Soft Tissue Injuries In Florida Auto Accidents

Few would underestimate the possibility of real physical harm coming from a car accident. Even if one wears a seatbelt, there is so much weight moving so fast that injury can happen – everything from minor cuts and bruises to traumatic brain injuries can occur in a vehicle accident on Florida roads. One type of injury that is comparatively more rare, but can cause long-term injury all the same, is known as a soft tissue injury. Soft tissue injuries do not always show up at the time of the crash, making it difficult to quantify an injured plaintiff’s claim.

Difficult To Diagnose

Soft tissue injuries are those that affect, as one might imagine, the soft tissues of the body, such as muscles, tendons and ligaments. Their elasticity, as compared to bones, means that these bodily components react differently at the time of impact. Instead of breaking immediately, muscles may strain or sprain, though full-blown tears are the most severe injuries. As a result, immediately following a crash, one may be able to X-ray a broken bone, but tissue damage may not immediately be visible.

Even if it is visible via medical testing, too many medical professionals in Florida treat soft tissue injuries as less serious than immediate, visible wounds. While it is true that some minor types of soft tissue injuries will heal on their own, with little treatment required, this is not true of conditions like whiplash. These injuries often require medical attention, and if left untreated, soft tissue injuries can lead to long-term complications such as nerve damage or even a type of ossification where the soft tissue develops bone inside.

Can You Sue?

If you have sustained soft tissue injuries in a Florida auto accident, and you suspect that the other driver or another party was negligent in causing those injuries, it is understandable to want to seek damages for what you have been through. However, you may not be able to file a lawsuit against the negligent party if your injuries do not rise to a certain level – namely, if they are not “significant and permanent.”

The reason why is because Florida has a no-fault auto insurance system, which means that unless injuries sustained in an auto accident rise to a particularly serious level, injured drivers are intended to file claims with their personal injury protection (PIP) insurer for expenses like medical bills and lost wages. This system is intended to ease pressure on the courts’ overcrowded dockets, but it can be difficult to actually have an insurer approve your claims for soft tissue injuries simply because they are difficult to diagnose.

Contact A Maitland Soft Tissue Injury Attorney

Soft tissue injuries can go from a minor inconvenience to ruining a person’s life in extreme cases. If you have sustained this type of injury and worry about the possibility of seeking damages, a Maitland soft tissue injury attorney from the Hornsby Law Group may be able to help. Call our office today to schedule a consultation.

Source:

my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/soft-tissue-injury