Car accidents can cause a wide range of injuries, the severity of which depends on a range of factors, including the type of accident and the speed at which the vehicles were traveling. Soft tissue injuries are some of the most common types of injuries people suffer after a car accident. However, they are often dismissed as minor injuries, despite the fact that they can cause chronic pain and long-term complications, particularly if they are not properly diagnosed and treated in a timely manner. Depending on the type and severity of a soft tissue injury, the medical expenses associated with treating these injuries can be very costly.
If you suffered a soft tissue injury in a car accident, you may be entitled to financial compensation by filing a personal injury claim. An experienced car accident lawyer will assist you with every step of the claims process, ensure that your legal rights are protected, and pursue the maximum damages to which you are entitled.
What Are Soft Tissue Injuries?
A “soft tissue” injury affects the ligaments, tendons, and muscles in the musculoskeletal system. When the body’s connective tissue is injured, it can cause significant pain, discomfort, swelling, bruising, and stiffness.
Oftentimes, however, the shock of the accident can cause adrenaline to course through the body, masking pain and other symptoms. In fact, it is not uncommon for car accident victims to walk away from a car accident thinking that they did not suffer any injuries, and that the minor pain or soreness will disappear over the next day or so. Unfortunately, when these injuries are ignored or untreated, they can cause chronic pain and other complications.
Types of Car Accident Soft Tissue Injuries
The following are examples of common soft tissue injuries that can occur in a car accident:
- Whiplash: This occurs when the muscles and ligaments in the neck are stretched due to the sudden back-and-forth movement of the head and neck during a car accident. If left untreated, whiplash causes a range of complications, including mobility issues, chronic headaches, vertebral misalignment, and degenerative disc disease.
- Muscle strains: This occurs when the impact of a car accident causes damage to the tendons, which are between the bones and the muscles. This often affects the back, neck, and shoulders.
- Muscle sprains: This is when a car accident causes damage to the ligaments, which are the tissue surrounding the joint that connects your bones.
- Contusions: While these are not necessarily serious injuries, a deep tissue contusion can cause significant internal bleeding and pain.
What Are Common Symptoms of Soft Tissue Injuries?
In the moments immediately following a car accident, you may not feel pain or other symptoms, particularly if adrenaline is masking the pain. In the hours or days following the accident, you may experience the following common symptoms:
- Stiffness or reduced range of motion.
- Swelling or bruising.
- Difficulty moving or putting weight on that body part.
- Visible bruising.
- Numbness or tingling.
- Frequent headaches.
- Muscle spasms.
- Persistent pain or tenderness at the injury site.
What Are Possible Complications of a Soft Tissue Injury?
While soft tissue injuries are generally not life-threatening, there are immediate and long-term complications that can occur if they are not properly diagnosed and treated.
The following are examples of short-term complications:
- Blood vessel damage: A severe soft tissue injury can cause potentially serious complications, including internal bleeding or a loss of blood supply to the tissues.
- Nerve damage: When a car accident causes soft tissue damage, it can also cause mild nerve damage, also known as “neuropraxia.” In some cases, the swelling can cause nerve damage by compressing the nerves in the area affected by the injury.
- Compartment syndrome: This is a severe swelling around the muscles, where pressure builds to a dangerous level within enclosed muscle groups – or “compartments” – in the arms or legs. It can cause permanent damage or death to the tissue.
Long-term complications of soft tissue injuries that have not been properly treated include the following:
- Contracture: While it is recommended that you immobilize your injured body part as it is healing, too much immobilization can cause the soft tissue to tighten and contract. Physical therapy can prevent this from happening.
- Joint instability: When a soft tissue injury does not heal properly, the injured joint can become unstable and more likely to become reinjured. In some cases, surgery may be required to fix this.
- Chronic inflammation: Soft tissue injuries that do not heal properly can cause chronic inflammation, which can lead to chronic pain and long-term soft tissue damage.
How Are Soft Tissue Injuries Treated?
In most cases, soft tissue injuries heal on their own with conservative care, although a more severe injury may require surgery or other medical interventions. The following is a soft tissue injury treatment protocol that has been introduced by healthcare providers:
PEACE and LOVE
This is an updated protocol for the RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation) protocol, which includes the following steps:
- Protection: In order to protect the injury while it heals, you may need to wear a cast, brace, or splint.
- Elevation: It is highly recommended that you elevate the injured area while resting to prevent blood flow and swelling.
- Avoid anti-inflammatories: Healthcare providers now recommend avoiding pain relievers like acetaminophen or arnica that do not suppress inflammation.
- Compression: Securing an elastic bandage around the area of the soft- tissue injury can reduce swelling and bleeding.
- Education: Healthcare providers should educate you about your role in your recovery and the proactive steps you can take to speed up your recovery.
And
- Load: This is the process of gradually increasing weight or stress to the injured area. This may involve physical therapy.
- Optimism: Research suggests that maintaining a positive attitude can have a positive impact on your prognosis.
- Vascularization: This involves increasing blood flow to the injured tissue.
- Exercise: Physical therapy can help restore strength and flexibility to the affected tissue and prevent reinjury.
Why Is It Imperative to Seek Medical Treatment for a Soft Tissue Injury?
Like any other injury, it is important that you seek immediate medical attention for a soft tissue injury after a car accident. However, due to the nature of the injury and the often delayed onset of symptoms, people assume that the injury is minor and does not require medical attention. Unfortunately, a delay in treatment can cause the injury to become more serious and difficult to treat.
In addition, if you do file a personal injury claim, a failure to seek immediate medical attention at the scene of the accident will likely have a negative outcome on your claim. The insurance company may either deny your claim or offer you a lowball settlement, arguing that your injuries must not be very serious if you did not find it necessary to seek medical attention.
What Damages Am I Entitled to if I Suffered a Soft Tissue Injury in a Car Accident?
The costs associated with a soft tissue injury can start to accumulate quickly. Ultimately, a settlement for a soft tissue injury can vary widely and will be based on a number of factors, including the severity of the injury, the impact that the injury has on your overall quality of life, and the details of your insurance policy.
If you are able to prove that the other motorists were completely at fault for causing the accident, and that you do not share any liability, a successful personal injury claim will ensure that you recover the damages you are entitled to, including the following:
- All medical expenses associated with your injury, including physical therapy.
- Lost wages if you are unable to return to work for an extended period of time.
- Property damage.
- Pain and suffering.
- Loss of enjoyment of life.
What If I Was Partly at Fault for Causing the Car Accident?
Virginia is one of the few states in the country that follows the “pure contributory negligence” rule, which states that if you are found to be even 1% at fault for causing the accident, your claim will likely be denied and you will be unable to recover any damages. This can be financially devastating if your injuries require hospitalization, ongoing medical care, and physical therapy. A dedicated car accident lawyer will examine the evidence and build a strong case that avoids liability.
A Virginia Beach Car Accident Lawyer at Anchor Legal ® Pursues Maximum Compensation for Victims of Soft Tissue Injuries
If you or a loved one suffered a soft tissue injury in a car accident that was caused by the other motorists involved, do not hesitate to contact a Virginia Beach car accident lawyer at Anchor Legal. Our highly skilled legal team will thoroughly examine the details of your case, determine whether negligence was a factor, and hold the negligent party liable for their actions.
We will work tirelessly to protect your legal rights and pursue the maximum financial compensation you deserve for your injuries. To schedule a free consultation, call today at 757-LAW-0000 or contact us online. Located in Virginia Beach, we proudly serve clients in the surrounding areas.