Build a Case For A Soft Tissue Injury: Tips From A Personal Injury Lawyer

A car accident can result in a variety of injuries. Most often, we think of the more obvious: broken bones, contusions, and bumps and bruises. But other, less visible injuries occur as well, and they can be particularly insidious. Traumatic brain injuries, internal bleeding, and soft tissue injuries all come to mind. Unfortunately, these “invisible” injuries are often treated less seriously by insurance companies, and obtaining coverage for their treatment is an exercise in patience and diligence. It can be very difficult to obtain compensation for a soft tissue injury in particular, but it is possible with perseverance and the help of an experienced accident attorney.

Soft Tissue Injuries That Often Result From Car Accidents

A soft tissue injury is any injury that affects the muscles, ligaments, and tendons. Since these structures are located all over the body, a soft tissue injury can affect nearly every part of the body. The most common soft tissue injuries that we see after a car accident are:

• Whiplash
• Sprains and strains
• Contusions
• Hernias
• Pinched or compressed nerves
• Rotator cuff tears
• Anterior cruciate (knee) ligament tears

One of the reasons why it is so hard to obtain insurance coverage for a soft tissue injury is due to the seemingly innocuous nature of the symptoms. Insurers will argue that the symptom could be from any number of things, not specifically the accident. Signs of a soft tissue injury include:

• Swelling
• Inflammation
• Back pain
• Sharp neck pain
• Stiffness of the neck
• Inability to bear weight on a joint
• Discoloration and bruising
• Sudden onset of pain
• Pain upon moving the affected body part
• Cognitive problems

Another strike against soft tissue injuries is that they do not follow a set pattern of behavior. Some symptoms occur right away, while others appear gradually. Some are consistent; others come and go. Sometimes patients can function normally for a while but then experience worsening symptoms.

All of these factors can make it difficult to prove that the injury was solely the result of the car accident.

Providing Evidence Of The Injury

The best thing a car accident victim who wants to obtain compensation, or even just insurance coverage, for their injury can do is to collect evidence. Our personal injury attorneys have used many types of evidence to prove an injury resulted from an accident, such as:

• Accident scene photos.
• Pictures of the injury.
• Imaging test results.
• Medical records, reports, diagnoses, and treatments.
• Employment records.
• Pain journal.

It is very important for crash victims to follow all of their doctor’s orders. Any deviation from the prescribed treatment plan could hurt your case as the insurer could argue that your injuries weren’t that serious if you were able to shrug off your care instructions. This could lead to a claim denial or a reduction in a settlement.

An Experienced Car Accident Attorney Can Help You Build And Win Your Case

If you have been injured in a car accident and have soft tissue injuries as a result, you have a right to medical care coverage and compensation. Receiving that care and compensation is another story, however. The personal injury and car accident attorneys at Eisenberg Law Offices are here to help. We can help you negotiate with insurance providers and build a personal injury case that holds the negligent party financially responsible for medical costs, and lost wages, and pain and suffering.

Arrange a free consultation by calling 608-200-3698 or emailing Info@eisenberglaw.org.