Soft Tissue Case Value

Insurance companies use several metrics in placing a value on a soft tissue car accident case. Some of them include:

• Property Damage
• Length of reasonable and necessary treatment related to collision (typically 3-6 months)
• Cost of reasonable treatment
• Type of medical treatment
• Past medical history
• Past claim history
• Wage loss supported by doctor's note and employer's affidavit

Some general rules:

specialists > medical doctors > physical therapy > chiropractic > massage

Treatment supported by an MD gets less resistance

Injuries are highly disputed when Property damage is under $1,000.00

If your property damage is substantial, insurance companies usually allow for longer treatment, even though property damage and injury have no positive correlation. Extreme visual damage to a vehicle may influence a jury to believe the person in the vehicle must have been seriously injured proportionately to the damage to the vehicle. Unfortunately, the inverse may also be true. Little or no visual damage may lead a jury to believe the person in the vehicle was likewise unharmed.

If treating with the same medical provider for a length of time over two to four months with little to no improvement, going to a medical doctor for a change in treatment, or trying an alternative type of treatment yourself may help your claim.