Soft-tissue damage is an injury that is often underestimated and overlooked after a car accident. Soft-tissue injuries do not always show visible signs, yet they can cause severe pain, mobility problems and disability. Learn your rights if you’ve been diagnosed with a soft-tissue injury after a car crash in Minneapolis.
What Is a Soft-Tissue Injury?
Soft-tissue injuries describe physical harm to parts of the body such as the muscles, joints, tendons and ligaments.
In a car accident, the forces of the crash can result in many types of soft-tissue injuries, including:
- Whiplash (neck injuries)
- Muscle sprains and strains
- Tendon and ligament damage or tears
- Back injuries
- Contusions (severe bruises)
- Nerve damage
- Tendonitis (inflammation of the tendons)
After a car accident, a victim may have a soft-tissue injury if they experience symptoms such as pain, stiffness, limited mobility, swelling, bruising and soreness. These symptoms may arise immediately or develop hours or even days later.
How to Prove a Soft-Tissue Injury
Soft-tissue injuries can be difficult to prove as part of a car accident claim in Minnesota. Unlike an injury such as a broken bone, soft-tissue damage may not show any outward physical signs. It may not even appear on an x-ray or MRI. Yet the victim will still suffer very real pain and debilitation.
Proving the existence of a soft-tissue injury takes evidence such as:
- Medical records and documents
- Medical expert testimony
- Witness statements
- Photos and videos
- An injury journal
It is important to seek professional medical care after any car accident in Minneapolis, major or minor. This can lead to proper injury treatment for optimal recovery, as well as document the connection between the car accident and your soft-tissue injuries.
Common Damages Related to Soft-Tissue Injuries
A soft-tissue injury may not be as obvious as other injury types after a vehicle collision, but it can have real and lasting consequences for the victim. These injuries must not be underestimated during a car accident claim in Minneapolis.
On a medical level, soft-tissue injuries can lead to severe and chronic pain and immobility in the affected area. This can cause a loss of enjoyment of daily life, missed favorite activities, trouble returning to work or working at full capacity, and an overall diminished quality of life.
On a financial level, soft-tissue injuries can cost thousands of dollars in medical care to treat, including ongoing physical therapy, medications and rehabilitation. Impact on work and productivity can also lead to significant financial losses.
Seeking Compensation for Soft-Tissue Injuries After a Car Accident in Minnesota
Minnesota is one of only 12 no-fault states. Under the no-fault system, car accident victims must seek financial compensation from their own insurance companies first, no matter who is at fault for the collision.
Drivers are required to carry personal injury protection (PIP) insurance to pay for their own medical bills and lost wages. If you suffer significant or permanent injuries, however, this will qualify you to bring a lawsuit against an at-fault party outside of the no-fault system.
In this scenario, you may need assistance from a Minneapolis car accident attorney to help you prove the existence and severity of your soft-tissue injuries and demonstrate that the other driver was at fault. An experienced personal injury lawyer can help you document your injuries and secure maximum compensation.