Soft Tissue Injuries Caused by Car Accidents

Even minor injuries such as soft tissue injuries can cause significant pain and discomfort.

While some car accidents cause minor injuries, others cause significant injuries and property damage. Even minor injuries, such as soft tissue injuries, can cause significant pain and discomfort. Soft tissue injuries resulting from a car accident are quite common and refer to any injury to the body’s soft areas such as muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Depending on the severity of the crash and the force of the collision, the driver and passengers of the vehicle can be violently jolted or bumped around, causing soft tissue injuries of varying severity.

Examples of Soft Tissue Injuries

• Strains: These are injuries caused by the overuse of a tendon or muscle.
• Contusions: Bruises are a common soft tissue injury and are often minor.
• Sprains: Damage caused to a ligament by the overextension of a joint.

Soft tissue injuries can cause a lot of pain and discomfort. Common symptoms of soft tissue injuries are:

• pain
• swelling
• bruising
• stiffness
• tenderness
• discoloration

Whiplash

Whiplash is one of the most common of all soft tissue injuries to occur in car accidents. Whiplash is known as hyperextension injury or cervical sprain and occurs when a person’s neck and head is forced to move back and forth violently. Some common symptoms of whiplash are:

• back problems
• neck pain
• stiff neck
• cognitive problems

Seeking Immediate Medical Attention

The symptoms of whiplash may not show up immediately and may emerge over a period of time after a car accident. Whiplash requires immediate treatment, otherwise, the patient may start experiencing severe pain and discomfort. It is important to seek medical attention irrespective of whether or not there are any serious symptoms, because the injury may be seemingly minor, but may become aggravated over time.

A doctor may perform an X-Ray to diagnose the injury, and based on the severity, may recommend treatments such as muscle relaxants, immobilization, and physical therapy. An injured person should maintain records of the diagnostic tests performed and the medical treatment sought. These records are important for a victim who files a lawsuit to claim damages from the party responsible for the accident. Contact a St. Louis auto accident lawyer to learn how to claim damages for a negligent driver.

While soft tissue injuries may not be visible, they can still cause a great deal of pain and suffering. In some cases, soft tissue injuries can even lead to permanent disability. Some soft tissue injuries may heal within a few weeks, others can take months or even years to recover fully. In some cases, victims may never fully recover from their injuries.

How to Prove Soft Tissue Injuries After a Car Accident

If you have been injured in a car accident, one of the things you will need to prove is the extent of your injuries. This can be especially difficult if you have soft tissue injuries, as these injuries are not always easy to see and can often be mistaken for minor aches and pains.

There are a few things you can do to prove the existence and extent of your soft tissue injuries.

1. Get Documentation from Your Doctor

If you’ve been attended to by a doctor for your injuries, be sure to keep all of your documentation in one place. This can include things like medical records, X-rays, and MRI results.

In addition to medical records, you may also want to consider getting a written statement from your doctor. In this statement, your doctor should detail the extent of your injuries and how long it is expected that you will need to recover.

2. Take Photos of Your Injuries

Pictures are worth a thousand words. If you have visible injuries, be sure to take photos of them as soon as possible after the accident.

If you don’t have any visible injuries, you may want to consider taking photos of the pain and suffering your injuries have caused you. For example, if your injuries have prevented you from participating in activities you once enjoyed, take photos of yourself doing those things.

3. Keep a Journal Detailing the Pain and Suffering Your Injuries Have Caused You

In addition to taking photos of your injuries, you should also keep a journal detailing how your injuries have affected your life. In the journal, be sure to date each entry and include as many details as possible. For example, if you are experiencing pain and swelling in your knee, note when it started, how long it lasts, what level of pain you’re in, etc.

If you’ve had to miss work due to your injuries, keep track of the days you’ve missed and the income you’ve lost as a result. If your injuries have caused you to suffer emotionally, leading to anxiety, depression, or insomnia, document that as well.

By keeping track of the pain and suffering your injuries have caused you, you’ll not only be able to prove the existence of your injuries but also the extent to which they have impacted your life.

Most Importantly, Speak With an Experienced Car Accident Attorney

While it may be more difficult to prove the existence and extent of soft tissue injuries, it is still possible to receive compensation for these types of injuries. An experienced attorney can ensure that your legal right to compensation is protected and help you prove that your injuries were caused by your accident.

At The Hoffmann Law Firm, L.L.C. we have been protecting the rights on injured car accident victims for 25 years. Give us a call 24/7 for a free case evaluation.