Soft Tissue Injuries After a Car Accident Explained

The soft tissues of our body can sustain significant injuries as a result of a vehicle accident. A “soft tissue” refers to the parts of our body that support, connect, and surround other structures inside of our body. Soft tissues include muscles, ligaments, tendons, fascia, nerves, joint capsules, etc. Injuries to these areas of the body can lead to significant pain and suffering and long recovery times.

Most Commonly Affected Soft Tissues in a Vehicle Accident

Soft tissues can be affected in a variety of ways due to a vehicle accident. Vehicle accidents are hard on the human body. When we are inside of a vehicle involved in a collision, the inside and outside of our bodies can experience significant trauma.

Some of the most common soft tissue injuries associated with vehicle accidents include:

• Whiplash: A neck injury due to forceful, rapid back-and-forth movement, causing pain, stiffness, and headaches.
• Sprains and Strains: Injuries to ligaments and muscles/tendons, causing swelling, pain, and reduced mobility.
• Contusions: Bruises from direct blows, leading to pain, swelling, and discoloration on the affected area. Bruising on the outside of the body or the inside of the body. Diagnosing internal contusions can be challenging, and often involves additional types of medical testing.
• Tendonitis: Inflammation of tendons, causing pain and tenderness near joints. Even though the name tendonitis evokes thoughts of sports injuries, the reality is that these types of injuries can occur in a variety of ways, including trauma caused by a vehicle accident.
• Bursitis: Inflammation of bursae (fluid-filled sacs) near joints, resulting in pain, swelling, and stiffness. Generally, bursitis is caused by overuse of a particular area of the body, but this can also be caused by direct trauma to the joint.

How Are Soft Tissue Injuries Diagnosed After a Car Accident?

Diagnosing a soft tissue injury is important after a vehicle accident, particularly as a person moves forward with the necessary treatment for a full recovery. The diagnosing of these injuries must be done by a medical professional so they can become an official part of your medical record.

Sometimes, a doctor can diagnose a soft tissue injury without extensive testing, but a doctor may recommend the use of an MRI to create a cross-sectional image of the affected area of the body. An MRI can diagnose soft tissue injuries by showing more clarity than is possible through an X-ray.

Can Victims Receive Compensation for a Soft Tissue Injury Following a Crash?

Accident victims may be able to recover compensation for their soft tissue injuries if another party was responsible for causing their injury. Generally, individuals receive compensation through an insurance settlement. The at-fault driver’s insurance carrier will be responsible for paying compensation for your injuries, including treatment for soft tissue damage.

Crash victims may be able to receive compensation for not only medical bills, but also lost wages, property damage expenses, and various out-of-pocket expenses arising due to the crash. However, dealing with insurance carriers can be challenging, particularly if there is any dispute over fault for the collision.