Compare Soft Tissue Injury Claims
Injuries that involve soft tissue damage – including whiplash, bruising, swelling and ligament, cartilage, tendon, muscle and nerve damage – can be incredibly painful and can result in long-term physical and mental health problems. If you have suffered a soft tissue injury as a result of an accident that wasn’t your fault, you may be entitled to claim compensation. To find the best company to deal with your soft tissue injury, compare personal injury solicitors with us today. We make the process of winning the compensation you deserve quick and hassle free.
What causes soft tissue damage?
Soft tissue injuries occur when muscles, ligaments, cartilage, tendons or nerves are strained, overused or damaged. This type of injury can happen anywhere, from the workplace and the sports field to a public space.
Examples of common workplace soft tissue injuries include muscle sprains, strains and tears caused by lifting, pushing or pulling heavy objects without applying the proper manual handling techniques, and repetitive strain or nerve injuries exacerbated by performing repetitive movements for extended periods of time. These can happen in a range of workplaces, including factories, warehouses and offices. They can even happen at home. Faulty equipment and machinery in the workplace can also cause serious soft tissue damage, including skin lacerations and bruising, burns and even nerve injuries.
Similarly, soft tissue injuries are also common after traffic accidents. Whiplash injuries – typically soft tissue damage to the neck and shoulders – are caused when your head is suddenly jerked forwards, backwards or sideways. These injuries represent one of the most common compensation claim injuries as they can be very painful and cause long-term health problems. Cuts, bruises, nerve damage and injuries to muscles and joints are also common soft tissue traffic injuries.
Unsurprisingly, sports related soft tissue injuries are very common, especially when taking part in contact sports like football and rugby. However, when it comes to claiming compensation, it is the players that are injured as a result of negligent action or an oversight on the part of another participant, a coach or a team medic that are significant. Injury is an almost unavoidable part of sport, but if a sporting injury was the result of negligence, compensation may well be due.
Finally, soft tissue damage can also be caused in everyday public spaces. Common injuries of this type include muscle or joint damage caused by tripping or slipping over uneven flooring, an out of place obstacle or wet surfaces.
It’s important to remember that in all the examples above, grounds for pursuing a soft tissue injury claim rely on the accident being caused by somebody else’s oversight or negligence.
What are the symptoms of soft tissue damage?
Although the specific symptoms of a soft tissue injury will obviously depend on the nature and severity of the accident, there are a few telltale signs you should look out for if you feel any aches or pains after an incident. Generally, when soft tissue is damaged anywhere on your body there will be an immediate pain at the moment of trauma, typically followed by delayed swelling, bruising and stiffness. These secondary symptoms usually develop 24-48 hours after the injury occured.
Whether you have experienced a similar soft tissue injury in the past or not, it is recommended to seek medical treatment immediately, either from your GP or by visiting a hospital. While you may think you know the extent of your injury, a trained medical professional may spot something more sinister that you’ve missed that requires specialist treatment.
Although painkillers, rest and elevation are most likely to be prescribed, if your symptoms don’t improve after a few weeks, your doctor may re-examine you, run different tests and may even refer you to a pain specialist or physiotherapist.
How do I make a soft tissue injury claim?
The key to making a successful soft tissue injury claim is being able to provide the necessary evidence that proves that the cause of the injury was not your fault and that the injuries sustained have had/are having a lasting impact on your life. To do this, it is important that if you feel any pain and suspect soft tissue damage following an accident you follow the correct procedures. This might include some or all of the following:
- Making sure the accident is recorded in a workplace/public premises incident book, or reporting the incident at the nearest police station if you were in a public space
- Gathering the contact details of anyone who may have witnessed the accident
- Taking photographs of the scene of the accident, focusing on any clear and obvious causes
- Keeping a record of all visits to the doctors/hospital, as well as any official diagnostic test results and treatment details.
If you have done as much as you can to document your accident and still believe your soft tissue injury was the fault of someone else, getting in touch with a personal injury solicitor is your next step. An experienced and specialist solicitor will be able to tell you if you have a claim and start to build a winning case using the evidence you are able to provide. Here at Compare Compensation Claims, we can help find the best soft tissue injury claims company to take your case forward.
How much can I claim after a soft tissue injury?
When it comes to how much you can actually claim following a soft tissue injury that wasn’t your fault, there are no set compensation amounts. Instead, your personal injury lawyer will assess all the different variables and your own unique set of circumstances and base your claim on that. These variables will include:
- The extent of your injury and how much physical pain you are in
- Any loss of earnings you may have incurred
- Any major lifestyle changes caused by the injury, i.e. your inability to complete routine tasks or take part in sports, hobbies or other regular leisure activities
- Any ongoing treatment you may require to manage your injury.
While we cannot provide you with the specific amount you will be able to claim for after soft tissue damage, our handy Personal Injury Claims Calculator may be able to give you a rough idea of the size of claim you could be looking at. Simply select the type of soft tissue injury you have suffered and, using data from the Judicial College Guidelines (Fourteenth Edition), our calculator will provide you with an estimate of the sum you might be able to receive as a result of your injuries.
How we can help
If you have suffered a soft tissue injury that wasn’t your fault, we can help. Here at Compare Compensation Claims, we can find the best soft tissue damage solicitors to take your case forward and the best-suited personal injury lawyer to run your case. Using our comparison tools, you can find an expert solicitor who can help you to get the maximum compensation you’re entitled to, help you recover from your injury, and allow you to move on with your life.