Thanks to the many forces and high speeds in car accidents, victims can sustain a wide range of injuries, including that to soft tissues. Although it may seem minor at the outset, a soft tissue injury after a car accident can become more severe over time and even mask other injuries. Here’s what you need to if you or someone you know sustained this type of injury.
What Is Considered to Be Soft Tissue?
Muscles, ligaments, blood vessels, tendons, fat, connective tissue, and skin are all considered to be soft tissues. Car accidents can cause many soft tissue injuries, including whiplash, torn ligaments, pinched nerves, sprains, and contusions.
What Are Some Common Soft Tissue Injuries?
Whiplash occurs when the neck moves back and forth quickly and suddenly, causing injury to the muscles. Being restrained by a seat belt can result in torn muscles in the shoulder due to the force of high-speed crashes.
Pinched nerves can occur as the result of the straining of muscles and tendons. When joints are overextended, ligaments can stretch and tear. Contusions, or bruises, are another common type of soft tissue injury.
How to Know if You Have a Soft Tissue Injury Needing Treatment
You may experience several symptoms that indicate soft tissue injury. Sharp pain or stiffness in the neck, as well as swelling and back pain, are common soft tissue injury symptoms.
Pain when moving or placing weight on an injured part of the body can also indicate soft tissue injury, as can memory and concentration problems. Finally, discoloration at the site of impact is another common symptom.
Why It’s Important to Get Legal Help
If you’re thinking about taking your case to court to get a soft tissue injury car accident settlement, the importance of getting legal help cannot be understated. Because they aren’t readily visible, soft tissue injuries tend to be more challenging to prove in a courtroom.
For a soft tissue injury car accident claim to be successful, you’ll need to have as many detailed medical records as possible. As well, your medical records must date from as soon as possible after the accident. You’ll also need records of testing that clearly show evidence of your soft tissue injuries, such as ultrasounds and arthroscopy, and diagnoses that indicate the seriousness of your injury.
An experienced Houston car accident attorney can gather the kind of evidence necessary to prove that you sustained injuries that are serious enough to warrant treatment, therapy, and compensation for your lost wages and medical bills.
Soft Tissue Injuries Can Be Serious
Although they may seem minor, soft tissue injuries can cause lasting pain and immobility that seriously impact your life. Schechter, Shaffer & Harris possess over 100 years of trial experience with soft tissue injury cases and can help you get compensation for your medical and other expenses. To learn more, schedule your free consultation.
