Soft tissue damage includes injuries to muscles, ligaments, and tendons—often including joints. They are among the most painful and debilitating injuries we see in Atlanta, and they can leave the victim laid up for months or even years. If you have suffered soft tissue damage in a car accident, you have the right to make an injury claim. In many cases, you could have all of your costs paid, plus money to offset the impact of the injury. A good lawyer can help you make your soft tissue damage injury claim.
Our lawyers can help. We have decades of experience working with the victims of soft tissue injuries—and a history of winning. Let us give you a FREE consultation to answer your questions. Call us at (404) 341-6555 or fill out the form to the right to get your free consultation today.
What makes a soft tissue damage claim different from other types of accident claims?
Many car accident injuries are easily diagnosed through x-rays, CT scans, MRIs and other tests. When you make an accident claim, these test results can be used to prove that you were injured, and how serious your injury was. But whiplash and other Injuries to muscles, tendons, ligaments and other “soft tissues” don’t show up on most tests, even though they can be painful and have a major impact on your life.
This makes soft tissue injuries more difficult to prove than other types of injuries such as broken bones. Insurance companies know this, and they may be reluctant to pay out claims. However, it is possible to recover the full value of a soft tissue injury by using your doctor’s diagnosis, medical records, your own testimony, and evidence showing that someone is likely to suffer soft tissue damage after an accident like yours. Rear end collisions, for example, frequently lead to whiplash.
Who is “at fault” in a car accident in Atlanta?
The idea of fault is important in Georgia car accident claims because the driver who is “at fault” must pay for everyone’s injuries and property damage. Being at fault is another way of saying that a driver caused the accident. Usually this means the driver was careless or not following traffic laws—legally, this is known as negligence. A negligent driver might have been following too closely, speeding, drinking and driving, or distracted by a cell phone.
The police officers who respond to your accident may issue a traffic citation to one or more drivers. Their report will provide an objective review of what happened. Insurance companies then do their own evaluation to determine who is at fault and must pay for the accident. Sometimes it is obvious who is at fault, but in other cases it is less clear. A lawyer can help sort out who is legally liable and make sure you get compensation if you are entitled to it.
What kind of soft tissue injuries can I recover money for?
Soft tissue injuries are just what they sound like—injuries to the soft parts of your body, as opposed to your bones and joints. Soft tissue injuries often lead to intense pain, but there may not be any outward signs. This can lead other people to believe that you are exaggerating or making up your injuries. But you are entitled to recover money. Some common soft tissue injuries include:
- Whiplash. Whiplash is a painful neck condition that is caused by the impact of an accident “whipping” your head forward and backward.
- Sprains and strains. The force of the accident may cause you to sprain muscles or strain (or “pull”) ligaments in your back, neck arms and legs.
- Nerve damage. Your injuries may damage the delicate network of nerves that sends signals to your brain. Nerve damage can cause pain, numbness, dizziness and a host of other issues.
- Deep bruises. A deep bruise can be painful and affect your mobility.
How much money will I receive in a soft tissue injury claim in Atlanta?
If you are injured in a car accident in Georgia that was not your fault, you can recover the full amount of your costs and damages from the driver who caused the accident. Usually this money comes from the driver’s auto insurance policy. Although the amount you receive will depend on your situation, many accident victims recover money for:
- Medical expenses
- Prescription medication costs
- The cost of physical therapy
- Car repairs, or replacing a totaled car
- Lost wages, if your accident caused you to miss time from work
You can recover for soft tissue injuries as well as other types of injuries. If your injuries were severe, you may also be eligible for additional large amounts of money for pain and suffering or for a long-term disability. Money can’t really compensate you for a major loss in an accident, but it can help you pay for treatment, stay on top of your bills, and alleviate stress as you work on your recovery.
How can a lawyer help me with a soft tissue injury claim?
Insurance companies are skeptical of soft tissue injuries. This is because insurance companies are trying to make a profit by paying as little as possible in claims. If you don’t have x-rays or other test results to back up your injury, it’s easy for the insurance company to claim you aren’t really hurt and avoid paying you what your injury is really worth.
A lawyer understands what it will take to convince the insurance company that you have a very real injury and deserve compensation. One way that our car accident lawyers in Atlanta Georgia do this is to send you to doctors who have experience in diagnosing and treating soft tissue injuries. A lawyer may also ask you to keep a journal where you record your pain level and other problems you are having each day. A lawyer can investigate the way the accident happened and pull in experts to show that the impact you suffered would cause soft tissue injuries. A lawyer can make a strong case using hard evidence. This often leads the insurance company to offer you a substantial amount of money.
Talk to an Atlanta Car Accident Lawyer for Free
Our lawyers have spent decades helping injured people get paid after an accident. And we have a simple promise: we don’t charge you at all unless we win money for you. Let us give you a FREE consultation. Call us at (404) 341-6555 or fill out the form to the right to get your free consultation today.