When people think of car accident injuries, broken bones or visible wounds often come to mind. But many crash victims experience something less obvious yet just as disruptive: a soft tissue injury from a car accident, usually from whiplash. These injuries, usually affecting muscles, ligaments, and tendons, can be painful, long-lasting, and costly to treat.
If you’re dealing with a soft tissue injury after a car accident, it’s important to understand how these injuries are diagnosed, how they can affect your life, and what to expect if you pursue compensation in Virginia.
What Are Soft Tissue Injuries?
“Soft tissue” refers to the body’s connective structures: muscles, tendons, and ligaments. In a car crash, these tissues can stretch, tear, or bruise due to sudden force. Unlike broken bones, they may not appear on X-rays, making them harder to identify right away. Common types include:
- Sprains,
- Strains,
- Contusions, and
- Tendon or ligament tears.
Soft tissue injuries often arise from whiplash in a rear-end collision, where the neck muscles are overstretched. Another might be a shoulder strain from bracing against the steering wheel during impact.
Symptoms to Watch For
Signs of soft tissue damage in a car accident may not appear immediately. Adrenaline often masks pain, and symptoms can develop over hours or days. You may notice:
- Stiffness or limited range of motion,
- Swelling or bruising,
- Persistent pain or tenderness,
- Headaches, or
- Muscle spasms.
Even if you feel “fine” at the scene, seek medical care as soon as possible. A doctor can document your injuries and recommend treatment, which is vital for both your recovery and your claim.
Treatment and Recovery Costs
Treatment for a soft tissue injury from a car accident can include:
- Physical therapy,
- Chiropractic care,
- Pain management,
- Home exercises, and
- Surgery.
While recovery time varies, some people heal within weeks, while others deal with ongoing pain for months. These expenses add up, especially when combined with lost wages from time away from work.
Why Soft Tissue Injuries Are Often Disputed
Insurance companies frequently challenge claims involving a car accident soft tissue injury because they can’t always be confirmed by imaging scans. Adjusters may argue that the pain is exaggerated, pre-existing, or unrelated to the crash. This makes documentation important, especially medical records, treatment notes, and even a personal symptom journal. These can all help prove the injury’s impact on your life.
How Compensation Works in Virginia
Virginia follows a “fault-based” system. That means if another driver caused the crash, their insurance is generally responsible for covering your damages. However, Virginia also has one of the strictest negligence rules in the country: pure contributory negligence. If you’re found even 1% at fault, you may not recover compensation.
That’s why proving liability and linking your soft tissue injury after a car accident to the crash is critical. Medical records, expert testimony, and evidence from the scene all play a role.
Factors That Affect Settlement Value
There’s no single “average” payout for a soft tissue injury from a car accident because every case has unique circumstances. Instead, several key factors combine to determine the potential value of a claim.
Severity and Duration of Injury
A mild sprain that heals in a few weeks with rest and over-the-counter medication is treated very differently from chronic back pain that lingers for years. The longer symptoms last, the more weight they carry in settlement negotiations. In cases where pain limits movement or prevents a return to normal activities, the injury is considered more serious and therefore more costly to resolve.
Medical Treatment Required
Settlement values often track the intensity of treatment. A person who completes a short course of physical therapy may recover smaller damages than someone requiring chiropractic care, epidural injections, or even surgical repair. Juries and insurance companies also consider future medical needs. If ongoing therapy, follow-up imaging, or pain management will be necessary, those costs are factored into compensation.
Impact on Work and Daily Life
If your injury prevents you from working temporarily, you may be entitled to lost wages. If it permanently affects your ability to earn a living, your claim may include reduced earning capacity. Even outside of work, soft tissue injuries can interfere with driving, exercising, sleeping, and caring for family members. The broader the disruption to your daily routine, the greater the potential settlement.
Insurance Coverage
Finally, practical limits matter. The at-fault driver’s insurance policy may cap recovery, and your own uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage can play a role if their limits are too low. Understanding the available insurance is a major part of evaluating any claim.
Examples of How Different Soft Tissue Injuries May Affect a Car Accident Claim
To see how these factors come together, consider two very different scenarios involving soft tissue damage in a car accident.
In the first scenario, a driver is rear-ended at low speed and suffers a neck sprain. They see a doctor, attend six weeks of physical therapy, and take prescription pain medication. They miss two weeks of work, but they are eventually able to return to their normal job without long-term restrictions. In this case, a claim might focus on reimbursement for medical expenses, therapy bills, and lost wages. Pain and suffering damages would likely be limited because the injury resolved relatively quickly.
In the second scenario, another driver is struck at highway speed and suffers multiple torn ligaments in the shoulder. Surgery is required, followed by months of rehabilitation. Even after treatment, they have permanent lifting restrictions that prevent them from returning to their career in construction. Here, the claim would cover not only medical costs and lost wages during recovery, but also future medical needs, reduced earning capacity, and significant pain and suffering. The long-term impact on their livelihood makes this case far more valuable than the first.
Injured in a Car Accident? Let’s Talk About Your Next Steps
If you’re struggling with a soft tissue injury from a car accident, finding answers can be stressful. At Merrick Brock, PLLC, we help clients across Virginia pursue compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and the lasting impact these injuries can have on daily life. Call us today for a free consultation. Your recovery starts with getting the right answers.