Soft Tissue Injuries After a Car Accident in Illinois

Last Updated: October 29, 2026

Pain, medical expense, and lost earnings are elements a jury may consider when the evidence justifies them. Instruction 30.01 requires the amount that will reasonably and fairly compensate the plaintiff for any element proved by the evidence. Contributory fault follows 735 ILCS 5/2-1116.

People use “soft tissue” for injury to muscle, tendon, or ligament. That name is not an element of damages. The elements come from the instructions the evidence supports.

What crash soft tissue injuries can involve

A collision can injure muscles, tendons, and ligaments. A sprain is an injury to a ligament; a strain affects a muscle or tendon; a contusion is bruising of the soft tissue beneath the skin after a blow. A rear-end collision can move the head and neck rapidly back and forth and cause whiplash.

Neck sprain pain may not begin at the crash scene. Evaluation includes the injury history and a physical exam. X-rays do not show the sprain or strain itself, though they may help rule out other neck conditions. Further imaging is used in selected cases when a clinician decides it is needed.

The elements

Instruction 30.05 is the pain and suffering experienced, and the pain and suffering reasonably certain to be experienced in the future, as a result of the injuries. Instruction 30.06 uses either the reasonable expense of necessary medical care, treatment, and services, or the reasonable value of that care. Instruction 30.07 uses the value of time, earnings, profits, salaries, or benefits lost, and the present cash value of the items reasonably certain to be lost in the future. Each element is inserted only when the evidence justifies it. Whether any element has been proved is for the jury.

Fault and proof

Contributory fault of more than 50 percent bars recovery. Otherwise the damages are reduced in proportion to that fault. Treatment records, imaging, and wage records are evidence. An image that does not show a fracture does not decide whether an element was proved.

If a crash left ongoing pain or limits, Parker & Parker can read which damage elements the evidence supports.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What elements can the evidence support?

Instruction 30.05 covers pain and suffering. Instruction 30.06 covers the reasonable expense or reasonable value of necessary medical care. Instruction 30.07 covers lost time, earnings, profits, salaries, or benefits, including the present cash value of future loss. Each element is used when the evidence justifies it.

Who decides whether an element was proved?

Instruction 30.01 leaves that decision to the jury. Section 2-1116 bars recovery when contributory fault is more than 50 percent and otherwise reduces the damages in proportion to that fault.

Does a future element require reasonable certainty?

The future portions of Instructions 30.05, 30.06, and 30.07 are used when the evidence shows the future pain, medical care, or earnings loss is reasonably certain. A healing timetable is not part of those instructions.

Dealing with injuries after a car crash can feel overwhelming. Peoria personal injury lawyer Robert Parker can guide you through every step of the legal process.

Need a lawyer? This article is part of our Peoria Car Accident Lawyer practice area. Call Parker & Parker at 309-673-0069 for a free consultation.

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