How Insurers Undervalue Ohio Car Crash Soft Tissue Injuries
Torn muscles, strained tendons, and other soft tissue injuries are common in Ohio car accidents. So too are concussions and traumatic brain injuries. However, they rarely show up clearly on X-rays, even when the underlying damage is significant. That gap between what imaging reveals and what a person actually experiences gives insurance companies room to challenge claims.
If you suffered a soft-tissue injury or concussion due to the reckless behavior of another driver, our experienced Sandusky car crash lawyers are here to help. We explain common challenges victims often face and tactics insurers use to undervalue these claims.
Common Challenges Proving Soft Tissue Injuries After an Ohio Car Crash
Soft tissue injuries impact the musculoskeletal system and often involve sprains, strains, and tears that affect muscles, ligaments that hold joints together, and tendons that connect muscles to bones. Traumatic brain injuries, commonly referred to as concussions, are a similar injury that often arise or develop in following these collisions. According to the Cleveland Clinic, car crashes are a common cause.
Unfortunately, Ohio car crash victims often face significant challenges when trying to get compensation for soft tissue injuries from insurers. These include:
- Symptoms may not show up until days after an Ohio car crash, leading victims to delay getting medical care.
- Insurers use this delay to dispute how your injuries happened or the lack of severity.
- Even when underlying soft tissue damage is well-documented, pain levels are subjective and often downplayed by insurers.
- Recovery timelines vary widely, and insurance settlement offers often fail to factor in future medical costs or lost income.
If you experience soft tissue injuries due to an Ohio car crash, getting immediate medical care and not downplaying your injuries can help protect your rights in a claim.
Common Ways Insurers Devalue Ohio Car Crash Soft Tissue Injury Claims
Ohio requires all drivers to carry automobile insurance, which can help reimburse you for medical care, lost income, and other costs when a crash happens. However, common tactics insurance companies use to reduce or deny Ohio car accident claims involving soft tissue injuries include:
- Requesting access to your full medical history in an effort to attribute current pain to a prior condition rather than the crash.
- Relying on an independent medical examiner selected and paid by the insurance company, rather than your own physician’s findings.
- Arguing that a gap between the crash and your first medical visit means the injury is unrelated.
- Offering an early settlement, before knowing the full extent of your injuries and projected recovery.
- Disputing the severity of your injuries, the impacts they have on your life, and the total amount you need to recover.
As for-profit businesses, insurers have a financial motive to downplay and deny claims. To protect your rights in dealing with these companies, get professional legal help today.
Contact Our Experienced Sandusky Car Crash Lawyers
Soft tissue injuries are common in Ohio car crashes and can impact your health for a long time afterward. At Murray & Murray, our Ohio car crash lawyers provide trusted, experienced legal representation and protect your rights when dealing with insurers.
To get the compensation you deserve and need for a full recovery, request a consultation. We serve clients throughout Sandusky, Ohio, and the surrounding areas. Reach out today.
Sources:
my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/soft-tissue-injury
bmv.ohio.gov/dl-mandatory-insurance.aspx