How Much Can You Get for a Soft Tissue Injury from a Mississippi Car Crash

How Much Can You Get for a Soft Tissue Injury from a Mississippi Car Crash?

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Feeling overwhelmed and uncertain after a Mississippi car accident is completely normal. One moment, you are driving down the road, and the next, you are dealing with the jarring impact of a collision. In the aftermath, you’re faced with injuries, vehicle damage, and the confusing process of insurance claims. Many people suffer what are known as “soft tissue injuries” in these incidents. While they may not sound as severe as broken bones, they can cause significant pain, limit your ability to work, and lead to substantial medical bills.

What Exactly Is a Soft Tissue Injury?

Before we can discuss compensation, it’s important to clarify what a soft tissue injury is. These injuries affect the body’s connective tissues, such as muscles, ligaments, and tendons. Unlike fractures, which are visible on an X-ray, soft tissue damage can be harder to diagnose and prove.

Common types of soft tissue injuries from auto accidents include:

  • Whiplash: This is a neck injury caused by the forceful, rapid back-and-forth movement of the neck, like the cracking of a whip. It frequently occurs in rear-end collisions and can damage the muscles and ligaments in the neck and upper back.
  • Sprains: A sprain is the stretching or tearing of ligaments, which are the tough bands of tissue that connect two bones together in your joints. Wrists, ankles, and knees are common sites for sprains in a car wreck.
  • Strains: A strain involves an injury to a muscle or a tendon, which is the tissue that connects muscle to bone. Back and shoulder strains are particularly common as the body braces for impact.
  • Contusions: More commonly known as bruises, contusions are caused by direct impact to a muscle, leading to bleeding and swelling beneath the skin.
  • Tendonitis: This is the inflammation or irritation of a tendon, often caused by the stress of an accident.
  • Bursitis: This condition involves the inflammation of bursae, which are small, fluid-filled sacs that cushion the bones, tendons, and muscles near your joints.

Because these injuries often involve symptoms like pain, swelling, and limited mobility that are not externally visible, they are sometimes unfairly dismissed by insurance adjusters.

Key Factors That Influence Your Settlement Amount

There is no “average” settlement for a soft tissue injury in Mississippi because every case is different. The final compensation amount is calculated based on several key variables that paint a complete picture of how the injury has affected your life.

Severity and Duration of the Injury

The most significant factor is the seriousness of your injury. A minor muscle strain that heals in two weeks with rest and ice will result in a much lower settlement than a severe whiplash injury that requires months of physical therapy, injections, and causes chronic pain. The longer your recovery period and the more intensive the medical treatment required, the higher the potential value of your claim.

Total Medical Expenses

Your settlement should, at a minimum, cover all of your medical costs. This includes everything related to your injury, such as:

  • Emergency room visits and ambulance fees
  • Hospital stays
  • Appointments with your primary care doctor and specialists (like orthopedic doctors or neurologists)
  • Physical therapy and rehabilitation
  • Chiropractic care
  • Prescription medications
  • Medical devices (such as braces or crutches)
  • Diagnostic imaging like MRIs or CT scans, which are often necessary to diagnose soft tissue injuries.

It is vital to keep meticulous records of every bill and receipt. These documents are the foundation of your claim for economic damages.

Impact on Your Employment and Income

If your injury prevents you from working, you are entitled to compensation for the income you have lost. This is not just about the time you miss immediately after the accident. If your injury results in a long-term or permanent disability that reduces your earning capacity in the future, that must also be factored into your settlement. Proving lost earning capacity often requires detailed documentation from your employer and sometimes the opinion of a vocational professional.

Pain and Suffering

This is perhaps the most subjective, yet one of the most important, components of a soft tissue injury claim. “Pain and suffering” is a legal term for the physical pain and emotional distress you have endured because of the accident. This can include:

  • The physical pain from the injury itself.
  • Emotional anguish and mental distress.
  • Loss of enjoyment of life (e.g., being unable to play with your children, participate in hobbies, or exercise).
  • Sleeplessness, anxiety, or depression.

Because there is no bill or receipt for pain, proving its extent requires thorough documentation through medical records, personal journals detailing your daily struggles, and testimony from friends and family about how the injury has changed you.

Let’s Talk About Your Case—Call Gardner Law Group

When you are ready to pursue full and fair compensation for your soft tissue injuries, the team at Gardner Law Group is here to support you. We have the knowledge and dedication to navigate the complexities of your claim, allowing you to focus on your recovery. Give us a call at 228-762-6555 or get in touch online to set up a consultation. Let us help you understand your rights and fight for the compensation you deserve.