Soft Tissue Injuries In Florida Accidents

If you are involved in an automobile accident, the natural instinct is to look for broken bones, concussions and injuries that are readily apparent in minutes or hours after the crash. However, it is extremely common for soft tissue injuries (injuries to the tissue between bones or surrounding them) to only become evident days or even weeks afterward. To ensure that they are treated and your bills are covered, you need to understand the nature of these injuries and how to manage them.

Adrenaline Can Hide Injury

An automobile accident causes physiological changes and ‘excitement’ in your body, even if you might consider it minor. Because of this sudden shock to the system, your adrenaline begins to flow so that you can access your ‘fight or flight’ instinct should it become necessary. That adrenaline can also help to mask any injuries that you have suffered so you can focus on survival. When it wears off, however, it is very common to discover injuries that were not apparent beforehand, especially in the soft tissues.

Perhaps the most common soft-tissue accident injury is whiplash, which is usually an injury to the neck or upper back. Whiplash occurs when the head is ‘whipped’ back and forth at rapid speed, with no cushioning or any other kind of protection, which leaves the discs battered and sore. You may only experience soreness, but untreated whiplash can lead to headaches, back pain and spasms, dizziness, and other issues that affect the brain, which can be life-changing.

Filing Your Claim

Filing a claim with your personal injury protection (PIP) insurance carrier for a soft tissue injury can be difficult, because very often, soft tissue injuries do not show up on an X-ray, and some insurers will try to use that as proof that the injury does not exist. It is important that you stand your ground, and have a legal professional on your side who understands how to handle such disputes.

One other fact you need to be aware of is that even though whiplash and other soft tissue injuries may not appear or become a problem until some time after the accident, it is always crucial to seek medical treatment as soon as possible. Florida law states that if you do not seek medical treatment within 14 days of the accident, you lose the right to file a claim with your PIP insurer. While your soft tissue injury might not be discovered until later, you can at least preserve your right to file with your insurer instead of losing that right off the bat.

Contact An Orlando Car Crash Attorney Today

Soft tissue injuries can be insidious, because you may think you are on your way to recovery when you are surprised by more pain. If this has happened to you, you need an experienced attorney who understands just how high stakes these cases are. The Orlando car accident lawyers at the Hornsby Law Group are happy to try and help you through this difficult time in your life. Call us today for a free consultation.

Resource:

leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0600-0699/0627/Sections/0627.736.html

https://www.hornsbylawgroup.com/rollover-accidents-in-florida/