One of the most common injuries car accident victims sustain is soft tissue injuries. While common, these injuries can be surprisingly painful and impactful. Some soft tissue injuries cause lasting pain and require ongoing medical treatment. Still, insurance companies may try to deny your claim because these injuries may not appear on traditional imaging tests like bone fractures would with an X-ray. An experienced San Antonio car accident attorney can advocate for you to recover fair compensation following a crash caused by someone else’s negligence.
Soft tissue injuries impact muscles, tendons, ligaments, or the skin. These tissues aid the body’s movement. Injuries cause individual fibers that make up these tissues to stretch, tear, or become inflamed. These injuries commonly occur when the body suffers physical trauma. These are common in car accidents due to the force of impact involved in these events. Even in minor fender benders, the exerted force can violently jolt occupants in the vehicle, causing the tissue to extend beyond its normal range of motion.
If you were involved in a car accident, look out for the following symptoms that can indicate soft tissue injuries:
These injuries often occur within one to two days following the collision.
Soft tissue is much more susceptible to physical damage than harder structures in the body, such as bones. Some of the most common soft tissue injuries sustained in car accidents include the following:
Whiplash is a hyperextension injury that occurs when the neck is violently jolted in one direction and then snapped back. During this motion, several soft tissue fibers may tear. Symptoms that may indicate whiplash include:
Whiplash often causes delayed pain after an accident.
Sprains are soft tissue injuries to the ligaments, which connect bones to joints. Sprains happen when a ligament sustains trauma that forces the tissue outside its normal range of motion. Symptoms of sprains include swelling, redness, bruising, and limited range of motion.
Strains are injuries to the tendons, which connect muscles to bones. These injuries can cause muscle spasms, pain, muscle weakness, and limited ability to move the affected muscle or tendon.
Contusions are a collection of broken blood vessels under the surface of the skin and usually caused by blunt trauma, such as airbag deployment. Contusions are indicated by skin discoloration and tenderness to touch. Various parts of the body can suffer contusions in a car accident, including the brain.
After a car accident, seek medical attention immediately. Your health is the top priority. Don’t dismiss aches and pains as nothing. They can be a sign of a serious soft tissue injury.
Then, contact a personal injury lawyer at The Aguirre Law Firm, PLLC. We can explain your legal options, investigate the accident, file your legal claims, and talk to the insurance company on your behalf. Call us today or schedule a free consultation online.
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