Moments after a serious car accident, you will perform a quick “body check” to see if you’re injured. You can tell right away if you have cuts or problems moving a leg or hand that has been fractured. What might not be obvious at first is a soft tissue injury.
These are the strains, pulls, and tears on your muscles, tendons, ligaments, and connective tissues. These are known as your soft tissues. Too often, these types of injuries don’t show up on an X-ray, and the symptoms might not appear until days after the accident.
However, if left untreated, soft tissue damage can lead to permanent nerve damage and mobility challenges.
Common Types of Soft Tissue Damage After a Car Accident
A soft-tissue injury is one of the most common outcomes of motor vehicle collisions. That is especially true if you are involved in a rear-end and side-impact crash.
Among the common types of soft tissue injuries are the following:
Whiplash
It has been estimated that around 2 to 3 million people suffer from whiplash injuries that have been attributed to car accidents. Whiplash occurs at the moment of impact when your body is thrust back and forth. That split-second jolt often leads to neck stiffness, headaches, shoulder pain, and reduced range of motion.
Muscle strains
The same muscle strains that you experience from working out can happen after an accident. When you overstretch in reaction to the impact, you can tear muscle fibers in your neck, back, shoulders, or legs.
Ligament sprains
Ligaments are the tissues that stabilize joints. When that soft tissue is strained in an accident, your spine, knees, or wrists could be impacted.
Tendon injuries
Tendons connect muscles to bones. Injury from overexertion can compromise your ability to move your arms or legs.
Contusions
A contusion is medical-speak for a bruise. When your muscles are impacted by blunt force trauma, it can result in a bruise. That bruise can also indicate more serious internal bleeding and swelling.
Although these are the types of injuries that can heal on their own with rest, they can significantly interfere with daily activities, work responsibilities, and overall quality of life. If left untreated, it could also mean permanent damage.
Why Soft Tissue Injury Symptoms Are Often Delayed
One of the most dangerous aspects of soft tissue damage is that symptoms may not appear immediately after a crash. The main reason is your body’s natural defenses. In a stressful situation, such as a car accident, your body releases adrenaline. This is designed to mask pain and inflammation temporarily. According to research, the reason the body does this is to allow you the power you need to “escape” from a dangerous situation.
Once the adrenaline dissipates, the gradual inflammation begins. This is a slow but progressive swelling and tissue irritation that might take hours or days to develop. If you’ve ever stubbed your toe really badly, it might hurt in an instant, but the real pain shows up the next day, along with the bruising and swelling. That holds true for most soft-tissue injuries.
If you experienced microtears in your muscle or ligaments, they might not manifest right away. Over time, when you use that muscle, you can experience pain or an inability to move. The same applies to nerve irritation, which might show up as tingling, weakness, or pain in your muscles.
Right after an accident, you could feel emotionally shaken but physically fine, only to discover the next day that something is wrong. You shouldn’t put off seeing a doctor at that point, thinking the pain might just go away. An insurance company can use a delay in symptoms and treatment to call into question the legitimacy of your injury.
The Long-Term Impact of Untreated Soft Tissue Injuries
You probably know someone who has recurring back pain. Typically, this happens when someone strains their back but doesn’t seek treatment. Instead, they go about their business until another flare-up lays them out. The same thing can happen with soft-tissue injuries after a car accident. If they aren’t treated immediately, you could experience the following long-term effects:
- Chronic pain
- Reduced mobility
- Degenerative conditions
- Mental and emotional strain
The best way to avoid the long-term impact of a soft tissue injury is to follow your doctor’s orders for recovery. You might feel the strain of having to miss work as you recover. That is why you want to keep a journal of your pain and suffering and include it in your settlement request.
How Insurance Companies Undervalue Soft Tissue Claims
A good day for an insurance company is a day they don’t have to pay out a claim. Insurance carriers see each claim as a strike against their profits. That is why they will lean on aggressive tactics to try to reduce the amount of your claim. Even if it is clear who caused the accident, they will still attempt to undervalue the extent of your injury.
Often, insurance companies attempt to minimize soft-tissue injury claims because they are harder to quantify. They might argue that your level of pain is “subjective.” In other words, they will try to prove that it’s “not all that bad.” They could accomplish that by scouring your social media since the accident for signs of you out and about enjoying life. That could be evidence that you’re fine.
They might also try to assert that your pain is really from a pre-existing condition that is unrelated to the accident. For instance, if you have seen your doctor for back pain or a sore neck in the past, the insurance company can claim that it is the actual injury.
They might also offer a low settlement to close the claim before the full extent of the injury is known. For instance, your doctor might prescribe 10 weeks of physical therapy. The insurance company might pay for that, but what happens if in week eight, you’re not improving? It could mean you need more PT. Unfortunately, if you accept the settlement, you won’t be able to ask for more.
All of these tactics underscore the need for a strong advocate on your side. You can find that advocate at the Folkman Law Offices. We are a team of Cherry Hill accident lawyers who aren’t afraid to take on the insurance companies. We also put our clients’ needs first and will fight to help them obtain the maximum compensation they are due.
Steps to Take for Your Health and Legal Protection
If you suspect you’ve suffered a soft tissue injury after a car accident, it is vital to seek medical attention. This is not the type of injury that you want to “ride out.” Once your doctor has confirmed the injury, follow their instructions for recovery. Failure to do so can complicate your claim. For instance, if your doctor says you can’t return to work for 2 weeks, you should take that time.
Once your medical evaluation is complete and you’re in the recovery phase, you want to consult with an attorney. The Folkman Law Office has extensive experience with these types of injury claims. We understand how to properly value and prove soft tissue injuries.
Soft tissue damage may be invisible, but its effects are real and often severe. Recognizing the risks, seeking timely treatment, and protecting your legal rights can help ensure you are not left paying the price for an injury that wasn’t your fault. Call to set up a consultation today to understand all your options fully.
