If you are hurt in a car accident, the chances are you will suffer from soft tissue injuries. Although some car accidents result in broken bones, the most common diagnosis after a car accident is soft tissue injury. Soft tissue injures happen when the muscles ligaments, or tendons in the body are damaged. While they can happen because of overuse, they can also occur from sudden trauma, like car accidents. The most common types of soft tissue injuries are strains, sprains, contusion, and whiplash.

• A sprain is a stretch or tear of a ligament.
• A strain is an injury to a muscle or a tendon.
• A contusion is the medical name for a bruise. A contusion is caused by direct or repeated blows to a body part.
• Whiplash occurs when the head and neck are forced to move back and forth violently.

If you are hurt in an accident, it is best to seek medical treatment immediately even if you think the accident is “minor”. Sometimes people in an accident don’t realize the significance of soft tissue injuries. They may treat their injuries with over-the-counter medication such as Tylenol or Motrin for the pain and compression sleeves and other over-the-counter treatment for the swelling. Without a proper diagnosis, it is no way to know the injury is being treated correctly. A misdiagnosis of soft tissue injuries can lead to longer recovery time and sometimes surgery may be required.

Soft tissue injuries can result in significant medical bills. If you believe your car accident is the result of another driver’s negligence, call our office today. While you focus on your recovery, our attorneys will work to ensure you receive the compensation you are entitled to for your loss.