Soft tissue injuries are harmful to the body’s muscles, tendons, fascia, fat, or ligaments. Soft tissues support the skeleton, providing us with strength and mobility. Injuries to these tissues can be painful and cause debilitating issues that prevent accident victims from working, performing daily tasks, and enjoying life.
At Carcione, Henderson & Markowitz, LLP, our soft tissue injury attorneys know how soft tissue injuries can change a person’s life. We know these injuries are often overlooked and undervalued by insurance adjusters. Our team effectively blends compassionate advocacy with aggressive legal strategy so that accident victims suffering from soft tissue injuries have the best chance at recovering maximum compensation for their injuries.
Contact our office today at (650) 367-6811 to schedule a complimentary, no-obligation consultation and learn more about your case. We don’t charge fees unless we recover compensation on your behalf.
Why Choose Carcione, Henderson & Markowitz, LLP for Your Soft Tissue Injury Case?
In the San Mateo area, you can choose from a lot of lawyers to represent you. Why choose the legal team at Carcione, Henderson & Markowitz, LLP, to handle your soft tissue injury case? Our commitment to our clients and our four decades of securing multi-million-dollar verdicts and settlements are clear evidence of the benefits of working with our law firm. Our case results alone demonstrate our dedication to pursuing maximum compensation for our clients.
It isn’t just our commitment to results that sets our team apart. We also offer a personalized, compassionate approach to managing soft-tissue injury cases. Clients aren’t case numbers. They are real people who deserve respect and support. We have numerous five-star reviews and favorable testimonials, and we believe that the words of our past clients speak volumes.
How a San Mateo Soft Tissue Injury Attorney Can Help You
Many accident victims with soft tissue injuries mistakenly believe that they can handle their claim without legal help. Unfortunately, recovering maximum compensation for a soft tissue injury can be extremely challenging, as many insurers downplay the pain and severity of these injuries, offering victims pennies instead of the full value of their claim. A San Mateo soft tissue injury attorney can help by fighting to protect your rights and negotiating for the money you deserve.
At Carcione, Henderson & Markowitz, LLP, we can help by:
- Fully investigating the cause of your soft tissue injuries
- Identifying all potentially liable parties
- Collecting and preserving evidence
- Gathering medical evidence to demonstrate the extent of your soft tissue injuries and how they impact your life
- Negotiating with insurers for fair compensation for your injuries
- Preparing a case for court when necessary
Your time should be spent focusing on your recovery, not fighting with dismissive insurance adjusters. Our soft tissue injury lawyers will manage your claim from start to finish so you can put your health front and center.
Why Soft Tissue Injuries Are Often “Hidden” But Still Serious
Initially, soft tissue injuries are often overlooked because the adrenaline rush from the initial accident masks the pain of the injury. Unlike a broken bone, a soft-tissue injury may allow an individual to continue functioning after an accident, leading them to believe they are not seriously injured.
After adrenaline level stabilizes, soft tissue injuries may remain “hidden” because signs of injury, such as swelling, inflammation, soreness, and mobility issues, can take hours to days to manifest. These delayed symptoms mean that many people do not fully understand the extent of their injury.
One reason insurance adjusters may claim these injuries don’t exist is that soft-tissue injuries often don’t show up on X-rays. Without extensive medical documentation and other evidence, an insurer may dismiss subjective symptoms, such as a patient’s description of their pain, and undervalue a claim. The focus on “obvious” injuries may lead to underlying soft-tissue damage being ignored.
Why Early Medical Treatment and Documentation Matter for Soft Tissue Injury Claims
For any injury claim, obtaining immediate medical attention and documentation is crucial. This is especially true in claims involving soft tissue injuries. Often, accident victims with soft tissue injuries wait to seek medical treatment, jeopardizing their health and their claim. One tactic insurance adjusters use to diminish the value of a claim or deny it outright is to say that because an individual did not get immediate medical attention, they cannot prove their injuries are a direct result of the accident. They might also suggest that the injuries may be the result of a pre-existing condition.
Early detection and treatment by a medical professional is one way to prevent an insurer from making the argument that your injuries were not the direct result of the incident. Medical records showing that you received prompt treatment for your injuries following an accident can help strengthen your compensation claim.
Getting immediate medical treatment after an accident protects your health and safety. Soft tissue injuries can cause significant damage, and when left untreated, can result in chronic pain, loss of mobility, and long-term complications that can impact your quality of life.
Who Can Be Held Liable for Soft Tissue Injuries?
Liability for soft tissue injuries varies depending on the circumstances of the situation. In a car accident, the other driver may be liable. In other types of accidents, a property owner, company, or manufacturer may be responsible for compensating a victim. In some instances, more than one party may even be liable.
Parties who may bear whole or partial liability for soft tissue injuries following an accident can include:
- A motor vehicle driver
- A landlord or property owner
- A manufacturer
- A pet owner
- A contractor or subcontractor
- A government entity
An in-depth investigation by an experienced San Mateo soft tissue injury lawyer can help uncover all potentially liable parties, giving you a better opportunity to recover maximum compensation for your injuries.
What Compensation Victims May Recover
How much an accident victim can recover in compensation for their soft tissue injuries depends on several factors. The severity of the injury, nature of the accident, and how the injury impacts a person’s ability to work and enjoy life can all play a role in determining the value of a claim. Although the value may vary, individuals can pursue money to cover the following:
- Medical expenses
- Lost income
- Loss of earning capacity
- Property damage
- Disfigurement or permanent disability
- Pain and suffering
A soft tissue injury lawyer in San Mateo will carefully calculate your injuries and pursue fair compensation on your behalf. Do not accept a settlement offer without talking to an attorney about your circumstances.
Common Mistakes That Hurt Soft Tissue Injury Claims
Soft tissue injuries can be painful and may take time, medication, and rehabilitation before vulnerable muscles, tendons, ligaments, and other tissues fully heal. In that time, it is easy to lose focus and make mistakes when it comes to your claim. Some of the most common mistakes victims make that can lead to less compensation or a denial from an insurer include:
- Not seeking immediate medical attention for their injuries
- Failing to follow their medical provider’s treatment plan or skipping medical appointments
- Apologizing or admitting fault to another party or the insurance company
- Giving an insurer a recorded statement without legal representation
- Giving opinions to an insurer, deviating from the facts of the situation
- Making social media posts, discussing their situation online, or posting pictures that an insurer or attorney could use to discredit their injuries or pain
- Failing to keep detailed records of medical expenses, lost wages, time missed from work, and out-of-pocket costs related to the accident
- Accepting an initial settlement offer from an insurer
Working with a San Mateo personal injury attorney can help you avoid these common pitfalls and others, so you have the best opportunity at achieving a favorable outcome.
Statute of Limitations in California
Some situations require legal intervention in the form of a personal injury lawsuit to give victims of soft tissue injuries the best chance at recovering compensation. However, individuals have limited time to file their case. In most cases, state law allows victims two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit.
Failing to file within this legal time frame means you can lose all out-of-court negotiating leverage. The court can also dismiss the case, meaning you also lose your day in court and the ability to recover maximum compensation.
Seeking legal assistance early is the best way to protect your ability to take your case to court, if necessary. It can also strengthen your position, because waiting too long for help can mean the loss of valuable evidence.
Contact a San Mateo Soft Tissue Injury Attorney Today
One of the benefits of contacting Carcione, Henderson & Markowitz, LLP to handle your soft-tissue injury claim is that our legal team is highly selective. This strategy allows us to focus on high-value outcomes for accident victims like you. If the carelessness of another caused your soft tissue injuries, now is the time to talk to an attorney with a proven track record of managing complex personal injury claims.
Contact our office at (650) 367-6811 or complete our contact form to arrange a free consultation with an experienced soft tissue injury lawyer in San Mateo to discuss your claim.