Tennessee court tosses late injury claim
A Tennessee judge rejected a workers’ compensation claim after a truck driver waited too long to report his shoulder problem. Wayne Freeman carried cars for United Road Services and said his right shoulder hurt after unloading vehicles on April 6, 2024. He blamed the pain on overusing that arm while recovering from surgery on his left shoulder.
Freeman told his employer and ACE American Insurance about the injury on May 1 and May 2, which was 25 days after the pain started. Tennessee law requires workers to report injuries within 15 days. Judge Thomas Wyatt said Freeman offered no good reason for missing the deadline.
Freeman claimed prescription drugs clouded his thinking, and he expected the discomfort to fade after resting. The judge found those explanations inadequate and questioned whether Freeman mentioned his right arm problems before the reporting deadline. A status hearing is set for February 13, 2026.
