$200,000 Settlement for Security Guard After Denied Shoulder Injury Claim

A San Diego security guard secured a $200,000 workers’ compensation settlement after his claim was denied outright—even though he suffered a serious shoulder injury during a violent workplace attack.

Workers’ compensation attorney Thomas DeBenedetto was brought in to challenge the denial, develop the medical and vocational evidence, and fight for the medical treatment and wage benefits the injured guard was owed.

This case shows how strong documentation and focused litigation can transform a “$0 offer” into a meaningful financial recovery, even when a claim starts with a full denial.

Case Overview

  • Injured worker: San Diego security guard
  • Injury: Serious shoulder injury from a violent attack and fall, with concern for a possible total shoulder replacement
  • Dispute: The insurance company denied the claim in full
  • Result: Denial overturned → $200,000 settlement

How the Injury Occurred and Affected His Life

While working his security post, the guard was violently attacked, thrown to the ground, and suffered a significant shoulder injury.

Security work requires:

  • physical strength,
  • quick response,
  • and the ability to protect or restrain others.

After the attack, all of these essential functions became difficult or impossible.

Doctors warned that the shoulder damage was severe enough that he might eventually require a total shoulder replacement. In the meantime, he faced chronic pain, limited motion, and major uncertainty about whether he could return to the physical demands of security work.

The Denial

Despite clear evidence of a violent workplace assault, the insurance company denied the claim outright, refusing:

  • medical treatment
  • temporary disability/wage loss
  • and all benefits owed

This left the guard injured, unable to work, and without income or medical support.

Legal Strategy

Once retained, the legal team immediately began building a strong evidentiary record to confront the denial. The strategy focused on proving both the extent of the injury and its impact on his ability to perform security duties.

Key steps included:

  • Comprehensive medical evaluations documenting the seriousness of the shoulder injury and potential future surgery.
  • Vocational and functional evidence showing how the injury restricted the guard’s ability to perform essential job duties.
  • Establishing the causal link between the violent attack, the fall, and the resulting shoulder trauma.

By assembling clear, credible evidence and pushing the case forward through litigation, the firm made it increasingly difficult for the insurer to maintain its “zero liability” stance.

Outcome

Faced with strong medical and vocational documentation, the insurance company reversed course. The claim ultimately resolved for $200,000, a dramatic shift from its original refusal to pay anything.

This settlement provided the injured guard with:

  • Funding for necessary medical treatment
  • Compensation for wage loss
  • Greater financial stability after a traumatic work incident

It also demonstrated that even a complete denial can be overturned when the case is properly developed

What This Case Means for Other Injured Workers

For security guards and other workers in high-risk, physical jobs, this case is an important reminder that:

  • A denial is not the end of a claim
  • Insurers often deny serious cases to avoid paying medical and wage benefits
  • Strong medical evidence can turn a $0 outcome into a substantial settlement
  • Injured workers do not have to shoulder the financial burden alone
  • Experienced representation makes a measurable difference

If you were injured in a violent workplace incident, you still have the right to fight the denial and pursue the full benefits California law provides.

To learn more about our firm and how we help injured workers through complex cases like this, visit our homepage.

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