Video: Soft Tissue Injuries Explained: What Happens After a Car Accident?
August 11, 2026
Transcript
Can Soft Tissue Injuries Become Permanent After a Car Accident?
Can a soft tissue injury after a car accident become permanent? The answer is yes. And the phrase soft tissue injury is one of the most misleading phrases used in PI cases.
Why “Soft Tissue Injury” Can Be Misleading
I’m Attorney Tracy Paulsen with Rightful Legal. We help injured people across Massachusetts.
A recent Boston 25 report highlighted an important point. Soft tissue damage can cause long-term pain, limited mobility, weakness, and lasting changes in a person’s daily life.
Soft tissue includes muscles, tendons, and ligaments that support your body and allow it to move. Whiplash, sprains, strains, and ligament tears are all examples of soft tissue injuries.
Why a Normal X-Ray Doesn’t Tell Everything
These injuries are not automatically minor because there is no broken bone. In fact, an initial X-ray may rule out a fracture without clearly showing an injury to a muscle, tendon, or ligament.
When Soft Tissue Injury Symptoms Can Appear
Symptoms may develop over the days following an accident, even weeks.
How Insurance Companies May Evaluate Soft Tissue Injuries
Insurance companies understand this. They may describe the injury as temporary soreness, point to a normal X-ray, or argue that the pain existed before the collision.
That is why medical documentation truly matters.
Documenting Your Symptoms and Treatment
After an accident, describe every symptom to your medical provider, including pain, stiffness, numbness, tingling, headaches, weakness, or reduced range of motion.
Follow the recommended treatment plan. Attend your appointments and explain how the injury affects your work, sleep, driving, exercise, and ordinary activities.
Do not exaggerate your symptoms, but do not minimize them either.
Massachusetts Pain and Suffering Claims
In a Massachusetts car accident case, recovering compensation for pain and suffering generally requires more than $2,000 in reasonable and necessary medical expenses, unless the injury falls within one of the law’s specific exceptions.
But the value of a soft tissue injury claim is not determined by medical bills alone.
What Determines a Soft Tissue Injury Claim’s Value?
The diagnosis, duration of the symptoms, treatment history, effect on employment, functional limitations, prognosis, and quality of medical evidence can all become important.
The Real Question About Soft Tissue Injuries
The real question is not whether the injury is called “soft tissue.” The real question is what that injury has taken away from you in your life and whether the evidence proves it.
Free Confidential Consultation
If you have a potential case or questions about your case, you can reach me directly at 617-821-5856.
I will be happy to talk about your case and give you a free confidential consultation. Thank you so much, and have a great day.


