What is a soft tissue injury?

A soft tissue injury is damage to the non-bony parts of your body, mainly muscles, ligaments, and tendons. These tissues connect, support, and stabilise your bones and joint. Symptoms of a soft tissue injury include pain, swelling, and limited movement.

There are two leading causes of soft tissue injuries:

• Acute injuries: Caused by a sudden impact, like a fall, twist, or blow. This can result in sprains (ligament tears), strains (muscle tears), or contusions (bruises).
• Overuse injuries: These injuries develop gradually over time from repetitive motions that stress the tissues without proper rest for healing. Common overuse injuries include tendinitis (inflammation of a tendon) and bursitis (inflammation of a fluid-filled sac near a joint).

If you have sustained a soft tissue injury from negligence or an accident that wasn’t your fault, then you may be entitled to make a claim for personal injury compensation. Our team of solicitors are experienced in soft tissue injury claims and advocating for our client’s best interests throughout the legal process. Please get in touch with us today to find out more.

What accidents can cause a soft tissue injury?

Soft tissue injuries can result from various types of accidents and activities. Some common causes of soft tissue injuries include:

• Falls: Falling from heights, slipping on a wet surface, or tripping over obstacles can lead to strains, sprains, and contusions.
• Sports injuries: Participation in sports activities, especially those involving sudden stops, twists, or impacts, can cause soft tissue injuries such as strains, sprains, and contusions.
• Road traffic accidents: The sudden impact of a car accident can cause road users soft tissue injuries throughout the body, including whiplash (a type of neck strain) and contusions from hitting objects inside the vehicle.
• Workplace incidents: Lifting heavy objects, repetitive motions, slips, trips, and falls at the workplace can result in strains, sprains, and other soft tissue injuries. Employers have a legal duty of care to ensure their employees are working in a safe environment.
• Accidental impacts: Accidentally bumping into objects or being struck by falling objects can result in soft tissue injuries like contusions or strains.

Types of soft tissue injuries

Soft tissue injuries encompass a range of conditions affecting muscles, tendons, ligaments, and other connective tissues in the body. Here are some common types of soft tissue injuries:

• Strain: Strains occur when a muscle or tendon is stretched or torn. They can range from mild to severe and often result from overuse, improper lifting, or sudden movements. Common examples include hamstring strains and lower back strains.
• Sprain: Sprains involve the stretching or tearing of ligaments, which are the tough bands of tissue that connect bones to each other at joints. They typically occur when a joint is forced beyond its normal range of motion. Common examples include ankle sprains and wrist sprains.
• Contusion (Bruise): Contusions occur when small blood vessels beneath the skin rupture due to impact or trauma, causing discolouration and pain. They are common in accidents, falls, and sports injuries.
• Tendonitis: Tendonitis is the inflammation of a tendon, the thick cord that attaches muscle to bone. It often develops from repetitive movements or overuse and can cause pain, swelling, and decreased mobility. Common types include tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis) and Achilles tendonitis.
• Bursitis: Bursitis is the inflammation of a bursa, which is a small fluid-filled sac that cushions and lubricates areas where tendons or muscles glide over bones. It can occur in areas such as the shoulder, elbow, hip, or knee and can cause pain, swelling, and limited movement.
• Muscle Contusion: Similar to a bruise, muscle contusions involve direct trauma to the muscle, resulting in bleeding and swelling within the muscle tissue. They can cause pain, swelling, and bruising.
• Ligament Sprain: Ligament sprains involve injury to the ligaments that stabilise joints. Like tendon injuries, ligament sprains can range from mild to severe and often occur due to sudden twisting or stretching of the joint beyond its normal range of motion.
• Muscle Cramps and Spasms: Muscle cramps and spasms involve involuntary contractions of muscles, often due to fatigue, dehydration, or electrolyte imbalances. They can cause sudden, intense pain and temporary loss of function.

What is the process of making a claim for a soft tissue injury?

The first thing you should do after suffering an injury is seek appropriate medical attention. Obtain a diagnosis from a doctor and follow their treatment plan. This will document the injury and its severity, which will be helpful when initiating your claim for compensation.

You should then consider consulting a personal injury lawyer experienced in soft tissue claims, such as our team here at Beacon Law. We can assess your situation and advise if you have a strong case.

Keep records of everything related to the accident and injury, including how the accident happened and what caused it, witness contact information, accident reports, medical records and proof of income loss.

Your lawyer will initiate the claim and contact the responsible party’s insurance company. The insurance company might make an initial offer. We will negotiate on your behalf to get you fair compensation so this can involve back-and-forth communication. If an agreement is reached, you’ll receive compensation for your pain and suffering, lost income, and any medical expenses. If negotiations fail, your case might proceed to court.

It is important to remember that this process is a general overview and that your case may differ depending on the specifics. For specialist advice on your situation, contact our personal injury solicitors today to discuss your case.

What is the average payout for soft tissue injury UK?

The average payout for a soft tissue injury UK can vary significantly depending on various factors, including the severity of the injury, the impact it has on the individual’s life, and the specific circumstances of the case. Soft tissue injury compensation amounts are typically determined based on guidelines set forth by the Judicial College, which provides recommended compensation ranges for different types of injuries.

• Minor Soft Tissue Injuries (Up to £9,500): These typically involve sprains, strains, or minor muscle tears that are expected to heal fully within a few weeks or months. The compensation amount may consider factors like pain and suffering during the healing period, any temporary limitations on your daily activities, and out-of-pocket expenses for medications or physical therapy. The recent Whiplash Reform Programme particularly affects claims in this category, with injuries valued at £5,000 or less following a set tariff designed to streamline the process for these less severe cases.
• Moderate Soft Tissue Injuries (£9,500 – £27,760):  These injuries involve more extensive muscle or ligament damage that takes longer to heal and may cause some lingering pain or discomfort. They might also limit your mobility or ability to perform certain activities for a more extended period. Compensation in this range would likely account for these factors, along with potential lost income if you were unable to work while recovering. Private medical bills and any ongoing treatment costs would also be factored in.
• Severe Soft Tissue Injuries (Over £38,780):  These are the most serious soft tissue injuries and can have a long-lasting impact on your life. They may involve permanent nerve damage, ligament ruptures requiring surgery, or chronic pain syndromes that significantly restrict your daily activities. In these cases, compensation can be much higher, potentially exceeding £100,000, to reflect the long-term consequences of the injury on your physical and mental well-being. Loss of earning capacity due to permanent disability might also be a significant factor influencing the payout.

General damages vs special damages

In personal injury law, damages refer to the monetary compensation awarded to an injured party to compensate them for their losses and injuries. There are two main types of damages: general damages and special damages.

General damages are intended to compensate the injured party for non-monetary losses that are difficult to quantify precisely. These damages typically cover aspects such as pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, and emotional distress. General damages are subjective and vary from case to case based on factors such as the severity of the injury, the impact on the individual’s life, and the duration of any resulting impairment or disability.

Special damages are intended to compensate the injured party for specific financial losses and expenses directly related to the injury. These damages are more accessible to quantify because they involve tangible costs and expenses. Special damages may include private medical expenses (such as doctor’s visits, hospital bills, medication costs, and rehabilitation expenses), lost wages or income (including past and future earnings) and any other out-of-pocket costs incurred as a result of the injury

Both types of damages are important components of personal injury compensation and aim to provide the injured party with fair and just compensation for their losses and injuries.

How long do you have to make a compensation claim?

In the UK, the time limit for making a compensation claim for a personal injury is generally three years from the date of the incident or the date when the injury was discovered. This time limit is set by the Limitation Act 1980.

However, there are some exceptions and variations to this general rule:

• Minors: If the injured person was under the age of 18 at the time of the incident, the three-year time limit starts from their 18th birthday. In other words, they have until their 21st birthday to make a claim.
• Mental Capacity: If the injured person lacks mental capacity, there is no time limit for making a claim as long as they remain unable to manage their own affairs.
• Fatal Injuries: In cases where the injury results in death, the family or dependents of the deceased may have three years from the date of death to make a claim.
• Industrial Diseases: For diseases caused by exposure to hazardous substances or working conditions (such as asbestos-related diseases), the three-year time limit may start from the date of diagnosis rather than the date of exposure.
• Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA): The time limit for making a claim through the CICA, which compensates victims of violent crimes, is typically two years from the date of the incident.

It’s important to be aware of these time limits and to seek legal advice promptly if you believe you have a valid claim for compensation. Failing to file a claim within the applicable time limit may result in your claim being barred, meaning you may lose the right to seek compensation for your injuries.

How can Beacon Law assist?

Beacon Law are a leading personal injury law firm, offering a range of personal injury claim services to our clients, including claims for soft tissue injury compensation. We can advise on what the average payout for soft tissue injuries UK is and we consistently provide a high level of service to all our clients and work hard to ensure they receive the appropriate treatment and highest level of compensation for their injuries.

We work closely with all clients, following their instructions whilst providing specialist legal advice on each case. We aim to support all our clients throughout a time which is already difficult and provide the best case management possible throughout the claims process.

If you require advice on a potential case or assistance or wish to find out what compensation you might be owed on a no win, no fee basis, please contact us on 0330 1332 857. Alternatively, please complete our online form, and a Personal Injury expert will contact you to help you start your claim.

Beacon Law are a Solicitors registered in England and Wales with our registered office based in Manchester. We are authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.