide

1. What Is A Rotator Cuff Injury?
2. Can I Claim For A Rotator Cuff Injury At Work?
3. How Could A Rotator Cuff Injury At Work Happen?
4. What Is The Time Limit For Rotator Cuff Injury At Work Claims?
5. What Evidence Do Rotator Cuff Injury At Work Claims Need?
6. How Making A Claim Can Assist In Your Recovery
7. How Much Compensation For A Rotator Cuff Injury?
8. Rotator Cuff Injury At Work Claims On A No Win No Fee Basis
9. More Useful Resources About Making A Personal Injury Claim

What Is A Rotator Cuff Injury?

The shoulders are surrounded by muscles and tendons that allow it to be one of the most flexible joints in the body. The rotator cuff is the area where the humorous (arm) meets the scapula (shoulder) and a tear here often affects the supraspinous tendon. Injury can happen suddenly or build up over time from repetitive shoulder movements. This NHS guide details shoulder impingement problems like this in more detail.

A rotator cuff tear can be common and range in severity from mild to severe. Symptoms include limited movement in the shoulder joint, pain, soreness and weakness in that limb. Treatment for shoulder impingement typically involves resting the joint, anti-inflammatory painkillers and physiotherapy.

Can I Claim For A Rotator Cuff Injury At Work?

The Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 (HASAWA) is a law that states employers must ensure reasonable and practicable steps are taken to prevent employees from being harmed as they work. There are a number of actions employers can do to meet this duty of care such as training staff correctly in lifting techniques, providing the correct equipment for the job and ensuring the work premises are safe and well operated.

A compensation claim needs to show that this duty of care was breached in some way and that this caused your rotator cuff damage. So you could have a valid compensation claim for a rotator cuff injury caused at work if you meet the following three criteria:

• A duty of care was applicable at the moment of injury.
• That duty was not met.
• You suffered harm as a result.

Take a moment to check with our advisors if your claim qualifies. It’s a free call, carries no obligation and could help you seek compensation.

How Could A Rotator Cuff Injury At Work Happen?

Next, we look at some ways that a rotator cuff injury could happen at work when the duty of care is not applied:

• Materials in a warehouse were not stacked correctly and heavy boxes fell and hit a worker, causing rotator cuff and shoulder blade damage as part of multiple injuries.
• An employer failed to correctly assess the weight of materials to be manually moved. This caused an employee to tear ligaments in their shoulder after heavy lifting items.
• A wet patch on an office floor was left unattended and without hazard signs. An employee slipped and suffered a complete tear in their rotator cuff as they landed heavily on their shoulder.
• A staff member had a valid rotator cuff injury claim after tripping on exposed computer cables in an office.

There may be other scenarios where poor health and safety standards cause a rotator cuff problem. If you would like to discuss your particular case, connect with our friendly advisors at the number above.

What Is The Time Limit For Rotator Cuff Injury At Work Claims?

Time limits of three years apply to personal injury claims as outlined in the Limitation Act 1980. Usually, this starts from the date of the accident, but it can vary under certain circumstances:

• A pause applies to the time limit for injured people under 18. A litigation friend is sometimes appointed by the courts to start a claim for them. Or, the three-year period starts from the date they turn 18 and can claim themselves.
• A freeze applies to the time limit for those who lack the mental capacity to start a claim themselves. Once more, a litigation friend can be appointed to act for them. Alternatively, the three-year period starts from any date that they regain mental capacity.

Speak to our team if you have concerns about time limits.

What Evidence Do Rotator Cuff Injury At Work Claims Need?

Personal injury claims need proof that shows a breach of the duty of care caused injury. Financial harm caused by the injuries must also be proven with evidence. With this in mind, it is essential to collect together anything that supports your rotator cuff injury at work claim, such as:

• Any workplace CCTV that captured the accident.
• Photos of your injuries and the hazards that caused them.
• The contact information of any eyewitnesses to the accident. Should you decide to use the services of a solicitor, they can approach these witnesses for statements to help your claim.
• A copy of the accident book entry. All workplaces with more than 10 employees are legally bound to keep a record of accidents.
• Duplicates of medical records, X-rays, scans or other evidence of rotator cuff tendon injury, such as the need for prescription painkillers.

Our solicitors are experts at helping people collect evidence. Why not see if you can take advantage of their knowledge and experience in rotator cuff injury at work claims?

How Making A Claim Can Assist In Your Recovery

Starting the rotator cuff injury at work claims process can play an essential role in your recovery. Receiving a typical settlement for a rotator cuff injury at work can support you both financially and practically during this difficult time. 

Here is how a compensation claim can help you recover:

• Access to rehabilitation and medical care – your solicitor can arrange for you to have specialist treatments, such as physiotherapy, that may not be available through the NHS. If you’re also eligible for interim payments, this can accelerate your access to rehabilitation and medical care.
• Financial stability – compensation can help cover any of the financial losses you’ve incurred as a result of your injury, such as lost earnings.
• Home and lifestyle adjustments – you may need modifications made to your home so that you can adapt to any mobility limitations caused by your injury, which compensation can fund. 
• Peace of mind – knowing that your financial needs are being addressed can allow you to recover without any financial burdens weighing you down. 
• Accountability and prevention – making a rotator cuff injury claim can hold the liable party accountable for their negligent actions, and could lead to better safety practices within the workplace to prevent a similar accident occurring again in the future.

To see whether you can get the rotator cuff claims process started, please contact us today. Alternatively, please continue reading to find out the average compensation for a rotator cuff injury.

How Much Compensation For A Rotator Cuff Injury?

Personal injury compensation claims that are successful may see an award made up of two areas or ‘heads of loss’ called general and special damages. General damages relate to the person’s physical pain and any psychological injury. Loss of enjoyment of life and the future prognosis can also be factors in the general damage compensation figure.

Those responsible for assigning a value for general damages may refer to any available medical evidence the person puts forward. In addition to this, publications that help guide the calculations such as the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG) are often looked at. Below, you can see an excerpt from the JCG, which lists some suggested award bracket compensation amounts for shoulder damage like rotator cuff injuries.

Please bear in mind that every personal injury compensation claim for a rotator cuff injury will differ depending on the circumstances. Therefore, the amounts shown are only guideline suggestions. Also, the first entry does not come from the JCG:

Compensation Guidelines

• Multiple severe injuries with financial losses – up to £500,000+.
• A severe shoulder injury, with damage to the brachial plexus – £23,430 to £58,610.
• Serious shoulder injury, such as dislocation that causes pain to the shoulder and neck – £15,580 to £23,430.
• Moderate shoulder injury, such as a soft-tissue injury where the symptoms aren’t permanent but last for more than 2 years – £9,630 to £15,580.
• Minor shoulder injury, such as a soft tissue injury that recovers in less than 2 years – £5,310 to £9,630.
• Minor shoulder injury, such as a soft tissue injury that recovers in less than 1 year – £2,990 to £5,310.

Can I Claim For Loss Of Earnings Caused By A Rotator Cuff Injury?

Special damages are the head of loss that deals with the financial consequences of the shoulder injury. To claim special damages, you need to submit documented proof of how you suffered expense or monetary losses after the injury. For example:

• Proof of a drop or loss in income through time off work.
• Evidence of paid amounts for physical therapy or prescription medication for shoulder pain.
• Tickets and proof of fares you paid to get to appointments.
• The receipts or invoices for any domestic care others provided.
• Proof of the cost of making changes at home or to your car to deal with a new disability.

Damage to shoulder muscles can cause real aggravation and inconvenience. If this caused you to spend money dealing with the issues it caused, retain proof of this. One of our solicitors could ensure these out-of-pocket expenses are included in your overall claim if they act for you. Call to learn more.

Rotator Cuff Injury At Work Claims On A No Win No Fee Basis

Rather than deal with the stress and aggravation of a rotator cuff injury at work claim yourself, why not see if we can help? Our solicitors offer an array of excellent services to support claimants, such as:

• Helping you gather essential evidence.
• Interviewing witnesses to your workplace injury and collecting statements.
• Calculating the amount of compensation you could be potentially owed.
• Keeping you regularly updated on the status of your claim and explaining legal terminology.
• Presenting your rotator cuff injury claim in a professional and organised way.

These solicitors can offer all these services through a version of the No Win No Fee contract called a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA). There are numerous advantages to this:

• You will not need to pay upfront solicitor’s fees for work to start on your rotator cuff injuries claim.
• There’s no need to pay solicitors fees as the claim moves forward.
• Claimants using a CFA have nothing to pay for completed solicitor services if the rotator cuff injury claim fails.
• Furthermore, only a limited and legally restricted percentage deduction is owed from the compensation award if the claim wins. This ‘success fee’ means the claimant benefits the most from any compensation recovered.

It takes just a moment to see if your claim qualifies for help like this. Simply speak to our advisory team and if they can find you have a strong claim, they could connect you to a No Win No Fee personal injury solicitor today:

• Call 24/7 on 0800 073 8804 to get a free assessment of your claim.
• Ask a question through the live chat facility below.
• Start a claim online here.

More Useful Resources About Making A Personal Injury Claim

As well as guidance on rotator cuff injury at work claims, these other guides from our website provide further helpful reading:

• Read our guide on compensation for a dislocated shoulder here.
• Here, you can find information on a claim for a frozen shoulder injury.
• This article explores a £10,000 fractured shoulder claim.

Some helpful external resources:

• Read about identifying the risks of musculoskeletal injuries from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
• Here GOV.UK details general workplace health and safety.
• Lastly, some information on rotator cuff tear problems.

Thanks for reading our guide on rotator cuff injury at work claims for compensation with our personal injury solicitors. We hope this has helped inform you about your options, and we invite you to call our team for any more free help.