Soft tissue injuries may seem mild initially, but they can be devastating depending on the circumstances, especially as time passes. A severe sprain or muscle tear could prevent you from working or enjoying certain activities with your family for weeks. However, soft-tissue injuries are usually difficult to prove in car crash cases because they often happen in low-impact accidents.
If you try to speak with insurance adjusters directly, they will likely attempt to offer you little or just outwardly deny claims for your injuries, especially if the property damage was minimal. The attorney for the other party may try to claim that you are attempting to exaggerate your injuries to increase your potential compensation.
This is why it is crucial to have legal representation. If you are dealing with soft-tissue injuries caused by a car accident in Tampa, reach out to our experienced auto collision lawyers at Hancock Injury Attorneys today to discuss the details of your case. You are already dealing with the pain from your injuries, potentially missing work, and other stressors surrounding the accident. Let our injury lawyers take care of the calls from the insurance companies, researching your case and getting you the compensation that you rightfully deserve.
What are the Common Types of Soft-Tissue Injuries?
Soft-tissue injuries can involve tendons, ligaments, and muscles in different areas of the body. Some of the soft-tissue injuries that commonly occur in car accidents include:
- Sprains and strains: the tearing or overstretching of ligaments
- Contusions: bleeding under the skin that extreme trauma causes
- Whiplash: a painful injury that occurs when a sudden impact causes a forceful and rapid back-and-forth movement of the neck
- Rotator cuff tear: a partial or complete tear in the group of muscles around the rotator cuff
- Anterior cruciate ligament tear: tearing or overstretching of the anterior cruciate ligament
- Hernia: occurs when an organ or fatty tissue squeezes through a weak spot in a surrounding muscle
- Herniated discs: occur when the cushion-like pads between vertebrae move out of the correct position
- Back sprain: occurs when excess stress on the back stretches or tears the ligaments
If you or a loved one developed any of these types of injuries after a car accident, our skilled attorneys in Tampa can help you file a claim against the other party.
How Do You Prove Negligence and Damages in a Soft-Tissue Injury Case?
The most important part of any vehicle collision case is proving the other party was negligent. To do this, you must show that their reckless actions directly caused your car accident. Further, you must establish a causal link between the accident and your injuries.
Soft-tissue injuries are more difficult to see than other medical conditions, so insurance adjusters in Tampa may work to deny your car accident claim. To obtain proof of your injuries, you should seek medical attention immediately after the crash.
Once you have begun treatment, the best way to prove your damages is to work with one of our dedicated attorneys to collect evidence. Some common forms of evidence include:
- Pictures and videos of the accident
- Medical records
- Medical bills
- Auto repair bills
- Past pay stubs
Our dedicated legal team can help you determine the most valuable types of evidence in your case.
Personal Injury Protection and Insurance in Tampa Vehicle Collision Cases
Personal injury protection (PIP) insurance is a requirement for all drivers in this state. This type of auto insurance is intended to provide motorists with up to $10,000 in immediate medical coverage after an accident. PIP insurance is not a substitute for health insurance, but it is a helpful addition. You can also use personal injury protection to pay for things that your healthcare will not cover after suffering a soft-tissue injury in a car accident.
Using this coverage is required before our attorneys are able to pursue compensation through the at-fault driver’s Bodily Injury (BI) Coverage, if they carry it at all. One in four drivers on Florida roads do not carry insurance at all, at even more do not carry BI coverage. That is why we recommend to all our clients to carry Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist Coverage (UM/UIM). This will protect you in case the at-fault driver does not carry insurance to compensate you for your injuries. You can learn more about Florida’s No-Fault Insurance Laws here.
What is the Legal Deadline for Filing a Car Accident Case?
Florida Statutes Title 8, Ch. 95 § 95.11 states that injured parties have only four years from the date of a car accident to file a lawsuit. This legal deadline is known as the statute of limitations.
If you do not file your claim within this time, the court will most likely dismiss your case. Keeping track of these types of deadlines can be challenging. Fortunately, our skilled auto accident attorneys can inform you of all critical dates in your soft-tissue injury case.
The Importance of Hiring a Car Crash Attorney
Soft-tissue injury claims are much more challenging than other car accident cases because these medical conditions are not as obvious as other severe injuries. Without a diagnosis from a medical professional and representation from a qualified lawyer, you may have trouble collecting compensation.
Attorney Mike Hancock has spent years in the insurance defense field, so he knows what types of tactics insurance adjustors may use to minimize your claim. Our legal team also has the time and resources you need to build a strong case against the other party. Though you are permitted to file your claim on your own, it is generally best to retain legal counsel.
Speak With Our Tampa Lawyers About Your Soft-Tissue Car Accident Injuries
Soft-tissue injuries often occur in low-impact car crashes, meaning insurance companies will probably attempt to dismiss the seriousness of your injuries. To avoid being taken advantage of by insurance adjusters, seek legal help right away. Schedule a free consultation with our lawyers today to discuss soft-tissue injuries caused by car accidents in Tampa.