What Happens If You Suffer Soft Tissue Injury in an Accident?
Your car actually overturned from the force of the accident. Miraculously, you did not break any bones. However, it did feel like ages that you were suspended by your seatbelt. There isn’t a part of your body that doesn’t hurt – even though the accident was a month ago. Meanwhile, the doctors inform you that you have only suffered soft tissue injuries. What does that mean exactly?
First, it’s helpful to understand what doesn’t count as a soft tissue injury. Start by excluding traumatic brain injuries and bone fractures. For the most part, soft tissue injuries generally reflect ligament injuries, as well as the harm done to tendons and muscles.
Take it a step further, and you can figure out that a pulled muscle or an ankle sprain are considered soft tissue injuries. Bulging or herniated discs also fall into this same category. There is no question that a soft tissue injury can be quite painful. Yet, some insurance companies take a more conservative stance in negotiating personal injury claims involving soft tissue injuries.
Soft Tissue Injuries and NJ Auto Accidents
Your automobile accident claim may be controlled by your selection of coverage for your own personal insurance coverage. Did you choose the Lawsuit Threshold or Limitation on Lawsuit option? According to the State of New Jersey’s insurance regulations, this could easily affect your right to sue.
Without question, it is critical to seek experienced legal counsel when it appears that a soft tissue injury may have lasting effects – and even cause a permanent disability. Regardless of your choice of insurance coverage, your attorney can help decide if you are entitled to compensations.
Non-Auto Claims and Soft Tissue Injuries
In the meantime, you should know that the rules aren’t as strict when it comes to filing a claim for an accident that occurs on the job. Workers’ compensation claims are often made for injuries of the following nature:
- Herniated discs
- Neck and back sprains
- Neck and back strains
- Ankle Sprains
- Muscle strains
- Tendonitis
- Bursitis
In some cases, injuries may occur as a result of one time accidents. For example, someone could slip and fall at work and suffer an ankle sprain. Additionally, the injuries may happen because of repetitive motion. An experienced workers’ compensation attorney can help you in determining the best way to file a claim on your behalf.
Other types of accident claims can also result in soft tissue injuries. These include problems with malfunctioning products as well as property liability claims. Your attorney will work with you to determine the feasibility of bringing a lawsuit for any of these types of accidents.
Contact Us
Did you suffer a soft tissue injury as a result of an accident? The Law Offices of Beninato & Matrafaljo would like to meet with you. Give us a call to set up an appointment.
Dan T. Matrafajlo, Esq. is the Managing Member and Lead Partner at Beninato & Matrafajlo, Attorneys at Law, LLC, a New Jersey-based personal injury law firm with offices in Elizabeth and East Brunswick. With over two decades of experience representing clients in complex matters—including motor vehicle accidents, workers’ compensation, and wrongful death cases—he has recovered over $100 million on behalf of his clients and is known for securing significant results. He has also helped shape New Jersey personal injury law through notable Appellate Division decisions such as Hardison v. King and Frenklakh v. Lojek, with his litigation work featured in the New Jersey Law Journal, underscoring his authority in the field.
Mr. Matrafajlo was recognized as a Super Lawyers® Rising Stars honoree from 2012 to 2017 and is a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum—an honor reserved for attorneys who have achieved multi-million-dollar verdicts and settlements. Combining deep legal expertise with a client-focused approach, he provides strategic, results-driven representation while guiding clients through every stage of the legal process. He earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Miami School of Law and is admitted to practice in both New Jersey and New York.
