Many people involved in a car crash might not seek immediate medical attention for minor aches and pains. This could turn out to be a terrible mistake. It is common for these seemingly insignificant symptoms to be caused by soft tissue injuries, which may worsen over time following an accident.
Since soft tissue injuries are more difficult to detect, it’s crucial to get checked out by a doctor to make sure the symptoms you’re experiencing aren’t the beginning of something more serious. In this article, we will be discussing some of the most common soft tissue injuries caused by car accidents. If you’re experiencing soft tissue injuries from a car accident, understand that you’ll need both medical professionals and qualified Florida personal injury lawyers in on your side.
What are Soft Tissue Injuries?
Trauma to the skin, muscles, tendons, or ligaments can be classified as a soft tissue injury. This type of injury doesn’t include fractures, which refers to damage to hard tissue such as bone. It also differs from injuries to internal organs such as the lungs, brain, intestines, stomach, heart, and the like.
Common Soft Tissue Injuries Caused by Car Accidents
Here are some of the common types of soft tissue damage that result from vehicle collisions:
-
Herniated Disc
The fibrous tissues that act as cushions between the spine of the vertebrae are called discs, and they are responsible for absorbing the strain of day-to-day activity. However, after a catastrophe like a vehicle collision, the discs might move out of position, causing the vertebrae to scrape against each other or impinge on a nerve. When this occurs, it can result in nerve pain and a tingling or numbing sensation in your legs or back.
Although herniated discs are more usually linked with aging, this can also be due to traumatic injuries and need medical treatment. Your age and the level of strain on your spine’s discs can further increase your risk of a herniated disc following a car accident. This condition can also happen alongside a whiplash injury or because of one.
-
Whiplash
Whiplash from a car accident is due to how the force of a collision impacts the neck and spine. Once the car collides with another, the body first gets thrown forward and then gets jerked backward. Although the seatbelt keeps the torso from jolting too much, the neck often bears the brunt of the collision’s impact. This often causes the head to be suddenly moved forward and backward with considerable force, leading to whiplash.
Whiplash is among the best examples of how symptoms can initially be delayed and then gradually worsen in the hours and days following the injury. The force of the jolt can cause strain on the spinal cord and the muscles and other soft tissues in the surrounding area. Symptoms of whiplash include neck pain, stiff neck, and shoulders, as well as swelling.
-
Contusions
A contusion is what most people refer to as a bruise. It’s possible to sustain a contusion anywhere on your body with connective tissue and muscle. This indicates that you can experience contusions in your brain or heart, even though bruises usually occur in the extremities. This often happens due to the impact of a car crash. You should consult with a doctor immediately if you’re feeling any pain in such areas or have large bruises that won’t go away.
-
Lacerations
Most people who are injured in car accidents often get lacerations. This type of injury may range from a tiny scratch to a deep gash that needs stitches or even surgery.
The force of a car crash can cause the glass to break, allow gravel and other debris from the road into the car, and cause any loose items to scatter all over the interior. The impact can sometimes be severe enough to cause cuts.
You’ll be able to see the wounds straight away, so get medical attention immediately. As a result, these small injuries will not turn into critical ones in the future.
-
Torn ACL
A torn ACL might be something you’ve already heard of, but you may not have known exactly what it implies. The anterior cruciate ligament, otherwise known as the ACL, comprises the bands of tissue that link your femur to your tibia. When you sustain an injury to this area, it can have an impact on your knee.
You are most likely to get an ACL tear when you abnormally twist your knees. This type of knee injury is common in car accidents, particularly rollover collisions and rear-end collisions since your body encounters a sudden change of direction during these crashes.
It is common for an ACL tear to cause swelling around the knee, pain while walking or standing, and popping noises coming from the knee.
-
Torn Rotator Cuff
All the tissues that support your shoulder joint are collectively known as the rotator cuff. Tears in the rotator cuff’s connective tissue can be partial or total. When you are in a car accident, you run the risk of sustaining this injury if your seatbelt strains against your shoulder or sternum.
As a result, you may experience symptoms such as pain that travels down your shoulder and a decreased mobility that keeps you from lifting your arm. You may also experience significant weakness, difficulty carrying objects, and a popping noise when moving your shoulder.
-
Concussion
One in every sixty people who are involved in car accidents that require towing sustains a concussion. When someone takes a knock to the head, they can suffer from this injury. Though concussions seldom result in death, they can nonetheless have a substantial impact on a person’s quality of life.
Some of the most common symptoms of concussion are nausea or vomiting, balance issues, light or noise sensitivity, fatigue, memory problems, as well as momentary unconsciousness. However, several symptoms of concussion need immediate medical attention, such as extreme sleepiness, uneven pupil dilation, and seizures or convulsions.
Fortunately, you can greatly lower your risk of suffering a concussion in a car collision by 70% if you always buckle up.
What To Do If You Have A Soft Tissue Injury
If you were in a car accident and are experiencing pain that you suspect is from soft tissue injuries, you can apply the RICE technique as a home remedy. The next step is to contact your doctor for a consultation immediately.
- Rest: After suffering a traumatic injury, you should avoid overworking the injured area and instead give it some rest.
- Ice: Make use of cold packs for intervals of twenty minutes, multiple times throughout the day. Rather than directly putting ice on the skin, use a washcloth to shield your skin from the cold.
- Compression: Wearing a bandage that provides elastic compression or having someone apply moderate pressure to the area can help avoid more inflammation and bleeding.
- Elevation: Swelling can be reduced by raising the injury above your heart while you rest.
The Bottom Line
Even though soft tissue injuries might not seem as incapacitating as a fractured leg, they can nevertheless result in thousands of dollars in hospital expenses. If you or a loved one were injured in a car crash, do not hesitate to get in touch with an experienced car accident lawyer. Our attorneys can help you file and handle your claim much more quickly, improving your chances of receiving the full amount of compensation you deserve. Contact us today.