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Identifying injuries after an accident is paramount to a settlement. Injuries such as bone breaks, cuts, or burns are clearly identifiable, so the treatment is clear. Soft tissue injuries refer to injuries to tissues or muscles. These injuries are difficult generally because they are not visible in an x-ray, to the eye, or in an MRI. Even though these injuries are not clearly identifiable, they exist.
Getting a proper diagnosis and treatment is challenging, particularly because the effect of soft tissue injury can remain throughout your life. Furthermore, because of the pain and discomfort of this injury, proper diagnosis and treatment are relevant to your well-being. Insurance companies regard soft tissue injuries with suspicion for these same reasons.
What are Soft Tissue Injuries?
Soft tissue injuries usually result from overuse or from sudden, unexpected movement. When a vehicle impacts another vehicle or object, there is a fast change in direction. The body’s muscles, nervous system, and ligaments react to this sudden, jerking, jolting motion. The resulting soft tissue injuries happen inside your body and can be painful. Examples include:
- Whiplash: A car accident victim can experience whiplash in an accident when there is a sudden impact. Whiplash is a neck injury when the head suddenly moves backward then forward. Whiplash often occurs when a car is rear-ended.
- Strains: A strain happens when a muscle or tendon is impacted by a strong force. The muscle or tendon may also be torn.
- Sprains: A sprain is a partial tear to a ligament caused by a twist. Sprains usually affect ankles, knees, and wrists.
- Bursitis: Bursitis is caused by inflammation of the bursa. A bursa is fluid-filled sacs located where muscles and tendons move over bony joints. In an accident, bursitis is caused by a direct impact on a joint. Accident victims usually will feel bursitis in their shoulder, elbow, knee, hip, foot, or ankle.
- Bruises: A bruise, also called a contusion, is an injury caused by blunt force. A victim will receive a bruise from a blunt force such a blow from your body part hitting the car. A bruise is caused because of bleeding into the tissue resulting in pain and discoloration.
Why are Soft Tissue Injuries Relevant in an Accident?
As with all injuries, soft tissue injuries can impact your present and future health. A proper diagnosis can lead to treatment that allows for your recovery.
As with all injuries in an accident, it affects the value of your case. Soft tissue injuries are difficult to document and prove because they are not clearly identifiable by sight, in an MRI or an X-ray. Proper medical treatment is just as important including to document that the injury exists. Like all injuries in a vehicle accident, the value of your case depends on the impact of the accident on your physical health, emotional health, and the impact on your life.
Atlanta, Georgia Legal Team Specializing in Soft Tissue Injuries
The experienced injury and accident attorneys at CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm understand all that is involved with soft tissue injuries resulting from an accident. We help our clients get the best settlement in a personal injury lawsuit involving these injuries. The legal team at CEO Lawyer will partner with you to:
- Identify your injuries and how they resulted from the accident
- Document your injuries
- Document how the injuries have affected your life
- Identify the proper treatment
If you have been in an accident and have questions about your injury, call today for your free consultation.