Soft tissue injuries are some of the most common injuries you can suffer in car accidents, falls, and workplace incidents. Although they might appear minor at first glance, wounds that impact your soft tissues can lead to significant pain, stiffness, and even a loss of your normal range of motion. Learn more about these types of injuries and what your legal options may be.
Understanding Soft Tissue Injuries
Soft tissue injuries involve your tendons, ligaments, and muscles. These are tissues that support your skeleton and allow you the flexibility you need to move.
There are a few types of soft tissue injuries you can suffer.
Sprains
Sprains are tears in your ligaments. These hold your joints together, so any tear can result in joint instability. A slip and fall accident can cause you to land on your hands, for example, forcing the joints out of their range of motion and resulting in torn wrist ligaments.
Strains
Strains are another type of soft tissue injury, involving the overstretching or tearing of a muscle. Repetitive or sudden movements performed with a significant amount of force can cause these injuries. It’s also possible to strain a tendon, which attaches muscles to bones.
Contusions
Contusions are bruises that occur when blood vessels rupture. These injuries can involve your muscles. They may not be visible like other types of bruises, but they can still cause pain and stiffness. Sometimes, muscle contusions don’t heal correctly, resulting in long-term pain.
Bursitis
One of the most common soft tissue injuries that occur due to repetitive movements is bursitis. Throughout your body, you have bursae, which cushion the space between your bones and other tissues. Bursitis occurs when these bursae swell as a result of experiencing too much friction. It’s most common in your elbows and knees.
Tendonitis
If you experience swelling in a tendon, you likely have tendonitis. Repetitive movement can cause this by creating microscopic tears in the tendon fibers. If you don’t rest the tendon, then you can develop tendinopathy.
Your Legal Rights After a Soft Tissue Injury
If your soft tissue injury was caused by another person’s negligence, you may be eligible to file a personal injury claim. To succeed, you must prove that the other party owed you a duty of care, breached that duty, and caused your injuries as a result.
Soft tissue injuries frequently occur in car accidents, especially in cases of whiplash. Because Alabama is a fault state, you must show that another driver was responsible to recover compensation. However, Alabama follows a contributory negligence rule, meaning you can’t recover any damages if you are even 1% at fault for the accident.
If your injury happened at work, you may need to file a workers’ compensation claim instead of a lawsuit. This system covers medical bills and lost wages but does not include pain and suffering unless a third party—such as a contractor or equipment manufacturer—was responsible.
Damages You Can Recover in a Soft Tissue Injury Claim
If your case qualifies for a personal injury lawsuit, you may be entitled to two main categories of compensation: economic and non-economic damages.
Economic damages include:
- Current and future medical expenses
- Lost wages and reduced earning potential
- Out-of-pocket costs related to your recovery
Non-economic damages can compensate you for:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
The amount you can recover depends on the severity of your injury, how it impacts your ability to work, and whether your condition leads to long-term limitations. Documenting your recovery and working with a skilled personal injury lawyer can help ensure you receive fair compensation.
How a Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help After a Soft Tissue Injury
Soft tissue injuries may seem minor at first, but they can lead to lasting pain, costly treatment, and time away from work. A personal injury lawyer can help you protect your rights and pursue fair compensation for your losses.
An experienced attorney can:
- Investigate your accident and identify all liable parties
- Gather medical records, witness statements, and expert opinions
- Calculate the full value of your damages, including future care
- Negotiate with insurance companies to prevent low settlement offers
- File a lawsuit and represent you in court if needed
Having a lawyer on your side ensures that no detail is overlooked and that you’re not pressured into settling for less than you deserve. With legal guidance, you can focus on recovery while your attorney fights for the best possible outcome.
Contact the Birmingham Personal Injury Lawyers at Belt, Bruner & Barnett Personal Injury Lawyers for Help Today
After suffering a soft tissue injury because of another party’s negligence, you may be entitled to begin a personal injury claim. You should not go through this process alone.
At Belt, Bruner & Barnett Personal Injury Lawyers, our Birmingham personal injury attorneys can help you fight for your rights. Contact us at 205-933-1500 to schedule a free consultation.