By A SLAP tear can turn a normal workday into months of doctor visits, physical therapy appointments, and time away from the job.
For many injured workers, one of the first questions that comes up after receiving a diagnosis is how much their workers’ compensation claim might be worth.
SLAP tear settlements can vary quite a bit depending on the severity of the injury.
In this guide, we’ll break down average workers’ comp SLAP tear settlement amounts, explain the factors that can increase or decrease a claim’s value, and look at how surgery often affects the final settlement.
Average Workers’ Comp SLAP Tear Settlement Amounts
The average workers’ comp SLAP tear settlement is often between $20,000 and $80,000, although some claims settle for less and others can go well beyond that range.
That’s obviously a pretty wide gap, but shoulder injuries can vary a lot.
Someone who goes through a few weeks of physical therapy and gets back to work fairly quickly may end up on the lower end.
Meanwhile, a worker who needs surgery, misses several months of work, and ends up with permanent lifting restrictions could see a much higher settlement.
Workers’ compensation settlements are generally based on things like medical expenses, disability ratings, lost wages, etc… So while no two claims look exactly the same, that average is often a reasonable starting point when discussing SLAP tear settlements.
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Factors That Affect A SLAP Tear Settlement
There are several things that can push a workers comp SLAP tear settlement amount up or down. Here are the main ones:
#1 Severity Of The Tear
The severity of the injury is one of the biggest factors affecting a settlement.
A small tear that heals with conservative treatment will generally have a lower value than a complex tear involving significant damage to the shoulder joint.
Some workers experience occasional discomfort but can continue performing most job duties.
Others struggle with chronic pain, weakness, instability, and limited range of motion.
As the severity of symptoms increases, settlement values often increase as well because the injury creates greater limitations and may require additional treatment.
#2 Medical Expenses
Medical treatment is one of the biggest components of a workers’ compensation claim. The total cost of care can have a direct impact on settlement value.
Common expenses may include:
- Emergency room visits
- Diagnostic imaging such as MRIs
- Physical therapy sessions
- Specialist appointments
- Prescription medications
- Surgical procedures and follow-up care
The more treatment an injury requires, the more expensive the claim becomes. Future medical needs may also be considered if ongoing care is expected after the settlement is finalized.
Also Read: Pre Existing Back Injury Settlement Guide
#3 Length Of Recovery
Recovery time matters more than many people realize.
A worker who gets back on the job after a few weeks usually has a much different claim than someone who spends six months or longer recovering.
Longer recoveries often mean additional medical treatment, more therapy sessions, and extended periods of disability benefits.
Beyond that, being out of work for a long time can create financial stress, which is one reason wage-loss benefits are such an important part of many workers’ comp claims.
#4 Permanent Work Restrictions
Some workers fully recover and return to their jobs without any issues. Others aren’t so lucky.
After a serious SLAP tear, a doctor may place permanent restrictions on certain activities.
For example, a worker may be restricted from:
- Heavy lifting
- Repetitive overhead work
- Climbing ladders
- Operating certain equipment
That can become a major issue for people in physically demanding careers.
If the injury limits the type of work you can do in the future, workers comp SLAP tear settlement values often increase because the long-term impact is much greater.
#5 Impairment Rating
At some point during recovery, a doctor may determine that you’ve reached maximum medical improvement.
That’s the stage where your condition has improved as much as it’s likely to improve.
At that point, the doctor may assign an impairment rating. This rating measures the amount of permanent damage caused by the injury.
Generally speaking, higher impairment ratings can lead to higher settlements. The rating helps show that the injury created lasting limitations rather than temporary discomfort that eventually went away.
Also Read: 3 Epidural Injection Settlement Workers Comp
#6 Lost Wages And Time Away From Work
A shoulder injury can make it impossible to perform even basic job tasks.
If you miss work because of your injury, workers’ compensation may provide benefits that replace part of your lost income. The amount of time spent away from work often becomes an important factor when calculating the overall value of a claim.
Someone who misses a few weeks will usually have a different settlement than someone who misses several months.
Lost earning potential can also come into play if permanent restrictions prevent a worker from returning to the same position.
How Does Surgery Increase A Settlement?
When surgery becomes necessary, claim values often go up. That’s because surgery usually means higher medical bills, more follow-up care, and a longer recovery process.
After surgery, many workers spend months attending physical therapy and rebuilding shoulder strength. During that time, they may be unable to work or may have to return under significant restrictions.
Surgery can also be a sign that the injury was more serious from the start.
Insurance companies know surgical cases tend to involve greater expenses and a higher chance of permanent limitations, which often leads to larger settlements compared to cases treated with physical therapy alone.
Of course, surgery doesn’t automatically guarantee a large payout. Still, it’s one of the strongest factors that can increase the value of a workers’ compensation claim.
Bottom Line
The average workers’ comp SLAP tear settlement is usually between $20,000 and $80,000, though some cases settle outside that range.
Factors such as injury severity, medical expenses, recovery time, lost wages, impairment ratings, permanent work restrictions, and surgery can all affect the final amount.
In general, more serious injuries that require surgery and create long-term limitations tend to result in higher settlements.
