Although they are not talked about as much as other serious injuries, soft-tissue injuries often leave victims with lasting pain and other symptoms. If you suffer a soft-tissue injury that causes long-term effects, you may be eligible for significant compensation for damages.

Goldberg Finnegan’s Silver Spring personal injury lawyers explain the long-term effects of soft-tissue injuries and the factors involved in calculating the value of damages for these injuries. If you have suffered a soft-tissue injury, contact our firm and request a free case review today to learn if you may be eligible to seek compensation.

Long-Term Effects

The time it takes to heal from a soft-tissue injury depends on the severity of the injury and other factors, like your age and health. Recovery could take months, or you may have pain and other symptoms for a year or more, particularly if you have permanent damage.

The long-term effects of catastrophic soft-tissue injuries may include:

  • Chronic pain
  • Chronic numbness
  • Mobility limitations
  • Loss of function
  • Limited muscle strength
  • Scarring
  • Disfigurement

These long-term effects may require you to change the way you go about your daily activities, including things you usually handle around the house. Your injury may also hurt your ability to do your old job or another type of job.

Calculating Damages

It is often difficult to calculate damages for soft-tissue injuries because they can be difficult to prove. These injuries do not show up on X-rays like broken bones do.

To determine a fair value of the damages you have suffered, your economic losses must be added up, such as:

  • Medical bills
  • Lost wages
  • Lost earning capacity
  • Property damage

Next comes the more difficult part – non-economic damages. This compensation is for the pain and suffering you have experienced due to your injury, as well as the other negative effects.

Sometimes, a multiplier is used to determine the value of non-economic damages – your economic damages are multiplied by a factor that typically ranges from 1.5 to 4 or 5, depending on the severity of your injury.

If your case goes to trial, the jury will consider many factors when trying to determine the value of non-economic damages:

  • Your believability and likeability
  • Your supporting witnesses’ credibility
  • Your criminal and/or substance abuse history
  • How well the jury understands your injuries
  • If you have pre-existing conditions
  • The extent of your medical treatment

Common Types of Soft-Tissue Injuries

Soft-tissue injuries frequently result from car accidents when the body is forcefully jolted around on impact. These injuries can impact various parts of the body and range in severity. Common types of soft-tissue injuries that result from car accidents include:

  • Whiplash
  • Contusions
  • Strains
  • Sprains
  • Bursitis
  • Tendonitis
  • Herniated discs

Contact Our Attorneys for Help with Your Claim

If you sustained a soft-tissue injury in an accident caused by another party’s negligence, you may be eligible for compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

Request a free, no-obligation consultation today to learn if you may have a case. We charge no upfront fees and payment is only required if we recover compensation on your behalf.