A car accident can cause a wide range of soft tissue injuries, including those that lead to lifelong complications. By learning more about whether or not soft tissue injuries from car accidents are worth a lawsuit—and consulting with a Knoxville personal injury lawyer—you can better understand your legal options, rights, and next steps.

What types of soft tissue injuries are caused by car accidents?

Soft tissue injuries are injuries that impact your muscles, tendons, and ligaments. All three of these tissues support your skeleton, and when these soft tissues are injured, you may have a more difficult time moving your body.

A car accident can lead to many different types of soft tissue injuries, ranging from mild to severe. Some of the most notable soft tissue injuries include:

• Bruises that come from blunt force trauma.
• Injuries to your muscles and tendons.
• Injuries to the tissues that connect your bones.
• Caused by your head rapidly jerking back and forth.

Examples for each one of these soft tissue injuries include:

• If you hit your head on your steering wheel after being rear-ended, this could lead to a nasty contusion.
• If a car crashes into your car from the side, you could strain your muscles or tendons due to the impact of this crash.
• If a car rams into yours, you might suffer a sprain due to the force of the other car.
• If you are rear-ended by another vehicle, your head could be jerked back and forth rapidly, leading to whiplash.

How can soft tissue injuries affect your life?

Soft tissue injuries can affect your life in many different ways, including:

• Prolonged pain that lasts for days, weeks, months, or years.
• Inability to move without stiffness, soreness, or other forms of pain.
• Living with frequent swelling, which could be very uncomfortable.
• Losing wages, if the pain from a soft tissue injury prevents you from working.
• Experiencing chronic pain that never goes away, making it very difficult for you to enjoy life.
• Sustaining blood vessel and nerve damage, among other serious conditions.
• Undergoing expensive medical treatment.
• Suffering from a soft tissue injury that turns into something more serious if it isn’t noticed or treated.
• Requiring long-term care, which could be very expensive and impact your day-to-day life.

Are soft tissue injuries sustained from a car accident worth a lawsuit?

The answer to this question is dependent on several key factors:

• Your percentage of fault for the car accident and the injury you sustained.
• The damages you sustained as a result of this car accident and soft tissue injury.
• The overall seriousness of the car accident, as well as the soft tissue injury it created.

For example, if you are hit by a drunk driver and sustain several sprains, which cause chronic pain and force you to leave your job and undergo long-term medical treatment, you may want to consider filing a lawsuit. Since the sprains were caused by a drunk driver, your percentage of fault for this accident is likely minimal.

It’s important to note that Tennessee bars recovery when a plaintiff is 50% or more at fault, meaning you can only recover if you are less than 50% responsible.

To figure out if pursuing a personal injury lawsuit is the right choice, you may want to speak with a soft tissue injury lawyer. They can discuss your case and determine if filing a personal injury lawsuit is worthwhile.

What should you do to obtain compensation for soft tissue injuries?

Generally, Tennessee imposes a one-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims. To pursue compensation for the soft tissue injuries you sustained due to a car accident, you may want to do the following:

• See a doctor right away to assess and treat any injuries.
• Undergo the treatment your doctor prescribes and make sure to complete this treatment in its entirety.
• Contact a soft tissue injury lawyer who can help you seek compensation.
• Gather evidence that supports your claims regarding the car accident and soft tissue injury.
• Outline the damages you sustained due to the soft tissue injury (e.g. medical bills).

These steps don’t ensure a particular settlement amount, but they can make your claim stronger and more organized, which may help you when pursuing compensation.

Speak with a Knoxville soft tissue injury lawyer today

If you sustained a soft tissue injury in a car accident due to someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation. Banks & Jones can help. Contact us today to speak with a Knoxville soft tissue injury lawyer. We are ready to help you pursue the compensation you need.