Average Settlement for a Soft Tissue Injury After a Car Accident

Injuries from a car accident can vary depending on factors such as the type of vehicles involved, the crash severity, and the location of the impact on your car. Even seemingly minor impact accidents can leave you injured. 

Some of the most common injuries reported in a car accident are soft tissue. A soft tissue injury in a car accident can be serious, no matter how much the other driver’s insurance company tells you it’s not.

Because insurance companies typically undervalue and downplay a soft tissue injury after a car accident, you need an experienced Florida auto accident attorney on your side.

Whether you’ve been injured in a car accident, such as being t-boned while turning left, or a slip and fall at the grocery store, there’s a good chance you may have sustained a soft tissue injury. The human body is a complex system that includes soft tissue such as muscle, fascia, ligaments, and tendons. Damage to soft tissues can leave people struggling in pain and have the potential to lead to serious health problems.

What is Soft Tissue?

Soft tissue refers to tissue that connects, supports, or surrounds other structures or organs in the body. Soft tissue includes things like muscles, tendons, ligaments, blood vessels, and nerves.

Common Ways to Suffer Soft Tissue Injuries

Many prospective clients have questions, including, what is soft tissue injury in a car accident? Soft tissue injuries refer to your muscles, tendons, and ligaments, whereas your bones are hard tissue. 

Soft tissue injuries may be difficult to detect at first and can seem invisible, but these injuries can cause great pain and discomfort. Since soft tissue injuries may not present themselves right away, it is important to seek medical attention any time you are involved in a fall or a car accident. Doctors may request an MRI scan after a car accident to identify soft tissue injuries.

Soft tissue damage after a car accident is common because the sudden force can cause ligaments, muscles, and tendons to move beyond their normal range. Insurance adjusters tend to dismiss all soft tissue injuries as being minor and therefore undervalue these claims.

Some of the most common soft tissue injury claims we represent clients for include:  

• Whiplash – typically occurs when the rear impact in a car accident forces the head to move back and forth violently. This can lead to tears or strain of the muscles and tendons in the neck.
• Rotator cuff tear – a tear in the muscles and tendons of your shoulder, a rotator cuff tear, can result from the sudden impact of a fall or accident. Symptoms include pain, weakness, and difficulty raising the arm.
• ACL tear – better known as an ACL tear, this injury involves a tear of the tissue that holds the bones of your knee together. Can be caused by a sudden sharp turn, jolt, or hard landing on the knee. An ACL injury can cause pain, swelling, difficulty walking and a decrease in range of motion.
• Disc Herniations/Bulges – refers to a problem with one of the rubbery cushions between the individual vertebrae of the spine. The disk either bulges or becomes displaced causing severe backpain. Herniated or bulging discs can result from the impact of a car accident or a slip and fall. Extensive physical therapy and sometimes surgery is required to treat the injury. In some cases, the muscles of the back can become weakened, resulting in chronic back and sciatic pain after an accident in Florida.
• Sprains and strains
• Compressed nerve
• Contusions
• Hernia

If you sustained soft tissue injuries in a car accident caused by another person’s negligence, you have the right to bring a claim for your damages.

Don’t let an insurance adjuster tell you that you don’t have a claim because you sustained only soft tissue damage. Car accident settlements can definitely include reimbursement for your soft tissue injuries.   

Treatment for Soft Tissue Injuries

Some soft tissue injuries can be healed through pain management therapy and physical therapy. However, other injuries may require surgery to repair torn muscles, ligaments, or tendons. Soft tissue injuries can be extremely painful and can take an extensive amount of time and treatment to heal properly. Some injuries may even be permanent and ongoing.

Symptoms of Soft Tissue Injuries

Soft tissue injuries aren’t always apparent at the accident scene. Some of these develop over a couple of days. Potential symptoms to watch for after a car accident include:

• Back pain;
• Neck pain and stiffness;
• Skin discoloration;
• Inflammation in your affected body part;
• Pain when moving your affected body part;
• Swelling;
• Sudden onset of pain;
• A burning sensation that travels down your arm or leg;
• Inability to put weight on a joint; and
• Cognitive issues, including difficulty concentrating or remembering things.

Some soft tissue injuries will heal on their own with minimal medical intervention. However, other injuries could require extensive rehabilitation and even surgical intervention.

What to Do If You Think You Have a Soft Tissue Injury

If you suspect you have a soft tissue injury, you need to schedule a medical appointment right away. It’s crucial to seek treatment following an accident, even if you don’t think you are injured. Sometimes, there could be internal injuries that you can’t visibly see or feel.

It’s essential to follow all orders your doctors give you. Otherwise, you can cause additional harm, and the at-fault driver’s insurance company will use this to reduce your case value.

Is There an Average Settlement for a Soft Tissue Injury After a Car Accident?

Soft tissue injuries, such as sprains, strains, and muscle tears, are common in car accidents. How much compensation you get for a soft tissue injury car accident settlement in Florida varies based on the unique circumstances of each situation and the severity of your injuries. Based on our own settlement data on this page, the average soft tissue car accident settlement is between $72,500 to $100,000. The exact amount depends on several factors, including the severity of the injury, recovery time, the need for physical therapy, and how much the injury affects daily activities and work.

Every car accident is unique, as are your injuries. Someone who suffered a concussion will likely have a higher settlement than someone else who suffered only a minor back strain that healed in several weeks.

Soft Tissue Injury Car Accident Settlement Examples

$100,000 Settlement for Soft Tissue Injury After a Car Accident

Our client is a Ukrainian immigrant who came to the United States, learned English, and worked hard to put himself through school to become an airline mechanic. But in July 2021, his life changed when another driver ran a stop sign and crashed into his car. The accident left him with a herniated disc in his neck, a painful injury that made it hard for him to do his job.

When we asked the other driver’s insurance company for a fair settlement, they claimed his injury was just a minor soft tissue issue and said the crash wasn’t serious. They offered just over $3,000.00.

That wasn’t acceptable. So we filed a lawsuit. As the case moved forward, we gathered evidence and took depositions. Eventually, we headed to mediation.

There, we explained that even though our client’s medical bills were low for now, his surgeon said he would need neck surgery in the future, and that surgery would cost more than the insurance policy’s limit of $100,000.00. We demanded the full policy limits. The defense refused and offered only $15,000.00, so mediation ended without an agreement.

Later, the defense made a formal offer of $15,000.00. We rejected it and made our own formal proposal for $100,000.00. On the very last day before our offer expired, the defense accepted. The case settled for the full $100,000.00 policy limits, a great result for our client.

$72,500 Soft Tissue Injury Settlement

Our client, a resident of Venice, FL who worked as a server, was driving through the main road of a Walmart parking lot when another driver pulled out from a side road and T-boned him on the passenger’s side. The crash caused heavy damage to our client’s vehicle.

At first, he felt okay and didn’t seek treatment right away. But as is common with soft tissue injuries, pain in his neck and back began shortly after the accident. He visited an orthopedic practice, where he was prescribed physical therapy and an MRI of his lower back. The MRI showed a herniated disc at the L5-S1 level.

Once his treatment was completed, we sent a demand package to the other driver’s insurance company. They responded with an offer of just $4,200.00.

That was not acceptable. We filed a lawsuit and began building the case. During discovery, we showed that even though our client’s treatment was limited, the injury to his back was likely permanent. Before the case went to trial, we persuaded the insurance company to increase its offer to nearly 20 times the original amount.

The case settled for $72,500.00. Our client was very happy with the result.

What Factors Affect My Settlement?

Multiple factors can affect your potential soft tissue injury car accident settlement. While most soft tissue cases resolve before a lawsuit is filed, some claims will wind up in litigation. Some of the most influential factors in a soft tissue injury case include:

• The severity of your injuries;
• The length of time it took for you to recover and whether there are long-term effects or a permanent disability;
• The impact of your injuries on your career;
• The percentage of your own negligence that contributed to the accident; , if any;
• The amount of pain and suffering you experienced; and

Another critical factor in determining your potential settlement amount is the evidence you’ve collected. Because soft tissue injuries are often harder to prove, you must have as much evidence as possible. For example, scene photos that show the vehicle damage and surrounding area can be critical evidence.

It would be best if you also kept a pain journal after the accident. It’s easier to go back and discuss how the accident impacted your life when you can recount specific episodes and problems you encountered.

If your case winds up in litigation, it could be a months before you give a deposition. You can review your pain journal and refresh your memory if necessary, before testifying.   

Does Hiring an Attorney Increase My Settlement Amount?

In most cases, hiring an attorney will increase your potential settlement amount. Insurance companies notoriously undervalue or wrongfully deny claims when you don’t have legal representation.

Having an attorney on your side is essential. That will keep the insurance company from taking advantage of your inexperience. You want someone who can protect your rights and negotiate for the maximum amount of compensation possible.

How We Will Help with Your Case

When you retain Abrahamson & Uiterwyk to represent you for a soft tissue injury in a car accident, we will conduct an independent investigation. We will gather all the necessary evidence, your medical records, bills, and confirmation of your missed time from work.

If your case warrants it, we will retain industry experts who can testify in your case. Potential experts may include an accident reconstructionist who can testify on liability or a medical doctor who can confirm that your soft tissue injuries required the treatment you received.

If your case doesn’t resolve through negotiations, we are prepared to file a lawsuit and take your case to trial if necessary. We have over 35 Years of experience fighting for our clients and have recovered hundreds of millions of dollars in compensation.

Let us put our trial experience and knowledge to work for you. Contact Abrahamson & Uiterwyk today to schedule an initial consultation.

Get Your Accident Questions Answered

Understandably, prospective clients have a lot of questions when they meet with us. Here are answers to some of the most common questions to help you better prepare for your consultation. 

What Type of Compensation Will I Receive?

If you sustained a soft tissue injury, car accident settlement amounts could include compensation for your medical expenses, future medical treatment, lost wages, property damage, loss of earning capacity, pain and suffering, and more. 

Can I Still Get Compensation If I’m Partially at Fault?

Florida is a modified comparative negligence state. This means that if you are found to be no more than 50% at fault for the accident, your recovery is reduced by the same proportion as your percentage of fault. As an example, if you are found to be 20% at fault in an accident, you may still recover 80% of your damages in a lawsuit. If, however, your percentage of fault is found to be more than 50%, you are barred from any recovery under the law.

What Do I Do If the Other Driver’s Insurance Sends Me a Release to Sign?

If the insurance company tries to get you to sign a release of all claims, don’t do it without speaking with an attorney first. Insurance companies count on your inexperience with the legal system to get you to agree to a settlement that is much less than your case is worth. 

Contact a Trusted Attorney

If you’ve sustained soft tissue injuries as the result of someone’s negligence, you should consult with an experienced western/central Florida personal injury attorney. Contact the trusted lawyers at Abrahamson & Uiterwyk to schedule your free consultation.

When facing the complexities of a personal injury case in Hardee County, contact a Hardee County personal injury lawyer for guidance and representation.