whiplash

Soft tissue injuries, which are common in car accidents, are often harder to prove.

The most severe St. Louis car accident injuries are often easy to understand for both yourself and insurance companies. When you go to negotiate for compensation, it may be fairly simple to show what happened. On the other hand, soft tissue injuries are not so straightforward because the evidence of them is often less apparent. Despite being less visible, these injuries can still be debilitating for the person suffering from them. Given the pain and complexity surrounding these injuries, victims of them do well to speak with a St. Louis car accident lawyer to ensure fair treatment. Below, you’ll learn the basics about soft tissue injuries and what to do if you ever suffer one.

Definition

Soft tissue refers to the parts of your body that support your bones and organs. This includes muscles, ligaments, tendons, nerves, fascia, fibrous tissues, blood vessels, fat, and more. A soft tissue injury is an ailment that affects these body parts. A few typical soft tissue injuries are sprains, strains, bruises, and whiplash.

Why Getting Compensated May Be Difficult

There are two primary reasons why these injuries are so hard to get compensated for. The first is that they are often hard to prove. As mentioned above, something like a broken bone is incredibly easy to demonstrate. You take an X-ray, you show up to your negotiations in a much-needed cast, and generally, face few questions about your ailment. With soft tissue injuries, what is wrong may be barely visible with medical tests, or not at all. The second reason is that these injuries are often seen as less debilitating as others, so insurance companies will discount them. This is not true, as an ailment like back pain can keep a physical laborer out of work for years. Still, this is the assumption that many insurance providers operate on.

Your Top Pieces of Evidence

To prove your injury, you will need every piece of evidence available. This evidence will primarily be made up of medical documents and opinions. If you can get any sort of pictures or medical assessment documents that back up your claim, then do so. Another possible piece of evidence is an expert witness that is willing to testify on your behalf.

How Hard is it to Prove a Soft-Tissue Injury?

Most car accident victims think soft-tissue claims are straightforward. However, soft-tissue injuries are generally harder to prove than other types of car injuries. Here are five reasons why:

Soft-Tissue Injuries Are Often Invisible to Imaging Tests

Unlike a broken bone or deep laceration, which will show up clearly on an X-ray, soft-tissue injuries are often invisible to imaging tests. This can make it tough to convince insurance companies and other interested parties that your injury is real and severe. As a result, many people who sustain soft-tissue injuries find themselves in an uphill battle to get the compensation they deserve.

Symptoms May Not Appear Until Days or Weeks Later

Another reason why these claims can be tricky is that soft-tissue injuries can take days or even weeks to manifest. So, if you wait too long to see a doctor, the insurance company may argue that your injuries are unrelated to the accident. That’s why it’s important to seek medical attention right away after an accident, even if you don’t feel injured. A medical professional can document your injuries and symptoms and help establish a link between the accident and your injuries.

Soft-Tissue Injuries Often Involve Subjective Symptoms

Although soft-tissue injuries can be just as severe as other car accident injuries, they often involve subjective symptoms, such as pain and stiffness. These symptoms can be difficult to document and may vary from person to person. As a result, insurance companies often deny claims for soft-tissue injuries, asserting that the claimant is not injured or that the symptoms are not as severe as they claim. This can make it hard for victims of soft-tissue injuries to obtain the compensation they need and deserve.

Soft-Tissue Injuries Can Be Aggravated by Everyday Activities

Another reason soft-tissue injury claims can be hard to prove is that these types of injuries can be aggravated by everyday activities. Even something as simple as walking or getting out of bed can cause pain and discomfort for someone who has suffered a soft-tissue injury. As a result, it can be difficult to pinpoint the exact source of the pain and suffering.

Pre-Existing Conditions Can Complicate Matters

If you have a pre-existing condition, it can be used against you to downplay the severity of your soft-tissue injury. For example, if you have arthritis in your shoulder and suffer a rotator cuff tear in an accident, the other side may try to claim that your arthritis is to blame for your pain rather than the accident.

How To Strengthen Your Soft-Tissue Injury Claim

Despite these challenges, there are certain steps you can take to strengthen your claim.

First, it’s important to see a doctor as soon as possible after the accident. This will provide documentation of your injuries and help establish a clear link between the accident and your injuries.

Second, keep a detailed record of all medical expenses related to your injury, including doctor visits, prescriptions, and other out-of-pocket costs. This documentation will be essential in showing the financial impact of your injuries.

Third, work with an experienced car injury attorney. An attorney can help you navigate the complex legal process and ensure that your rights are protected.

How to Get Compensated

Once you have obtained all of your evidence, it is time to compile it and present it. Generally, with the help of a lawyer, you will craft a plan to convince an insurance company, or a courtroom, that you deserve compensation. Your lawyer will gather more evidence if needed, tell you how strong your case is, then argue it for you.

It is important to remember that insurance companies are businesses that are trying to turn a profit. Part of that profit-seeking might be giving you a low offer for your soft tissue injury. One of the best ways to prevent this from happening, and to combat it if it does, is to hire an experienced St. Louis car accident lawyer. They will help you gather evidence, create a case, and get all of the compensation you deserve.

What Is Whiplash?

Whiplash is a type of injury caused by the sudden movement of the head, either forward, backward, or sideways. This can occur in car accidents, sporting events, or any other situation with a sudden impact.

Whiplash can cause various symptoms, including neck pain, stiffness, headaches, blurred vision, dizziness, irritability, and sleep disturbance. In some cases, the victim may not experience any symptoms until days or even weeks after the accident.

What Happens if Left Untreated?

If whiplash is left untreated, it can lead to the following long-term problems:

Chronic Neck Pain

If left untreated, chronic neck pain can occur. This pain persists for more than three months after the initial injury. Symptoms may include aching, stiffness, and tenderness in the neck. In some cases, chronic neck pain can lead to limitations in movement and decreased quality of life.

Loss of Mobility

Whiplash can also lead to loss of mobility, as the neck muscles may become so stiff and sore that they cannot support the head. This can cause the victim to lose balance and experience difficulty walking or performing everyday tasks. In some cases, the victim may not be able to return to work or resume their normal activities.

Persistent Headaches

Whiplash can also cause persistent headaches, which may last for weeks or even months after the initial injury. These headaches can be debilitating and interfere with your ability to function normally.

Ringing in the Ears

Whiplash can also cause ringing in the ears, also known as tinnitus. This condition causes a person to hear a ringing, buzzing, or humming noise that is not actually there. Tinnitus can be very disruptive and may interfere with your ability to sleep, work, or enjoy life.

Seeking Treatment

If you are involved in a car accident, it is crucial to seek medical attention as soon as possible. Treatment for whiplash can help prevent long-term complications and improve your quality of life.

 Some treatment options for whiplash include chiropractic care, physical therapy, and medications, including painkillers, anti-inflammatory drugs, and muscle relaxants. In some cases, surgery may be required to correct the damage caused by whiplash.

St. Louis Whiplash Attorneys

Compensation for whiplash can include medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. To increase your chances of fair compensation, it is highly recommended that you speak with an experienced car accident attorney.

At The Hoffmann Law Firm, we have decades of experience helping car accident victims get the compensation they deserve and can help you too. Contact us today for a free consultation.

Whiplash is often viewed as a minor injury that will go away on its own. However, here’s why you should never ignore symptoms of whiplash after a car accident.

When it comes to car accident claims, whiplash is perhaps one of the most underrated injuries. Some people see it as a minor injury and assume that those who complain about it are just exaggerating their symptoms as a way to get more compensation. Some victims treat whiplash as a mild soreness and decide not to treat it, thinking that it will go away on its own. 

The reality is different, though. Not only is whiplash one of the most common injuries in car accidents, but its long-term consequences can cause a lot of damage and affect one’s quality of life. 

What Is Whiplash? 

A broad definition of whiplash would be a neck injury caused by a forceful and sudden back and forth movement of the neck, similar to the cracking of a whip (hence the name whiplash.)

Medical books use whiplash-associated disorders (WAP) to describe injuries caused by sudden acceleration-deceleration movements. WAP can affect various points of the cervical spine, depending on the direction and force of the impact. 

Signs of Whiplash

One of the most important things you need to understand about whiplash is that, more often than not, its symptoms will not show right away. While some car accident victims will experience the first signs of whiplash within minutes or hours after the impact, for others, it can take days or even weeks for the first symptom to show. That’s why it’s important to see a doctor as soon as possible after a car crash. 

Some of the early signs of whiplash include: 

• Neck and back pain
• Shoulder pain that radiates from the neck
• A feeling of pins and needles in the neck and surrounding areas;
• Headaches;
• Reduced range of motion in the neck and shoulders

The Long-Term Effects of Whiplash

In most cases, with the right treatment and care, the symptoms of whiplash will alleviate in a few weeks or months. If left untreated, the pain and restrictions caused by this injury can last for a year and significantly affect one’s quality of life. 

Some of the long-term consequences of whiplash include: 

• Chronic pain and stiffness in the neck and shoulders
• Upper and lower back pain
• Chronic headaches
• Numbness and weakness in the hand and arm
• Difficulty concentrating
• Difficulty sleeping
• Memory problems.

Have You Been Involved in a St. Louis Car Crash?

Have you or a loved one been hurt in a St. Louis car crash? Get in touch with an experienced St. Louis car accident lawyer as soon as possible to ensure your rights are protected. As we’ve mentioned, a lot of car accident victims dismiss the signs of whiplash, thinking that it’s just a minor injury that doesn’t require medical treatment. However, the long-term consequences of whiplash can impact your health for years to come and affect your quality of life tremendously. An experienced auto accident lawyer is aware of all these potential problems and can ensure you get the compensation you are legally entitled to after an accident.