Soft Tissue Injuries: Costs, Complications and Compensation

Soft tissue injuries are among the most common types of traumatic injuries suffered in vehicle collisions and other accidents. While some types of soft tissue injuries can heal on their own with adequate rest, others can require surgery and lead to long-term complications. For accident victims who are facing significant financial and non-financial costs, hiring a Florida injury attorney to seek just compensation can be a critical part of the recovery process.

If you are facing significant financial and non-financial costs related to a serious accident, you need to ensure that you are making informed decisions about your legal rights. With this in mind, here are some key facts to know about seeking just compensation for soft tissue injuries in Florida:

Common Costs Associated with Soft Tissue Injuries

Like all serious injuries, soft tissue injuries from a traumatic accident can lead to various financial and non-financial costs. If you have a personal injury claim as a result of your accident, you are entitled to just compensation for all of your financial and non-financial costs under Florida law.

What are the costs you are entitled to recover? While the consequences of soft tissue injuries can vary widely, common damages in cases involving these injuries include:

• Medical Bills – From MRIs and ultrasounds to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and surgical procedures, medical bills for diagnosis and treatment of soft tissue injuries can add up quickly. When accident victims need ongoing physical or occupational therapy and rehabilitation, they can also continue adding up for a long time.
• Other Out-of-Pocket Costs – Pain medications, braces, crutches, wheelchairs and other medical necessities can add to the costs of soft tissue injuries. Paying for transportation and other services can add to accident victims’ out-of-pocket costs as well.
• Lost Earnings – Accident victims who suffer soft tissue injuries may suffer additional financial losses due to missing time from work. For those who suffer long-term or permanent complications, these losses can be substantial.
• Pain and Suffering – Serious soft tissue injuries can be extremely painful. Recovering from surgery for muscle, ligament and tendon tears can be extremely painful as well. Under Florida law, accident victims are entitled to compensation for their pain and suffering above and beyond the costs of their care.
• Loss of Enjoyment of Life – Accident victims are also entitled to just compensation for their loss of enjoyment of life. From being unable to pursue hobbies to being unable to enjoy spending time with friends and family, serious injuries can interfere with all aspects of accident victims’ lives.

These are just examples. From emotional trauma to permanent scarring resulting from surgical procedures, accident victims who suffer serious soft tissue injuries can face various other long-term costs as well. As discussed in greater detail below, serious soft tissue injuries can lead to various complications, and these complications can potentially have long-term—if not lifelong—consequences.

Common Complications Associated with Soft Tissue Injuries

Soft tissue injuries in all parts of the body can lead to complications that impair accident victims’ ability to work, play and enjoy life. This includes everything from ankle injuries to whiplash. For accident victims who suffer serious complications, it will be especially important to work with an experienced Florida injury attorney who can help them seek the full compensation they deserve. Some examples of common complications associated with soft tissue injuries include:

• Chronic Pain – Chronic pain is a common complication from serious soft tissue injuries. While some accident victims will be able to manage their pain with medications and therapy, others will experience reminders of their accident every day of their life.
• Limited Mobility – Soft tissue injuries can cause limited mobility both during and after the recovery process. This limited mobility can impact accident victims’ ability to earn a living and resume other normal activities of daily life.
• Loss of Muscle Strength – Loss of muscle strength due to soft tissue injuries can have similar effects. Here too, the potential for recovery varies widely based on accident victims’ individual circumstances.
• Compartment Syndrome – Compartment syndrome is a serious, and potentially life-threatening, complication associated with certain types of serious traumatic injuries. Severe pain, tightness, numbness, tingling and burning sensations are all potential signs of a medical emergency.
• Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) – Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is another serious condition that can result from soft tissue injuries in some cases. DVT has a long list of potential complications of its own, and treatment and recovery can be long and expensive processes.

Serious soft tissue injuries can have long-term mental health effects as well. Along with emotional trauma from living through a serious accident, many accident victims also experience anxiety, depression and other psychological effects. If you have a personal injury claim and you are experiencing any of these effects, you can—and should—seek just compensation for these as well.

Seeking Just Compensation for Soft Tissue Injuries in Florida

Let’s say you are entitled to just compensation for a serious soft tissue injury. How do you seek the financial compensation you deserve?

Hiring an experienced Florida injury attorney is the first step in the process. To file a successful personal injury claim, you will need proof of why your accident happened and proof of how much you are entitled. Gathering the evidence you need requires experienced legal representation, and it is important to take action promptly before any key evidence disappears.

If you have a personal injury claim for soft tissue injuries you suffered in an accident, you can hire an attorney to represent you on a contingency-fee basis. This means you will not have to pay anything out of pocket, and you will not have to pay anything at all unless you recover just compensation.

Discuss Your Legal Rights with a Florida Injury Attorney for Free

Do you have questions about filing a personal injury claim for soft tissue injuries you sustained in a serious accident? If so, contact us today. To speak with an experienced Florida injury attorney for free, call 800-780-8607 or tell us how we can reach you online today.