In personal injury law cases the wronged individual must be able to prove that the other party knowingly or through negligence caused the injury or wrong to occur. In some cases the wronged or injured party caused the damage themselves through their actions, which would not be eligible as a personal injury lawsuit.
Soft tissue damage is one of the hardest of the personal injury cases to provide, so hiring an attorney before speaking to the other party, especially their insurance company, is absolutely critical. Often injured people sign papers or make statements that are then used against them in the personal injury lawsuit.