Soft Tissue Injuries In Car Accidents
Among the most common car accident injuries are soft tissue injuries. Unfortunately, as car accident attorneys, we have seen victims who thought they had minor soft tissue injuries, only for the injuries to blossom into major problems. The truth is that soft tissue injuries are not always minor as most people think. And without proper medical care, a minor soft tissue injury can worsen and result in devastating consequences. If, for example, you feel pain after a car accident, it is vital that you do not dismiss the pain. Consult a doctor and get checked out. A car accident can result in different types of soft tissue injuries that can significantly affect your life.
What Are Soft Tissue Injuries?
Your soft tissue includes connective tissue, the skin, tendons, fat, ligaments, muscles, and blood vessels. Therefore, soft tissue injuries happen when the skin, connective tissue, fat, ligaments, muscles, or blood vessels are damaged. Indeed, such injuries can occur because of overuse. However, they can also happen because of sudden trauma. Soft tissue, like skin, is more vulnerable to damage than hard tissue such as bone, which could explain why soft tissue injuries are among the most common car accident injuries.
Types of Soft Tissue Injuries
There are four common types of soft tissue injuries in car accidents. They are;
- Sprains – Sprains happen when your body is jolted so greatly that your ligaments become overstretched. A sprain can also be a tear of a ligament. A sprain can be mild, moderate, or severe. In the case of a severe sprain, the joint becomes nonfunctional.
Common symptoms of sprains include redness or bruising, swelling, and a limited range of motion.
- Strains – Strains affect the tendons that connect the muscles to bones or to the muscle itself. A soft tissue strain occurs when the tissue is pushed beyond its normal range of motion, resulting in a tear.
Common symptoms of strains include muscle spasms, weakness, swelling, and limited ability to move the tendon or muscle.
- Contusions – This is the same as a bruise. Contusions are caused by blunt trauma and occur when blood vessels break under the skin’s surface. For example, slamming against the dashboard can cause a contusion.
Common symptoms of contusions include discoloration and tenderness to the touch.
- Whiplash – This common soft tissue injury happens when the neck and head rush forward and back suddenly, tearing several soft tissue fibers.
Common symptoms of whiplash include neck stiffness, headaches, neck pain, and shoulder pain.
In conclusion, it is crucial to note that symptoms may vary depending on the severity of the injury. Depending on the severity of the soft tissue injury, some symptoms may be more apparent than others.
Contact Us for Legal Help
Soft tissue injuries can result in substantial medical bills and other financial and non-financial losses. If you believe another party’s negligence caused your soft tissue injury, contact our Tampa personal injury attorneys at The Pendas Law Firm. We can help you recover the compensation you deserve.
The Pendas Law Firm also represents clients in the Fort Myers, Orlando, Jacksonville, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Ocala, Bradenton, Daytona Beach, and West Palm Beach areas.
Source:
mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/whiplash/symptoms-causes/syc-20378921
