Soft tissue injuries are expected consequences of car accidents in Atlanta. When your body’s soft tissues are damaged, it can cause much pain that doesn’t always show up on x-rays or MRIs. Insurance companies often doubt or discount these types of injuries, but they can cause serious, long-term complications for any victim.
If you are making a claim for soft tissue damage after an accident you didn’t cause in Atlanta, it’s essential to compile the proper evidence and build a strong case. You deserve compensation for all the damages caused by someone else’s negligence.
Understanding Soft Tissue Damage After an Accident
Soft tissue damage can refer to whiplash, sprains, strains, deep bruises, and anything else that affects your body’s tissues. Your soft tissues surround, connect and support the organs and other structures throughout your body. They include your muscles, tendons, nerves, ligaments, fat, fascia, blood vessels, and more.
You can have soft tissue damage just about anywhere, including in common areas like your neck, back, shoulders, elbows, wrists, ankles, knees, hips, and thighs. For example, a prevalent soft tissue injury in car accidents is whiplash. The force of a crash can propel your neck and back forward, stretching, straining, or tearing the soft tissue. Whiplash can take a while to develop fully, but it can cause much pain that needs time to heal.
Why Soft Tissue Damage Is Hard to Prove After an Accident in Atlanta
Many injuries you receive during a car accident can be diagnosed through tests like x-rays, MRIs, or CT scans. However, whiplash and other soft tissue damage do not usually show up on these tests.
In addition, soft tissue injuries can take time to develop. You may not feel the full pain from them until hours or sometimes days after your accident. Since they are harder to recognize and diagnose, they can present challenges when filing an insurance claim for compensation.
Insurance companies may try to say you are exaggerating or even faking your soft tissue injuries. They might use it as a bargaining chip to deny your claim or make you feel like a lowball settlement is all you deserve. Don’t let this discourage you. Soft tissue injuries are genuine and can, in fact, significantly affect your life by requiring medical attention and time to heal.
What to Know About Making an Injury Claim for Soft Tissue Damage
You will need strong proof and a solid insurance claim to seek full compensation for all your damages, including soft tissue damage. A personal injury claim allows you to seek financial recovery for costs like:
- Medical bills including surgeries, tests, or physical therapy
- Emergency room visits, doctor visits, or specialist visits
- Prescription medications
- Lost wages
- Vehicle damage
- Pain and suffering
This list is only a short one that goes over some of the most common damages for which you can receive financial compensation. Even if your damages aren’t listed above, don’t worry. As long as you can show that your damages directly resulted from your soft tissue injury, we will factor them into your settlement.
Liability for Your Damages
In Atlanta, the person or party whose negligence, a legal term for carelessness, leads to injuries is liable for all damages. Damages, which are losses like medical expenses and lost wages, are given as compensation for the injury as per the Official Code of Georgia (OCGA) §51-12-4.
In most cases, the at-fault party’s insurance company pays for these damages. For example, if you get injured in a car accident in Atlanta caused by another driver, you would file a car accident claim to seek damages with that driver’s auto insurance company.
For a free legal consultation, call 404-400-4000
How to Build Up Your Injury Claim
Some of the best things you can do when building an injury claim for soft tissue damage include:
- Compiling evidence of the accident and your injuries
- Being careful what you say to the insurance company
- Not taking a low settlement
- Calling a car accident lawyer in Atlanta
The insurance company will need to see evidence of your injuries, even if they affect your soft tissues. So, make sure you see a doctor as soon as possible. Tell them about any pain you feel, even if it is minor. Then, if you start to feel more pain later, go back to the doctor right away for an update.
Also, take pictures of any visible injuries or vehicle damage. Keep track of all bills and other expenses you face from the accident. Document everything, and be as detailed as possible. Lastly, make sure you have an experienced car accident lawyer on your side. You cannot trust the insurance company, even if they make you feel like you can.
Do not give any recorded statements, accept any settlement, admit any blame, or sign anything until you have a lawyer. Your lawyer can talk to the insurer on your behalf and help negotiate a fair settlement.
Why You Should Hire an Atlanta Personal Injury Attorney to Help You
Hiring a lawyer for your injury claim is critical to recovering a fair settlement from the insurance company. Remember, insurance companies aren’t on your side. In addition to claiming your soft tissue damages are exaggerated, insurance companies will do everything in their power to block your claim or get you to settle for way less than what you deserve.
Our personal injury lawyers won’t stand for that. We can help you with your claim by helping you:
- Gather critical evidence and information that will support your claim.
- Receive the proper legal support and representation to mount a defense against the insurance company’s tactics.
- Seek medical treatment for your injuries.
- Consult with experts in various fields that can help prove your claim.
- Review all offers made and ensure that it accurately reflects the damages you sustained.
Remember, there’s no need to fight for your claim alone. We never charge any money upfront for our services. If we can’t win compensation for your claim, you pay us nothing. Our goal, first and foremost, is to work as hard as we can to get you the settlement you deserve. You can trust our lawyers to fight hard on your behalf.
The Statute of Limitations for Soft Tissue Injury Claims in Atlanta
OCGA §9-3-33 only gives you two years to file your claim in Atlanta. Also, keep in mind that the two-year deadline is just a general timeframe. For example, if you sustained your soft tissue injury on the job, the amount of time you have will be much shorter. Overall, there are many circumstances you should be aware of that can affect how much time you have to file.
If you’re unsure about the unique context of your soft tissue injury, it’s best to get in touch with one of our lawyers as soon as possible. Waiting too long to file your claim only puts you at a disadvantage against the insurance company. Act now before it’s too late.
Get Help with Your Claim for Soft Tissue Damage in Atlanta
Soft tissue damage after an accident can make the insurance claim process more difficult. However, it does not make you any less entitled to compensation for your damages. Don’t miss out on your chance for financial recovery.
At John Foy & Associates, we are here to help you. We have been helping injury victims build successful claims and get what they deserve for over 20 years. For a free consultation with a car accident lawyer in Atlanta, call now or contact us online to schedule an appointment.
Call or text 404-400-4000 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
