Serious Shoulder Injury in heavy industrial Construction
Hi everyone, I’m hoping to hear from people who’ve been through a Victorian WorkCover claim for a serious shoulder injury, particularly labral tears and cartilage damage.
I injured my right shoulder over a year ago after slipping on wet, muddy metal stairs at work and bracing my fall with my right arm. My WorkCover claim was accepted.
I had pan-labral stabilisation surgery in April 2026, aged in my 30s. There was also significant cartilage loss in the shoulder, which my surgeon described to me as roughly 60% “bone on bone”, along with a partial-thickness subscapularis tear. There were degenerative changes, but I hadn’t had shoulder symptoms/ injury before the fall.
I’m still dealing with pain, reduced strength and restricted movement. My surgeon has advised moving away from heavy overhead work because of the condition of the joint and the risk of needing a shoulder replacement in future. This affects the type of work I can do and my earning capacity.
For anyone who’s had a similar injury in Victoria:
What was your final whole person impairment (WPI) percentage?
How long after your injury or surgery were you assessed?
How long did the claim take to resolve?
What payout did you receive, and was it an impairment benefit, common law settlement, or both?
If it was common law, did it include pain and suffering, loss of earnings, or both?
Were the figures before or after legal fees?
How did returning to lighter duties or a lower-paying job affect your claim?
I understand every case is different. I’m just looking for firsthand experiences to get a realistic idea of the process and timelines.
Thanks to anyone willing to share