Whiplash and Soft Tissue Damage Compensation From Accidents in Richmond

Do you need fair compensation for whiplash and soft tissue damage from accidents in Richmond? Reach out to a Richmond car accident attorney at Virginia Injury Law today.

Most people ignore whiplash and other soft tissue injuries. When you get involved in auto accidents, you might feel some neck pain which might be mild. It will be lucky to realize the pain immediately because such pains might take longer to develop. Similarly, since the pain is mild, many people will ignore it. On the other side, tissue damage is hard to discover unless you seek medical attention.

Don’t ignore these minor injuries, especially after motor vehicle accidents. You shouldn’t also opt for over-the-counter drugs. Instead, go to a doctor for a check-up and treatment.

It wouldn’t be a great deal if you sustained these common injuries yourself. However, if the injuries are a cause of an accident, you are entitled to compensation by the other party. Do you have what it takes to claim your compensation? Let Virginia Injury Law do all the legal procedures and documentation for you so you can get the compensation you deserve. Visit our website and contact us for a free consultation today.

Should I Visit a Doctor After Getting Involved in an Accident?

After getting involved in an accident, the first thing to do is seek medical attention. Don’t assume you’re OK even if you feel mild pain. Physical therapy will do. Whiplash and soft tissue injuries may be difficult to notice. They may also take time to develop, resulting in further damage.

Seeing a doctor will help you identify if the injuries you sustained can be treated to avoid further problems.

What Next After Visiting the Doctor?

You may need to sue the other party that caused the accident when you’re treated. This practice is essential, especially if the hospital bill is huge or if the injuries you sustained impaired you, such that you can’t lead your life the way you used to. A successful lawsuit will cause you to receive a fair settlement.

Note that this practice involves countless legal paperwork that might be challenging to handle by yourself.

Also, your claim for the compensation may be unsuccessful, or you might be given unfair compensation. A personal injury attorney will help. Ensure your accident claim has a strong base for the fair compensation you need by hiring our personal injury lawyers in Richmond, Virginia.

Whiplash and Soft Tissue Damage Causes

Whiplash, an injury sustained in the neck, is caused by rapid unnatural movements of the neck. These movements can result from a car accident, especially rear-end collisions or head-on collisions. You can also develop whiplash from sporting activities and accidental falls or physical activities like abuse.

On the other hand, soft tissue damage develops when non-skeletal components of the body get bruises or strain, causing them to be inflamed. The inflammation causes the soft tissues to become painful. This damage is associated with tendons, nerve damage, ligaments, and muscles.

Blunt force, forceful twist, overuse, and fall may also cause soft tissue damage.

Symptoms of Soft Tissue Damage and Whiplash

Soft Tissue Damage

Symptoms of soft tissue damage include:

  • Muscle cramps
  • Joint pain
  • Swelling
  • Fatigue and muscle weakness
  • Pain when moving

Whiplash

Whiplash symptoms are listed below.

  • Neck pain
  • stiff neck
  • Painful neck when twisting
  • limited neck movement
  • Headache
  • Painful shoulders

How Severe Can Whiplash and Soft Tissue Damage Get?

When left untreated, the whiplash and soft tissue damage can develop into severe cases and, in some cases, cause permanent damage. For instance, whiplash injuries can cause chronic neck pain when left untreated. This physical pain might significantly affect your quality of life and loss of enjoyment of life.

Similarly, soft tissue damage may also cause lasting effects. In severe cases, when untreated, soft tissue damage may cause you to develop chronic nerve pain, blood vessel impairment, limited movement, numbness, blurred vision, and stiffness.

Don’t forget that some patients with untreated soft tissue injury end up with amputations.

Can You Get Compensation for Whiplash and Soft Tissue Injuries?

Yes, you can get compensation for whiplash and soft muscle damage. However, you need to have a solid claim. Negligence by an at-fault individual or party in Virginia which ends up causing soft muscle damage or whiplash puts you in a position to claim for compensation.

And, why do you need compensation? 

Whiplash and soft tissue damage treatment are expensive. You’ll also need ongoing medication, which adds to the total medical expenses for the medical treatment you’ll incur. Besides, severe damages may force you out of work or reduce your efficiency in working. Don’t forget the discomfort that comes with chronic pain.

How Can an Accident Attorney Help You?

We’re dedicated to bringing the at-fault parties in Virginia to book and ensuring you get the financial and non-financial compensation you deserve. We shall take responsibility for all the legal paperwork and represent you in court in your lawsuit proceedings. We aim to ensure you get the deserved compensation.

We shall help you identify the defendant, as this practice is the first step in a legal lawsuit in Virginia.

We shall also provide proof of the injury you sustained. These injuries (soft tissue injuries) may be challenging to identify; therefore, you need evidence from the doctor. You may also need scans and a treatment scheme to present to your insurance company.

We shall then file the case and help prove that the defendant was responsible for your injury with this evidence.

You may represent yourself in court for the lawsuit; however, your chances of getting fair compensation will be low. Besides, if you succeed in the personal injury claim, you might get unfair compensation – that’s why it’s crucial to hire an experienced attorney.

Who Qualifies to Be a Defendant in Whiplash and Soft Tissue Damage Lawsuit?

Upon providing proof of negligence leading to the injury, the following list shows the personnel that can be regarded as defendants in this lawsuit.

  • At-fault driver
  • An employer (If the accident took place at the workplace)
  • A property owner (If a component of their property caused the accident)
  • School when the accident occurred in school.
  • The coaching staff when the accident occurred in a training session
  • A manufacturer if his defective products result in injury
  • Negligent health care provider.

What Factors Affect Your Compensation Award?

The following is a list of the factors that affect the amount you’ll receive as compensation for whiplash and soft tissue damage.

Nature of Injury

The amount you receive in compensation for injuries increases with the increase in the severity of the injury. For instance, an accident victim with whiplash will receive less compensation than an injury victim who sustained soft tissue injury ligament tears. The fact is that chances of whiplash and other less severe injuries causing permanent injury are low. Also, their treatment cost is lower than severe accident injuries like ligament tears.

If you got a severe injury that a medical care practitioner can detect, you’d get higher compensation. This examination should be accompanied by document proof.

You’ll also get higher compensation if your condition needs surgery. The same applies if the injury results in a permanent condition that impairs your ability.

The At-Fault Party’s Liability Degree

You’ll get 100% compensation if the defendant is fully responsible for the injury. However, if proven that you played a part in causing your injury, the amount awarded in compensation will be reduced to a lower amount.

This consideration is a crucial factor when determining your compensation, and here is where you need accident lawyers from a reputable law firm the most.

Other Factors include:

  • Contributory negligence
  • Assumption of risk
  • Joint tortfeasors
  • Last clear chance
  • Medical costs (e.g., surgery, muscle relaxant purchase)

How Much Should I Be Compensated for Whiplash?

The amount you can receive as compensation for whiplash varies depending on the severity of the damage. However, you’ll receive an average of $5,000 to $50,000. You won’t get more than $20,000 for a soft tissue neck injury. However, you’re likely to get up to $200,000 for traumatic brain injuries and neck disc injuries that may need surgery.

How Much Can I Get From Insurance for Soft Tissue Injury?

Insurance schemes compensate for soft tissue injuries depending on several factors. However, you can get between $10,000 and $20,000 as compensation on average.

What Is Whiplash Pain and Suffering Worth?

As mentioned earlier, there is no fixed compensation rate for whiplash and soft muscle injuries. Their compensation award varies depending on the nature of the injury and its impact. But, on average, you’ll get between $10,000 to $100,000 for less severe whiplash.

However, if you sustained severe whiplash and soft tissue injuries like spinal cord injury with long-lasting damages, you’re entitled to receive between $1 million and $5 million in compensation.

How Long Should My Whiplash Compensation Take?

On average, the whiplash compensation settlement should take six months. However, some factors may make the process take longer. Such factors include a medical forecast of the condition, recovery period, and insurance agreement.