Valuing Soft Tissue Injuries in Alaska Accident Claims
One of the first things that comes to mind after you have been hurt in any type of personal injury accident is the extent of your injuries. Whether it was a motor vehicle collision, slip and fall, or other incident, you will check for blood, signs of broken bones, dizziness, or other effects. However, at times, it may be the trauma you do not notice right away that can cause serious, long-term implications. Soft tissue injuries may not be obvious right away, but you could experience lingering, chronic pain that can be debilitating.
The good news is that Alaska laws provide you with legal remedies after you sustain soft tissue injuries in an accident that was not your fault. The downside is that there can be issues with placing a value on your losses, since the physical consequences are not as visible to others. You can trust an Anchorage, AK personal injury lawyer to seek the top compensation available in your case, and read on for a description of some of the key legal issues.
Common Types of Soft Tissue Injuries
As the term suggests, soft tissue injuries affect many parts of the human body that provide cushioning, stretch, shock absorption, flexibility, and movement. Your muscles, tendons, and ligaments would be included in this category, as are spinal discs – the gel-like pods situated in between each of your vertebrae. When these tissues sustain a violent jolt, such as what would occur in an accident, they can suffer various forms of trauma and damage. Soft tissue injuries are often accompanied by pain, but another side effect is that the affected part of the body cannot do its job.
Examples of soft tissue injuries include:
- Whiplash;
- Muscle or tendon strains;
- Ligament sprains;
- Bursitis, the fluid-filled sacs that protect your bones, tendons, joints, and muscles;
- Tendonitis; and,
- Herniated or bulging spinal discs.
Methods for Calculating Damages
From the above description, you can see that soft tissue injuries are essentially hidden from view. That makes it hard for others – such as an insurance adjuster or members of a jury – to appreciate the pain you are experiencing. That translates into difficulties in putting a value on your claim. However, there are strategies for assessing your compensation, which falls into two categories:
- Economic Damages: These are your ascertainable losses, for which you may rely on as proof. You present medical bills to recover costs of treatment and pay stubs for lost wages.
- Non-Economic Damages: This category is more difficult, because it includes pain, suffering, and emotional losses – for which you do not have documentation. You can use your medical records, but you will also need help from medical experts, financial specialists, and other professionals.
Contact an Alaska Personal Injury Attorney for Assistance With Your Claim
Though they are not apparent and may not seem as serious to others, soft tissue injuries can have a lasting impact on your life. It is possible to recover monetary damages for these losses, and our team at Power & Power Law can help throughout the claims process. For more information on our legal services, please contact our Anchorage, Alaska office to set up a free consultation with a personal injury lawyer today.