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Not every accident injury results in a broken bone that is immediately apparent at the scene of the accident. However, delayed accident injury symptoms can be equally costly. Some of these injuries can present long-term health effects.
Soft tissue injuries are one of the most common things that people suffer from after a personal injury. They may sustain a soft tissue injury on their own or in tandem with another physical injury. The Arkansas personal injury attorneys at Denton & Zachary can help you recover financial compensation for your accident.
Trauma or Unnatural Movement Can Cause Soft Tissue Injuries
Soft tissue injuries are caused by trauma to a body part. You may suffer direct trauma in a car accident or other kind of fall. Alternatively, the trauma can be a twisting or other unnatural motion that you can suffer in a slip and fall or an accident. For example, whiplash is a common car accident injury that results from a sudden snapping forward of the head while the body remains still.
Although soft tissue injuries are often caused by overuse, they most often result from direct impact on a body part.
Examples of soft tissue injuries that you may suffer in an accident include:
- Contusions (bruises)
- Sprains
- Tendonitis
- Bursitis
- Stress injuries
- Strains
- Torn ligaments
Soft Tissue Injuries Can Be Painful and Serious
You may not think that a soft tissue injury is as serious as a fracture, but some of these injuries can be even more devastating. A fracture may be more likely to heal after a surgical procedure completely. However, some soft tissue injuries may never fully heal and can have lasting effects.
For example, tendinitis and bursitis may be permanent injuries. These can limit your range of motion in the affected joint. They may require an extensive course of treatment to manage the symptoms. If you tear a ligament, you may need reconstructive surgery. The recovery from surgery to rebuild the knee can last up to a year. The first surgery may not even successfully repair the torn ligament.
If you have suffered a soft tissue injury in an accident, you should seek immediate medical treatment. Even if you do not feel that it is an emergency, the injury can be made worse by delaying medical care. In addition, the insurance company may try to penalize you when you settle a claim, arguing that your inaction made the injury worse. The sooner that you seek care, the quicker you can be on the road to as full of a recovery as you can make. Otherwise, you may live with worsening pain over time.
The Insurance Company Will Try to Dispute or Minimize Your Injuries
There is no such thing as a minor personal injury. However, the insurance company takes a different view because they try to use it as an excuse to save money. When you have a broken bone or an injury that is much more “obvious,” the insurance company has less of a leg to stand on when they attempt to minimize your injury.
Soft tissue injuries are often deemed to be more “subjective.” Even if your injury shows up on a medical scan, the full effects of your injury may not be apparent. Much of the soft tissue injury is how your body reacts to the strain. You may be in constant pain and unable to heal from your soft tissue injury fully.
The insurance company will not take your word for your pain and suffering, and they will insist on objective evidence. They often give a generic estimate for any soft tissue injury, regardless of the individual claimant’s experience. Thus, you can expect a settlement offer that does not fully reflect your specific experience.
You Must Prove That Your Injury Was From the Accident
You may also face a challenge in connecting your injury to your accident. One of the requirements that you must meet to obtain financial compensation is to show that the other person’s negligence caused your injury. The insurance company may argue that you are suffering from a preexisting condition and your injury was not caused by their policyholder. However, the insurance company must still pay if the accident worsens your prior condition, because the rule in a personal injury case is that you take your victim as you find them.
Anytime that you seek medical treatment for a personal injury, you can be facing thousands of dollars of medical bills at the very minimum. Even a trip to the emergency room can result in a bill that high. If you are dealing with the continued effects of an injury, not only must the responsible party pay for your ongoing medical costs, but they must also compensate you for your pain and suffering if you’re living in constant anguish.
Without an experienced attorney, the insurance company may try to deny or minimize your actual discomfort.
Contact an Arkansas Personal Injury Attorney
The attorneys at Denton & Zachary can work not only to prove who was to blame for your accident but also to fully quantify and demonstrate your injuries. Otherwise, you may be shortchanged by the insurance company. Your first step is to reach out to us online or call us today at (501) 273-1965 to schedule your free initial consultation.
Soft Tissue Injury Claim FAQs
What if I am not satisfied with my personal injury settlement offer?
If the insurance company is not fairly compensating you for your injuries, you can reject their offer and either respond with your own counter or file a lawsuit.
Can I get compensation for my physical pain?
Yes. Pain and suffering is a large part of your damages when you have suffered an injury. They will increase your amount of compensation.
How do I know how much my claim is worth?
On your own, you may not know how much to seek in a settlement, and it is the exact reason why you need the help of an experienced attorney.