A car accident can cause someone to suffer numerous injuries, ranging from severe pain to soft tissue damage. The latter can impair the person's ability to walk, move, and engage in different activities.
Therefore, this article focuses on what victims must do if they sustain injuries like this, including the steps to take and the average settlement they might get.
What Is Soft Tissue Damage?
Soft tissue includes blood vessels, tendons, nerves, fat, and everything surrounding the muscles and joints in someone's body.
Damage consists of an injury or other medical issue that represents a problem in soft tissues, causing the person to experience unpleasant symptoms.
When a person suffers from a soft tissue injury, they might experience pain in the joints, ankles, wrists, knees, etc.
According to some definitions, soft tissue includes many parts of the body that are not bones, for example, lymph vessels.
Therefore, soft tissue injuries can be very problematic because they could cause the person to experience pain in nearly every part of their body. Schuerger Shunnarah Trial Attorneys also have more information on what the average payout for nerve damage car accident is.
Soft Tissue Injury Symptoms
Since soft tissue injuries can sometimes be hard to detect, many people don't know the symptoms they should look for, especially after being in a car accident.
Generally, victims should remember they may not know for sure until they contact a medical professional. Even so, the most common soft tissue injury symptoms are the following:
Swelling and pain
Muscle spasms
Cramping
Inability to bear weight
Mobility problems
Muscle weakness
In some cases, when someone is in a car accident, they don't get medical attention right after the crash. They believe they didn't suffer any injuries, so they go home thinking they're alright.
However, after a few days, they start experiencing symptoms that hinder their ability to carry on with their daily activities, such as inexplicable muscle spasms and weakness.
Both can be signs of an underlying soft tissue injury. Nonetheless, the only way to know is for the person to contact medical professionals.
Attending medical appointments could also be very convenient if the person wants to eventually file a personal injury claim. Consequently, they shouldn't wait much. Instead, they must call doctors as soon as possible.
Common Soft Tissue Injuries
Since soft tissue is in all parts of the body, the person might experience many different problems and symptoms.
Torn Ligaments
One of the most common soft tissue injuries after a car accident is torn ligaments.
Ligaments connect the person's bones and blood vessels. If the victim suffers from injuries, they might endure a lot of pain and other symptoms, such as the nearby bones feeling weak or disconnected from each other.
A torn ligament could traumatically damage other parts of the body since they cause the very muscles to weaken. Plus, the person might experience anything from mild pain to an unbearable amount of it.
Tendon Injuries
Tendonitis, an inflammation of the tendons, is also very common when it comes to soft tissue injuries.
In this case, it could happen due to the force of the accident. If the person went through a sudden change in velocity, tendons might stretch and become inflamed, causing intense pain and immobility.
Depending on the location of the inflamed tendon, the person might not even be able to move. Therefore, it could harm their ability to perform their regular tasks.
Sprains and Strains
Since soft tissue is in the entire body, collisions can cause numerous different strains and sprains, especially in the neck, upper and lower back.
They happen because of the impact of the car accident, which probably stretched muscles in an abnormal way, causing them to go beyond their regular capacity to move.
At the same time, the person's muscles most likely stretched faster and more suddenly than what is reasonable for their bodies to endure.
Strains and sprains require immediate medical attention because they often take time to present and can be hard to diagnose, even with specialized medical tools.
Since they won't easily show up on tests, the best way to identify and diagnose these types of soft tissue injuries is to attend medical appointments and have doctors determine the extent of the problem and what treatment the person should get for their recovery and pain management.
Bursitis
It happens when there's trauma to the knee or any other part of the body where there's a bursa sac.
If a person suffers from bursitis, they might be unable to move the affected area without experiencing excruciating pain.
The bursa sac usually allows people to move their shoulders, knees, etc. Also, the sac's fluid ensures that the bones, tendons, and muscles in the area rub without friction pain.
People must treat bursitis immediately because the pain will keep them from their daily activities if they don't get treatment for it. Furthermore, the area can get very inflamed, and symptoms could worsen, so they should never wait.
Lipoma
Some soft tissue injuries might take time to appear. Lipomas, for example, are fatty tumors that can form below the skin.
A lipoma is a slow-growing tumor, and recent research has shown that it appears due to a soft tissue injury.
Myalgia
It's the pain the person gets in a single or group of muscles after being in a car accident. Myalgia causes widespread intense discomfort, and it can be constant or intermittent.
Moreover, myalgia can also cause other symptoms, such as fatigue, chills, joint pain, and stiffness.
Due to the debilitating nature of this condition and the recurrence of the pain, depression symptoms can also appear if the person has myalgia.
Tenosynovitis
It happens when there's inflammation in the tissue surrounding the tendons. Since these have fluid inside, when they suffer from damage, the person will experience, pain, swelling, and stiffness.
Tenosynovitis is a painful condition, and it commonly affects the wrists, hands, and feet. When someone suffers from this soft tissue injury, moving is virtually impossible without constantly experiencing discomfort.
MCL Injury
The MCL is the medial collateral ligament, and it's on the inside of the knee. When someone is in a car accident, it could suffer from damage because the person's leg might bend and move in unnatural positions and at abnormal velocities.
MCL injuries can lead to symptoms such as sharp pain or aching, swollen knee, stiffness, inability to stand, and discomfort when walking.
What Is the Treatment Like?
There is a range of treatments when it comes to soft tissue injuries, and the intensity of them can range depending on how severe the problem was.
Some treatments will offer the patient immediate relief, while others help victims manage pain and accommodate the new injury since its effects might be permanent.
In many cases, for example, surgery may be the only option if the person wants to return to normalcy after the car accident.
Rips and tears in tendons or severe damage to muscles may require surgery, and weeks or months could go by before the person is completely back to normal.
On most occasions, going through surgery means the person will have a pile of medical bills and lost wages to deal with, even if they didn't cause the car accident.
Another common course of action to handle a soft tissue injury is getting physical therapy. It can either be a treatment plan in itself or accompany surgery.
Physical therapy allows people to recover from severe soft tissue injuries, and it also helps them strengthen any other muscle or tendon that suffered damage in a car accident.
Lastly, minor cases of soft tissue injuries might only require the person to rest and immobilize the damaged area, making sure that it has enough time to recover.
People might also use compression tools such as braces and rely on combinations of ice and heat to treat the area. They might also have to stay off their feet and overall ensure that they don't accidentally worsen their pain.
Recovery for Patients with Soft Tissue Injuries
Recovery times and outlooks for patients with soft tissue injuries can vary depending on the severity of the problems they suffered. There are various grades: one, two, and three.
A grade one soft tissue injury is the easiest one to cure because the person only suffered damage to 10% of their tendon or muscle group.
In most cases, the person will take off-the-counter medications, rest a lot, and combine heat and ice to get better. In a few days or weeks at most, they'll feel better.
Grade two soft tissue injuries can range anything from 10% to 90% damage to the ligaments, muscles, or tendons. Therefore, recovery might take longer.
With a grade two soft tissue injury, the person may need other types of treatment to ensure their recovery, such as physical therapy and cortisone injections.
A grade three soft tissue injury is the most severe, and it means the person will have to spend a long time recovering from it.
The patient might need invasive surgery, and they'll most likely have to spend a long time resting and continuously attend physical therapy.
Grade three soft tissue injuries involve 90% to 100% damage, so there is a complete tear of the ligament, muscle, or tendon.
Unfortunately, grade three injuries can severely immobilize the person, and they'll have to endure a lot if they want to recover. In the worst cases, the affected area might temporarily suffer a permanent alteration.
What Victims Must Keep in Mind If They Want to Prove Negligence
Soft tissue injury claims are some of the most challenging cases due to various reasons. Since many of these problems don't appear right away, the person may not start the legal process as soon as they should.
Secondly, insurance companies usually push back on many cases. Negotiating with agents can be very challenging, especially if the person is already dealing with the aftermath of the accident and trying to manage pain.
Evidence for the Injury
Securing soft tissue injury settlements can be a challenge, and it's why many victims get help from specialized lawyers. To prove liability, the person will have to get documents and evidence that prove they're entitled to compensation for what they've been through.
Car accidents can be devastating, and if the person suffers from soft tissue injuries, they might require costly medical treatment to be able to go back to their regular activities.
The other party's insurance company will try to do as much as possible to not award the person with the settlement they deserve.
Therefore, Nashville vehicle accident attorneys are the right professionals to hire since they won't let victims deal with things on their own - they'll passionately defend them.
Soft Tissue Injury Settlement Average
Even though soft tissue injury settlements can be challenging to get, cases are not impossible, either. If the person is able to prove the car accident caused significant damage that now requires them to pay for medical treatment, they're on the right track.
Victims must remember something, though. A soft tissue injury settlement offer can initially be on the low end because insurance company agents will use computerized software to get a number that won't take their individual circumstances into account.
If someone doesn't hire a specialized lawyer, the insurance company may offer as little as a couple of thousand dollars for the soft tissue injury settlement.
With competent representation from a personal injury attorney, many cases average between $10,000 and $20,000.
When it comes to severe car accidents, lawyers may try extra hard because they know their client's life probably changed forever. In these cases, they might get up to $30,000 or $50,000 in damages.
Overall, hiring a top-notch personal injury attorney can make a huge difference. Schuerger Shunnarah Trial Attorneys can advise on how much the average settlement for shoulder injury car accident is.
Increasing the Amount of Settlement Victims Get
Many insurance company agents get in touch with victims and offer an initial settlement payout. On numerous occasions, people wonder if there's a way to increase this number.
The answer is yes, and the way to do it is by proving to the insurance company that the person is likely to win if they go to trial.
Insurance company agents don't want the case to go to trial any more than victims do. It's a stressful and time-consuming process.
Therefore, many agents will try to negotiate with patients, and that's where a lawyer can help - they can make sure their clients get the best deals.
Although it doesn't happen all the time, some insurance company agents are not afraid of going to trial because they think they can win.
If this is the path they take, victims should get guidance from a competent and experienced legal team who can help them put together a case and make sure they get convenient outcomes.
When going to trial, the key is showing that the other party acted negligently, that it resulted in a car accident, and that it caused severe injuries.
A way to do this is by showing the testimony of a competent medical professional specialized in soft tissue injuries. If victims combine that with corroborative evidence of how being hurt hindered their lives, they'll have a strong chance of helping the jury see the full value of their damages.
What Victims Must Do If They're in a Car Accident
Many victims don't know what to do or how to react when they're in car accidents. Collisions can be traumatic and life-altering, especially if the person lost a loved one.
However, to ensure everyone's safety and to guarantee the person gets the best legal actions, victims should follow a series of steps. Here they are:
Call an Ambulance
Firstly, victims of a car accident should call 911, regardless of whether or not they're experiencing pain at the moment. As the article mentioned, many soft tissue injuries don't appear right away, so the person must make sure they're doing what's best for their health.
Medical professionals will arrive at the scene and check to see if the victim sustained a soft tissue injury, a severe issue, or any other problem that could immediately endanger their life.
In many cases, they might recommend the person keep attending medical appointments to get treatment for their injuries.
Contact the Police
Victims should call the police as well, and they must do so as soon as they contact medical professionals.
Once police officers get there, they'll write a report of what happened. If victims want to file a personal injury claim, they'll be able to include the document in their evidence.
Since soft tissue injury claims are so challenging to win, getting as much evidence as possible is essential. Therefore, police reports can be crucial.
Gather Evidence
Victims of car accidents have to gather evidence if they're planning on going to court. Therefore, while they're still at the scene, they should take as many pictures as they can.
In some cases, bystanders or witnesses are nearby. Victims can try to talk to them and get their contact information to see if they're willing to testify or give written testimony of what happened.
Hire a Personal Injury Attorney
Although victims can gather some information about the car accident, the best alternative to go for right after being in a crash is to call a competent attorney.
A personal injury attorney is specialized in civil law, so they'll do everything in their power to aggressively fight for their clients and make sure the insurance company pays what's fair given the person's pain and suffering.
Lawyers will help victims put together the information about the accident and will also aid them in finding more supporting evidence for their case.
Furthermore, they'll recommend the best alternatives and negotiate with insurance company agents if needed.
Put a Case Together
After hiring a lawyer, victims will be able to put together a soft tissue injury case. Attorneys will guide them through the often-stressful process and make sure it's as smooth as possible.
Lawyers understand that victims who suffered soft tissue damage need to focus on their recovery.
Therefore, they often encourage them to focus on medical treatment while they take care of all the legal details.
File a Claim
Lastly, to get soft tissue injury compensation, the person will have to file a claim and win the case.
It sounds daunting for many victims, but when they get help from an experienced lawyer, the process is much easier. They know the arguments to use, and they're prepared to fiercely defend their clients in court if needed.
When the insurance company offers a deal, lawyers will know if victims should take it or not, and they'll offer the best advice based on the person's circumstances.
Overall, lawyers are legal fighters who use the law to aggressively defend their clients and make sure that justice is served and that victims get the settlement they deserve.
Why Victims Should Always Get Legal Help
Many victims believe they don't need a lawyer for their soft tissue damage case. However, most people require legal help if they want to get the best outcomes.
Unfortunately, negligent drivers cause car accidents every day, and the consequences of these can range from victims enduring excruciating pain to being unable to carry on with their regular activities the way they used to.
Victims shouldn't have to pay for what negligent drivers do, and lawyers exist to help them. The following are some reasons why people should get legal assistance when filing a soft tissue injury claim:
Cases Require a Lot of Attention to Details
If a person wants to win their soft tissue injury case and get the settlement they deserve, they'll have to pay attention to numerous details, including the smallest pieces of information.
Victims often lose track of all the details because they don't know the law or how it works. Therefore, lawyers can help them put together a strong narrative that will allow them to get the best outcomes possible.
Victims Need to Focus on Their Recovery
Instead of worrying about the arguments they'll use in court and all the evidence they must get, victims should focus on recovering from their soft tissue injuries after the car accident.
Lawyers can take care of everything while victims attend medical appointments and physical therapy, and ensure they get enough rest.
Negotiating Might Be Tricky
In many cases, insurance companies will try to award victims with as little as possible, regardless of the number of medical bills they had to pay after suffering soft tissue damage.
Victims of a car accident are most likely tired, stressed, and in pain, so they may not have the necessary energy to aggressively argue with agents in order to get better results.
However, they don't need to worry about it. Attorneys will negotiate with insurance company agents and make sure that victims get what's fair depending on their individual circumstances.
They May Have to Go to Court
Some insurance agents are not scared to go to court when victims file a soft tissue injury claim. Therefore, people should hire a lawyer because they'll passionately defend them.
Going to court can be a hassle because people must prepare, put together a strong narrative, and ensure the evidence they show is enough to prove their case.
An experienced personal injury lawyer knows the law and can prove the person is experiencing pain and suffering damages due to their car accident injuries.
When the time comes, the personal injury lawyer will show the judge all the medical expenses the person had to manage as a result of the other party's negligence. They'll also prove without a reasonable doubt that they wouldn't have sustained the injuries had it not been for the other's reckless actions.
Hiring an experienced personal injury attorney is the best alternative if the person is going to court, then, because they don't have to do everything on their own.
Lawyers Are Experienced Professionals Who Know How to Defend Victims
The best reason why victims should hire a personal injury lawyer for their car accident claim is that attorneys are experienced in defending victims.
Whether they're proving the pain and suffering the person went through due to their whiplash injury or showing the judge how the car accident caused their life to change completely, lawyers will passionately defend their clients and make sure they get the best outcomes possible.
Attorneys understand a soft tissue injury can cause someone to lose their ability to earn as much as they used to and even lose the capacity to engage in activities they used to love.
Therefore, they'll defend victims in court, making sure clients don't have to worry about it. At Schuerger Shunnarah, the team's motto is "We go to war for you," so attorneys are ready to help people in need.
Getting Help from Top-notch Experts
Finding top-notch experts can be hard, especially if the person is recovering from soft tissue damage and is too focused on attending physical therapy and resting.
However, at Schuerger Shunnarah, attorneys are ready to help any client, and if they need it, they'll go to war for them.