Soft tissue injuries in a car accident are far more serious than they sound. These injuries can affect many parts of your body and cause you sustained discomfort for a prolonged period of time. Your damages can add up to more than you think.
Therefore, it all depends on you to get as large of a soft tissue injury settlement as you can after your accident. David R. Price, Jr., P.A. represents car accident victims in Greenville, SC, as they seek financial compensation. Call us today to schedule a free initial consultation.
What Are Soft Tissues in the Body?
The medical definition of soft tissue is that they “surround, support, and connect organs and other tissues in the body.” Essentially, soft tissue is every part of your body that is not ossified or calcified.
Examples of soft tissue in your body include:
- Muscles
- Tendons
- Ligaments
- Nerves
- Discs
How Car Accidents Can Injure Your Soft Tissues
Car accidents unleash a tremendous amount of force on your body. For example, if you are hit in a rear-end car accident, the force of the rear car that strikes you is transferred to your body.
Your body could move violently in the accident, and the sudden movement can cause a sprain in your soft tissue — or worse. It may result in a tear.
A common soft tissue injury from a rear-end accident you may suffer is whiplash, where your head and neck snap forward, and your body remains still. You could tear a ligament or tendon when your body makes a sudden and unnatural movement.
Soft Tissue Injuries Can Harm You in Multiple Places
There are some instances in which a soft tissue injury can affect multiple parts of your body.
For example, if you have suffered a disc injury in your back, it could put pressure on your nerves or spinal cord. You could have weakness or pain in your extremities because of the disc injury to your back. These symptoms can be debilitating and can keep you from functioning.
One of the issues with soft tissue injuries is that the effects may not always show up on an “objective” test. The insurance company may question whether you are really feeling that pain in your body.
Seek Medical Treatment as Soon as Possible
You may not know the severity of a soft tissue injury right after the car accident, or even that you have suffered one at all. Accident victims should seek treatment for a soft tissue injury as soon as they are able.
A medical examination can identify and diagnose any “hidden injuries” that you may not yet have felt. Many soft tissue injuries can lurk under the surface that could grow worse without medical treatment.
Follow All Your Doctor’s Recommendations
You should always follow up if your doctor advises you to see a specialist.
It is crucial that you attend all medical appointments and stay with your physical therapy and rehab. The insurance company is reviewing your medical record to see when you sought treatment and if you followed medical recommendations. If they have an opening, they may deny that the car accident caused your injuries altogether, or they may claim that you made your condition worse by not being vigilant about treatment.
Factors that Can Determine Your Soft Tissue Injury Settlement
Some considerations that may be made when calculating the value of your soft tissue injury settlement include:
- The amount of future medical care and rehabilitation that you may need
- The activities that you enjoyed in life prior to the accident that you miss now
- The physical pain and discomfort that you are dealing with
- Whether the pain and discomfort are keeping you from working
- Whether there are other consequences of the discomfort, such as anxiety or depression
One of our car accident attorneys can help you maximize the amount of money that you can recover in a settlement for a soft tissue injury.
Contact an Auto Accident Attorney About Your Soft Tissue Injury
If you are suffering from a soft tissue injury from a car accident, you need legal help immediately. The attorneys at David R. Price, Jr., P.A. can represent you in the insurance claims process as you seek to be fully paid for your car accident injuries. Call us today or send us a message online to schedule your free initial consultation.
