Of all the different types of injuries sustained during a car accident, those affecting soft tissues are extremely common. Soft tissue injuries in a car accident are those that impact the connective tissue.
Many people ask, ‘Can soft tissue damage be permanent?’ The answer is yes, in severe cases, the damage can be permanent.
Even when injuries seem minor after an accident, it is critical to obtain medical treatment. Below, one of our Mount Pleasant car accident lawyers explains the common types of soft tissue injuries and how you can obtain compensation for them.
Understanding Soft Tissue Injury After a Car Accident
Soft tissue injuries are damaged soft tissues, such as muscles, as well as connective tissues, such as ligaments and tendons. Each type of tissue is made up of connective fibers, and when these fibers are torn, stretched, or experience inflammation, it is considered a soft tissue injury. Soft tissue injuries are caused by overuse or trauma that occurs during an accident, such as a car crash. Soft tissue injuries after a car accident are typically caused by the force of impact that occupants inside a vehicle are subject to in a crash.
Even in a collision that is considered fairly minor, the force can cause accident victims to violently jolt inside the vehicle. The impact stretches the soft tissues beyond their typical range of motion and can cause complete or partial tears in the individual tissue fibers.
Soft tissues in a car accident are much more susceptible to becoming damaged than other parts of the body, such as bones, which are much harder. This is one reason soft tissue injuries are so common after a car accident. There are also many common types of soft tissue injuries.
Sprains
Sprains in soft tissues affect the ligaments, which are connective tissues in the body. Ligaments connect the bones in the body to the joints and make them more stable by controlling the movement of the joints. A sprain occurs when a ligament is placed under sudden trauma that impacts its range of motion. Wrist sprains are particularly common after car accidents because many victims reach out their hands in an attempt to brace themselves for the crash.
Sprains are classified as either complete or partial tears. Partial tears often heal on their own within a few weeks, but complete tears often require surgery to repair. Common symptoms of soft tissue tears include redness, swelling, bruising, and a reduced range of motion.
Strains
A soft tissue strain refers to an injury to connective tissues known as tendons. Tendons connect the muscles in the body to the bones. Strains can also impact muscles. As with sprains, soft tissue strains are injuries that are incurred when the tissue is extended past its typical range of motion, causing a complete or partial tear. Knee strains are very common after car accidents.
Muscle weakness, muscle pain, and limited movement of a tendon or muscle are common symptoms of soft tissue strains. Muscle spasms are also one of the most common symptoms of strains. Muscle spasms occur when the soft tissue expands and contracts involuntarily.
Whiplash
Whiplash is one of the most common types of soft tissue injury in car accidents. Whiplash is an injury caused by the neck snapping rapidly back and forth, like a whip. This tears many of the soft tissue fibers in the neck. Ligaments, neck joints, and nerves in the neck can all suffer damage. Neck stiffness, neck pain, headaches, and shoulder pain are all common symptoms of whiplash. Accident victims often have to wear a neck brace for several weeks after a whiplash injury to help make the soft tissues more stable.
The symptoms of whiplash often take days, or even weeks, to become apparent. It is critical to obtain medical care as soon as possible at the first sign of neck pain to ensure a full recovery.
Contusions
The common name for contusions is bruises, and they are a result of blood vessels that break under the surface of the skin. This causes the blood to pool under the skin’s surface. Typically, this type of soft tissue injury after a car accident is caused by blunt trauma, such as being thrown against the dashboard, steering wheel, or side windows. Discoloration of the skin is the most obvious symptom of contusions. Contusions are also a symptom of an injury that is more serious, such as a sprain.
Treating Soft Tissue Injuries After a Car Accident
It is critical to seek medical treatment after any car accident, even if you do not think you have been hurt. Many soft tissue injuries, including whiplash, cause symptoms that are not always apparent immediately following a car accident. If you do not seek medical treatment, the soft tissue injuries can become worse, resulting in longer recovery times and increased pain.
It is also important to seek medical treatment after any car accident so you can document your injuries. If someone else’s negligence caused your soft tissue injury, you can file a claim against them for compensation. This compensation can cover your medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and other losses.
However, the insurance company you file your claim with will be very reluctant to pay the full damages you are entitled to. They may argue that you were not as injured as you claim in an effort to protect their bottom line and deny you the compensation you need.
Seeking medical treatment will result in your injuries being medically documented, making your case easier to prove to the insurer.
Call Our Mount Pleasant Car Accident Lawyers Today
After suffering a soft tissue injury after a car accident caused by another person’s negligence, you should not be liable for paying for your medical expenses and other costs. At Rikard & Protopapas, our Mount Pleasant car accident lawyers can file your claim and handle the legal details of your case so you can focus on your own recovery and getting better. Contact us to schedule a free initial consultation with one of our experienced attorneys and to learn more about how we can help with your case.