How Much Is a Soft Tissue Injury Case Worth in Louisiana?
Most soft tissue injury settlements fall somewhere between a few thousand dollars and more than one hundred thousand dollars. The value depends on the seriousness of the injuries, the treatment required, time away from work, and the insurance coverage available.
- Mild sprains or strains that heal quickly often resolve in the low five figures.
- Moderate injuries that require extended therapy or injections are commonly in the mid five figures or more.
- Severe tears or injuries with long term limitations can reach six figures when backed by strong medical proof.
Every case is unique. If you are dealing with ongoing pain, missed work, or slow recovery after a crash, talk with a Louisiana personal injury lawyer to understand the full value of your claim before accepting a low offer.
We GET IT DONE
Clients trust us to handle their case properly and effectively
FREE Confidential Case Review (985) 240-9773Soft Tissue Injuries Can Be Hidden and Serious
While driving through Boutte and Luling on Highway 90, I saw a St. Charles Parish school bus that had collided with another vehicle. Thankfully, the bus looked empty except for the driver. My son was riding with me and asked if I thought anyone was hurt. From where we were, the drivers looked like they were okay, but you cannot always tell from the outside. I have learned from handling Louisiana car accident cases that someone can walk away from a wreck looking fine, yet still be seriously injured inside.
One of the most common hidden injuries is a soft tissue injury. These injuries do not always show up on X-rays. Insurance companies use that to argue the injury is minor or unrelated. The truth is different. Soft tissue injuries can cause real pain, loss of mobility, sleep problems, and time away from work.
If you have been hurt in a crash in Louisiana, you are probably asking what your soft tissue injury case is worth. Below, I explain what counts as a soft tissue injury, how these injuries happen, how value is calculated under Louisiana law, and how to protect your claim from lowball tactics.
Need answers now? Speak with a Luling car accident lawyer who handles soft tissue cases every week. We can review your medical records, treatment plan, and insurance limits so you understand your options.
We DO THE RIGHT THING
The correct choice – always – is to do the right thing.
FREE Confidential Case Review (985) 240-9773What Is a Soft Tissue Injury?
A soft tissue injury is damage to muscles, ligaments, or tendons. In a collision, the body is subjected to sudden forces that stretch, tear, or inflame these tissues.
Common types include sprains, strains, contusions, tendonitis, and whiplash. Symptoms may include swelling, bruising, pain, stiffness, and reduced mobility, especially following a collision or impact.
Types of Soft Tissue Injuries
- Sprains: Stretched or torn ligaments.
- Strains: Injury to muscles or tendons.
- Contusions: Deep bruising from blunt force.
- Tendonitis: Inflammation of a tendon, often from overuse after an initial trauma.
- Whiplash: Rapid back and forth neck movement that strains the neck and shoulders. Very common in rear-end crashes.
Symptoms To Watch For
- Swelling, stiffness, or a feeling of tightness.
- Bruising or skin discoloration near the injured area.
- Throbbing, sharp pain, or pain that worsens with movement.
- Reduced range of motion or weakness.
- Headaches, dizziness, or sleep disturbances with neck injuries.
We ARE TRANSPARENT
We don’t play games and we don’t hide the ball.
FREE Confidential Case Review (985) 240-9773How Do Soft Tissue Injuries Happen In Car Accidents?
Soft tissue injuries in car accidents occur when crash forces twist, jolt, or compress the body. Common causes include whiplash from sudden neck motion, blunt impacts with interior surfaces, seatbelt pressure during restraint, and rotational forces from spins or side collisions, all of which can strain muscles, ligaments, and tendons.
Common mechanisms include:
- Whiplash motion: The head and neck snap forward and back.
- Blunt impacts: Contact with airbags, door panels, or consoles.
- Seatbelt loading: Crucial for survival, but can cause bruising or sprains.
- Vehicle rotation: Spins and side impacts create twisting injuries.
We ARE COMPASSIONATE
Emotionally intelligent listeners with positive attitudes.
FREE Confidential Case Review (985) 240-9773How Serious Is a Soft Tissue Injury?
Severity varies by structure involved, the degree of tearing, and how quickly you receive appropriate care. Recovery can be days or months. Some injuries lead to chronic pain or require injections or surgery.
| Injury | Description | Typical Recovery Time |
|---|---|---|
| Sprain | Stretched or partially torn ligament | A few weeks |
| Strain | Injured muscle or tendon | Several weeks |
| Contusion | Deep bruise of soft tissue | Days to weeks |
| Whiplash | Neck and shoulder strain | Weeks to months |
| Severe Tear | Significant tearing that may require surgery | Months |
What Affects The Value Of My Soft Tissue Injury Case?
The value of your soft tissue injury case depends on factors like injury severity, treatment type, time off work, and long-term impact. Strong medical documentation, limited insurance coverage, and your share of fault can also affect compensation.
Soft tissue cases can resolve for a few thousand dollars or more than one hundred thousand dollars. An experienced legal team can significantly improve your case’s value and outcome.
Key drivers include:
Main Factors That Influence Value
- Severity and diagnosis: A mild sprain is valued differently than a torn ligament, labral tear, or herniated disc.
- Treatment intensity and duration: Physical therapy, injections, or surgery generally increase value.
- Functional impact: Time off work, restricted duties, and loss of normal activities matter.
- Medical documentation: Consistent care, specialist opinions, imaging, and clinical notes support causation and severity.
- Permanency: Ongoing pain, impairment ratings, or restrictions increase damages.
- Comparative fault: Your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault under Louisiana law.
- Insurance coverage: Policy limits can cap recovery even in strong cases.
- Legal advocacy: Results often depend on the skill and tenacity of your legal team. LJBLegal prepares claims for maximum value and trial readiness.
How Do Insurance Companies Undervalue Soft Tissue Claims?
Insurance companies routinely underpay these cases. Adjusters and their software discount injuries that do not show on X-ray. They argue that delayed treatment means you were not hurt, or that gaps in care mean you recovered fully. They push early low offers before you know the full extent of your injuries. This is strategic. It is not fair.
- Questioning causation because initial imaging did not show fractures.
- Pointing to short therapy periods or normal activities to claim full recovery.
- Cherry picking medical notes that mention temporary improvement.
- Ignoring the combined effect of multiple injuries on daily function.
- Hiding or minimizing available insurance coverage.
Bottom line: You need an advocate who anticipates these tactics and counters them with documentation and clear narrative proof. Speak with a Louisiana car accident lawyer before you sign anything or give a recorded statement.
How You Can Increase the Value of Your Soft Tissue Injury Claim
To increase the value of your soft tissue injury claim, seek immediate medical care, follow all treatment recommendations, and document your pain, limitations, and financial losses. Preserve evidence like injury photos and damaged property. Partnering with an experienced attorney helps build a strong case and maximizes your potential compensation.
Insurance companies often argue that whiplash, sprains, and muscle tears are minor because they do not always appear on X-rays. The pain is real. These actions can help you protect your claim and prove the true extent of your injuries so you are not pressured into accepting less than you deserve.
- Seek medical attention immediately: Even if pain is mild at first, a prompt diagnosis connects your injuries to the crash and prevents arguments that the injury came later.
- Follow your treatment plan completely: Skipped appointments or stopping therapy early gives insurers a reason to say you healed or were never seriously hurt.
- Document your struggles: Keep notes about daily pain, reduced mobility, missed work, trouble sleeping, childcare help, and activities you can no longer do comfortably.
- Track all financial losses: Save medical bills, receipts, mileage to appointments, and proof of lost wages. These records support both economic and non economic damages.
- Preserve evidence of injuries and damage: Photos of bruising or swelling, damaged property, and any available video from the scene help demonstrate seriousness and causation.
- Stay patient and do not settle too quickly: Soft tissue injuries can worsen over time. Once you sign a settlement, you cannot reopen the claim for more money later.
- Work with a legal team that knows these cases: LJBLegal builds strong medical proof, pushes back on low offers, and fights for full compensation so you can focus on healing.
If an adjuster is downplaying your pain or claiming your injury is minor, you do not have to handle that alone. Talk with a personal injury lawyer who works with soft tissue cases every week and knows how to secure the best result for your situation.
How Do Insurers Calculate Pain and Suffering?
Insurance companies often rely on methods like the multiplier approach, which multiplies medical bills and lost wages by a factor based on injury severity. Some may also use a per diem approach, assigning a daily value to your pain until you reach maximum medical improvement. An experienced attorney knows how to challenge unfair applications of these formulas and present a fuller picture of your losses.
What Does Louisiana’s Comparative Fault Rule Mean For My Case?
Louisiana follows modified comparative fault. You can still recover compensation even if you were partly responsible. Your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you are found 20 percent at fault and your damages are 100,000 dollars, your net recovery would be 80,000 dollars.
What Are Typical Settlement Ranges For Soft Tissue Injuries?
Every case is unique. That said, these ranges are common starting points when liability is clear and treatment is well documented.
Typical soft tissue injury settlements range from low five figures for mild sprains to six figures for severe injuries with lasting effects or surgery. Moderate cases involving extended therapy often settle in the mid-five figures. Final value depends on medical proof, impact on daily life, and available insurance coverage.
- Mild sprain or strain with brief care: Often in the low five figures when pain resolves quickly.
- Moderate injury with extended therapy or injections: Commonly mid five figures, sometimes higher.
- Severe soft tissue injury with permanent restrictions or surgical care: Can exceed six figures when losses are significant and well proven.
These are not guarantees. Valuation depends on proof, credibility, and the available insurance.
Why Choose LJBLegal For A Soft Tissue Injury Claim?
Choose LJBLegal for your soft tissue injury claim because we build clear, evidence-backed cases that connect your injuries to the crash. Our team works with doctors to document impairment, calculates full damages, uncovers all insurance coverage, and prepares each claim for trial, maximizing your recovery through strong negotiation leverage.
-
- We collect and organize your full medical story. Not just records, but clear narratives that connect symptoms to the crash.
- We work with treating providers and specialists to document causation, impairment, and future care.
- We calculate all damages, including lost earning capacity and life impact, using credible methods.
- We identify all insurance policies and push for full disclosure of limits.
- We prepare every case as if it may go to trial. That preparation improves negotiation results.
Next Steps
If you are hurting after a crash, do not let an adjuster decide what your case is worth. Get answers that fit your facts. Talk with a Louisiana personal injury lawyer today.
Free Consultation And No Upfront Fees
Call (985) 240-9773 or contact us online. Your consultation is free. You pay nothing upfront. You only pay if we win money for you. Let LJBLegal protect your rights, build your proof, and fight for the full compensation you deserve.
