CTP Claim for type 3 AC joint separation

[vcreation1]

just had a crash 3 weeks ago, was riding down the road @45km/h, im an experience cyclist i know when can go fast and when to be careful. was bright daylight and road was clear, and this car from opposite direction decided to turn right without looking. Taken to hospital with Mercedes. result in an Rockwood type 3 AC joint separation, all 3 ligaments are torn, calf muscle injury and multiple cuts, i can tell ya it was painful as hell!

hospital didn't wanna surgery fix and sent me home, it's been 3 weeks now i am still in pain, and i have very limited movement range of my shoulder and very weak arm. i've already filed in a CTP claim for immediate economic loss. I've claim for my medical expenses, lost of income and stuff... however the doctor believes my shoulder will be permanently deformed, the injured shoulder will be lower than the other with a lump of bone poping out. and i'll never recover to the full motion range/strength. however doctor also reckon i may never notice the lost of range/strength unless i am a sports professional like a basketball/tennis player or weight lifter.

so no matter what there is permanent damage, will i be able to claim for lump sump compensation? i mean whats the use of paying for just my medical cost and income, when my shoulder is (AT)#$%ED, already put on 3KG in 3 weeks cos lack of physical activities. now im stuck with permanently deformed and weak shoulder, i used to be quite fit! and do u guys got any idea how much will the claim be? i must need a lawyer for this but just need some ideas

[ValleyForge]

Unless you have personal insurance - "trauma insurance" or "income protection insurance" anything will be a looong way away.
In general terms, any insurance money will be based on your "percent total body injury" which will not be able to be reliably determined for about two years. This is because you will not have reached "maximum medical improvement". So the insurers will pony you around until that time.
Another avenue which should be faster would be if the accident was covered by WorkCover or the equivalent in your state.

[trailgumby]

Sorry to hear about your crash. It's one of the most common killers of people riding bikes, so I'm glad you're still here (albeit not nearly as glad as you).

Are you a member of your state-based bike org? BQ and BNSW have a free initial consultation with a lawyer, which might be time well invested.

Medically, I'd get a second opinion, preferably from a sports medico who deals with football or other sporting injuries. They're used to dealing with highly motivated, healthy people instead of old/decrepit/sick people, so their focus is getting people back to as close as full function as fast as humanly possible. It's a very different mindset from your usual family medico who tends to see loss of function as inevitable, when most of the time it really doesn't need to be.

This is the guy who sorted out my shoulder, referred by the North Sydney Sports Medicine Clinic. https://www.drgreggoryburrow.com.au/

(And goes to show the difference between rugby union alumni and the knuckledraggers who populate rugby league.)

[MichaelB]

Can't help re compo, but did a similar injury back in Feb 2016 (Grade 2 tear of AC joint) in a single person accident (lost front wheel in a hairpin).

Took a while to get back into action - on stationary trainer after 6 weeks, and back on road another two seeks after that. No formal surgery, and now collar bone sits proud, and no long term noticeable impact.

[lone rider]

Lawyer up if you have a doctor already saying permanant disability. Is there a police report or witnesses?

[zues]

I had an AC3 as well in 2008 Im 61 now. I got the same story from the hospital doctors. Wont operate unless you are an elite athlete.
Yes you end up with a lump on your shoulder. The shoulder muscles do compensate and you will probably get back 90%+. Start using it as much as possible. Probably take a couple years to get back to near normal. I got back to benching 100 kg, I am happy with that.