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Frozen Shoulder in Texas Workers' Compensation
MLF Legal Blog

Frozen Shoulder (Adhesive Capsulitis) in Texas Workers’ Compensation Claims

Frozen shoulder, medically known as adhesive capsulitis, can become a serious complication of a workplace shoulder injury. The condition causes progressive pain and stiffness until movement of the shoulder becomes severely restricted. Unlike many shoulder injuries that primarily cause pain with certain movements, frozen shoulder can restrict both the worker’s ability to move the shoulder voluntarily and the amount the shoulder can be moved by someone else. [orthoinfo.org], [orthobullets.com]

That loss of motion can be devastating for workers whose jobs require lifting, reaching, carrying, pushing, pulling, climbing, driving, operating machinery, or working overhead.

Frozen shoulder presents an additional problem in Texas workers’ compensation claims because it may develop after the original workplace injury rather than being diagnosed immediately. Immobilization following an injury or surgery is a recognized risk factor for adhesive capsulitis. [orthoinfo.org], [mayoclinic.org]

That creates a predictable insurance dispute: the carrier accepts the initial shoulder injury but contests frozen shoulder as a separate condition.

Understanding how and why the condition developed can therefore become critical to proving the extent of the compensable injury.

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Texas premises liability evidence
MLF Legal Blog

What Evidence Do You Need for a Texas Premises Liability Claim?

Texas premises liability evidence should help establish what caused your injury, who was responsible for the area, what they knew about the danger, and the losses you suffered. Photographs are useful, but a successful claim may require much more than a picture of a wet floor or broken stair. 

If you were injured at a store, apartment complex, hotel, or another property, gathering and preserving information promptly can help an attorney evaluate your options. 

MLF Legal, PLLC’s personal injury attorneys can review an unsafe-property injury in Dallas–Fort Worth or elsewhere in Texas and identify the evidence your claim needs. 

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Shoulder Impingement Syndrome in Texas Workers' Compensation
MLF Legal Blog

Shoulder Impingement Syndrome in Texas Workers’ Compensation Claims

Shoulder impingement syndrome is a common source of shoulder pain in Texas workers’ compensation claims, particularly for employees whose jobs require repetitive overhead reaching, lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling, or working with the arms away from the body.

Shoulder impingement occurs when the space available for the rotator cuff tendons and subacromial bursa becomes restricted as the arm is raised. This can cause the rotator cuff and bursa to rub against or become compressed beneath the acromion, resulting in pain and irritation. [orthoinfo.org], [my.clevela…clinic.org]

For injured workers, the condition can make routine tasks such as lifting materials, reaching overhead, carrying equipment, or using tools extremely difficult.

Insurance carriers may dispute shoulder impingement by arguing that the condition is degenerative, caused by the worker’s anatomy, unrelated to a specific accident, or simply part of the normal aging process. But repetitive overhead activity and repetitive lifting are recognized risk factors for rotator cuff-related shoulder pain and impingement. [orthoinfo.org]

This post explains shoulder impingement, how workplace activities can contribute to it, how doctors diagnose and treat the condition, and why these injuries become disputed in Texas workers’ compensation claims.

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sue an apartment complex for an injury in Texas
MLF Legal Blog

Can You Sue an Apartment Complex for an Injury in Texas?

You may be able to sue an apartment complex for an injury in Texas if a legally responsible party failed to meet an applicable duty and that failure caused your injury. Living at or visiting the property does not automatically establish liability. 

Broken stairs, loose railings, leaking water, and damaged walkways can cause serious injuries. The legal questions include who controlled the area, what they knew about the condition, and whether their response was adequate. 

MLF Legal, PLLC’s personal injury attorneys can review an apartment injury in Dallas–Fort Worth or elsewhere in Texas and explain your options. 

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Caplyta and social security disability
MLF Legal Blog

Caplyta and Social Security Disability Benefits

Caplyta, also known by its generic name lumateperone, is an atypical antipsychotic prescription medication used to treat serious mental health conditions.

Current FDA labeling lists Caplyta for adults with:

schizophrenia
depressive episodes associated with bipolar I or bipolar II disorder, either alone or with lithium or valproate
major depressive disorder as an add-on to antidepressant treatment

Taking Caplyta does not automatically qualify someone for Social Security Disability benefits.

Social Security looks at:

the underlying mental health condition
severity and persistence of symptoms
response to treatment
medication side effects
concentration and memory
pace and persistence
social interaction
stress tolerance
attendance
ability to complete a normal workday

The key question is whether your psychiatric condition, despite treatment with Caplyta, prevents you from sustaining full-time competitive employment.

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prove property owner knew about a dangerous condition
MLF Legal Blog

How Do You Prove a Property Owner Knew About a Dangerous Condition?

A photograph of a wet floor or broken stair may help explain why you fell. But a Texas premises liability claim often requires another answer: Did the property owner or operator know about the dangerous condition, or should they have discovered it? 

To prove a property owner knew about a dangerous condition, you may need complaints, inspection records, surveillance footage, repair requests, or witness testimony. The evidence must relate to the particular condition and the time before your injury. 

MLF Legal, PLLC’s personal injury attorneys can investigate notice, evaluate the available records, and explain what your claim requires.

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AC Joint Sprains in Texas Workers' Compensation
MLF Legal Blog

AC Joint Sprains & Shoulder Separations in Texas Workers’ Compensation Claims

AC joint sprains, commonly called shoulder separations, are among the most common traumatic shoulder injuries seen in Texas workers’ compensation claims. These injuries frequently occur after falls, direct impacts, vehicle accidents, and heavy labor incidents. While some AC joint injuries heal with conservative treatment, more severe separations can result in chronic pain, weakness, deformity, and permanent impairment.

Insurance carriers often attempt to minimize AC joint injuries as simple shoulder bruises or temporary sprains. In reality, significant AC joint injuries can require surgery, prolonged rehabilitation, and permanent work restrictions.

This post explains how AC joint sprains occur, how they are diagnosed, what treatment may be required, and how injured workers can protect their claims.

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Austedo and social security disability
MLF Legal Blog

Austedo and Social Security Disability Benefits

Austedo, also known by its generic name deutetrabenazine, is a prescription medication used to treat certain involuntary movement disorders.

Current FDA labeling lists Austedo and Austedo XR for adults with:

chorea associated with Huntington’s disease
tardive dyskinesia

Taking Austedo does not automatically qualify someone for Social Security Disability benefits.

Social Security looks at:

the underlying neurological or movement disorder
severity and frequency of involuntary movements
ability to use the hands
ability to speak or communicate
balance and walking
concentration and pace
medication side effects
sedation
depression or behavioral symptoms
attendance
ability to complete a normal workday

The key question is whether the underlying condition, despite treatment with Austedo, prevents you from sustaining full-time competitive employment.

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sue a store for a slip and fall in Texas
MLF Legal Blog

Can You Sue a Store After a Slip and Fall in Texas?

Yes, you may be able to sue a store after a slip and fall in Texas—but an injury alone does not establish liability. Your claim depends on the dangerous condition, the store’s knowledge, its response, and whether that failure caused your injury. 

A grocery-store spill, leaking freezer, or damaged floor can lead to painful injuries and expensive treatment. If you were hurt while shopping in Dallas–Fort Worth or elsewhere in Texas, MLF Legal, PLLC’s personal injury attorneys can review what happened and explain your options. 

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Rotator Cuff Tear Causation Letters
MLF Legal Blog

Causation Letters for Rotator Cuff Tears in Texas Workers’ Compensation Claims

Rotator cuff tears are among the most heavily litigated injuries in Texas workers’ compensation claims. Insurance carriers routinely argue that a tear is merely the product of aging, degeneration, or a preexisting condition rather than a workplace injury. As a result, a well-written causation letter is often the difference between an approved surgery and a denied claim.

However, many causation letters fail because they simply state a conclusion without explaining the biomechanics of injury. The strongest opinions explain not only what happened, but how the forces generated by the workplace accident damaged the rotator cuff.

An effective causation letter should analyze the mechanism of injury, the anatomy involved, the forces applied to the shoulder, the timing of symptoms, imaging findings, and the distinction between degeneration and true aggravation.

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Texas premises liability laws
MLF Legal Blog

Texas Premises Liability Laws: What Injured Visitors Need to Prove

An injury at a grocery store, apartment complex, hotel, or another property can leave you facing medical bills and missed work. But being injured on someone else’s property does not automatically establish a right to compensation. 

Texas premises liability laws determine when a property owner or operator may be legally responsible for a dangerous condition. Your reason for being on the property, the defendant’s knowledge, and the connection between the condition and your injury can all affect the claim. 

MLF Legal, PLLC’s personal injury attorneys can review what happened and explain the evidence needed to pursue compensation. 

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Diclofenac and social security disability
MLF Legal Blog

Diclofenac and Social Security Disability Benefits

Diclofenac is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, or NSAID, used to reduce pain and inflammation.

Prescription oral diclofenac sodium delayed-release tablets are used for the signs and symptoms of:

osteoarthritis
rheumatoid arthritis
ankylosing spondylitis

Diclofenac is also available in topical forms. Diclofenac sodium 1% gel is marketed for temporary relief of arthritis pain in joints such as the hands, wrists, elbows, feet, ankles, and knees.

Taking diclofenac does not automatically qualify someone for Social Security Disability benefits.

Social Security looks at:

the condition causing the pain
severity of symptoms
treatment history
response to medication
medication side effects
ability to stand and walk
ability to use the hands
ability to lift and carry
fatigue
attendance
ability to complete a normal workday

The important question is whether your underlying condition, despite treatment with diclofenac, prevents you from sustaining full-time competitive employment.

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Biceps Tendon Tears in Texas Workers’ Compensation
MLF Legal Blog

Biceps Tendon Tears in Texas Workers’ Compensation Claims

Biceps tendon tears are common workplace injuries that can cause significant shoulder pain, weakness, loss of lifting ability, and permanent functional limitations. In Texas workers’ compensation claims, these injuries frequently occur during heavy lifting accidents, falls, sudden pulling events, and traumatic shoulder injuries.

Unfortunately, biceps tendon tears are often disputed by insurance carriers because imaging may show preexisting degeneration or age-related changes. As a result, workers are frequently told their injury is “wear and tear” rather than the result of workplace trauma.

This post explains how biceps tendon tears occur, how they are diagnosed, what treatment may be required, and how injured workers can protect their workers’ compensation claims.

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Labral Tears in Texas Workers’ Compensation
MLF Legal Blog

Labral Tears in Texas Workers’ Compensation Claims

Shoulder labral tears are among the most frequently missed and disputed shoulder injuries in Texas workers’ compensation claims. The labrum is a ring of cartilage that surrounds the shoulder socket and helps stabilize the shoulder joint. When torn, workers often experience pain, weakness, instability, clicking, and difficulty performing overhead work, lifting, pushing, pulling, and other essential job duties.

Labral tears commonly occur alongside rotator cuff injuries, shoulder dislocations, biceps tendon injuries, and traumatic falls. Because MRI findings can sometimes show age-related changes, insurance carriers frequently argue that a labral tear is “degenerative” rather than work-related.

This post explains how shoulder labral tears occur, how they are diagnosed, what treatment may be required, and how injured workers can protect their claims.

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what to do after a slip and fall accident in Texas
MLF Legal Blog

What to Do After a Slip and Fall Accident in Texas

A slip and fall can interrupt an ordinary trip to a grocery store, restaurant, hotel, or apartment complex. Suddenly, you may be dealing with pain, medical bills, and time away from work. 

If you are wondering what to do after a slip and fall in Texas, start with medical care, report the incident, and preserve evidence when it is safe to do so. These steps can protect your health and provide a clearer record of what happened. 

MLF Legal, PLLC’s personal injury attorneys can review the circumstances and explain whether a premises liability claim may be available.

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Meloxicam and social security disability
MLF Legal Blog

Meloxicam and Social Security Disability Benefits

Meloxicam is a prescription nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, or NSAID, used to treat pain and inflammation associated with arthritis.

Current U.S. prescribing information lists meloxicam for:

osteoarthritis
rheumatoid arthritis
juvenile rheumatoid arthritis in certain patients

Taking meloxicam does not automatically qualify someone for Social Security Disability benefits.

Social Security looks at:

the condition causing the pain
severity of joint or musculoskeletal symptoms
treatment history
response to meloxicam
medication side effects
ability to stand and walk
ability to lift and carry
ability to use the hands
fatigue
attendance
ability to complete a normal workday

The important question is whether your underlying condition, despite treatment with meloxicam, prevents you from sustaining full-time competitive employment.

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Boxer's Fracture in Texas Workers’ Compensation
MLF Legal Blog

Boxer’s Fracture in Texas Workers’ Compensation Claims

A Boxer’s Fracture is one of the most common hand fractures seen in Texas workers’ compensation claims. Despite the name, these injuries are not limited to punching incidents. In the workplace, Boxer’s Fractures frequently occur when a worker’s hand is crushed by equipment, struck by a heavy object, caught in machinery, or subjected to a sudden force.

Because the injury affects the bones supporting grip strength and hand function, workers often experience pain, weakness, loss of dexterity, and difficulty performing essential job duties. While insurance carriers may characterize Boxer’s Fractures as relatively minor injuries, displaced fractures can lead to permanent deformity, arthritis, and lasting impairment.

This post explains how Boxer’s Fractures occur, how they are diagnosed, what treatment may be required, and how injured workers can protect their claims.

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Otezla and social security disability
MLF Legal Blog

Otezla and Social Security Disability Benefits

Otezla, also known by its generic name apremilast, is an oral prescription medication used to treat certain inflammatory conditions.

Current FDA-approved uses include:

active psoriatic arthritis
plaque psoriasis in people who are candidates for phototherapy or systemic treatment
oral ulcers associated with Behçet’s disease

Otezla and the newer extended-release Otezla XR are phosphodiesterase-4, or PDE4, inhibitors.

Taking Otezla does not automatically qualify someone for Social Security Disability benefits.

Social Security looks at:

the underlying medical condition
severity of symptoms
treatment history
response to medication
joint and hand limitations
fatigue
skin symptoms
medication side effects
gastrointestinal problems
weight loss
mental health symptoms
attendance
ability to complete a normal workday

The important question is whether your underlying condition and treatment effects prevent you from sustaining full-time competitive employment.

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