A soft tissue injury caused by a car accident in Missouri can affect the muscles, ligaments, and tendons—essentially, the parts of your body that help you move and stay flexible. Unlike broken bones, these injuries are not easy to see, even with X-rays, which makes them difficult to diagnose.
Common soft tissue injuries after a car accident in Missouri include strains, sprains, lacerations, and whiplash, because of the intense impact generated when cars collide.
Every accident is different, but these kinds of injuries are very common. They are also very painful. As they are not easy to identify, it is important to learn about the symptoms, their possible effects, and the treatments you may have in case you end up with one.
If you were involved in a car accident and think you might’ve been injured, keep reading this article by the highly rated St. Louis car accident attorneys at Beck & Beck Missouri Car Accident Lawyers!
What Exactly is a Soft Tissue Injury?
A soft tissue injury happens when the muscles, ligaments, or tendons in your body are stretched, torn, or bruised by a sudden strong force—just like what happens in a car crash. This tissue helps you move, stay flexible, and support your body, but an accident like this could easily damage it.
People tend to believe that if your injuries are not easily detectable, just like a broken bone or organ damage, it’s not a big deal. But soft tissue injuries like sprains, strains, and deep bruises can be very painful and, if not treated well, could turn into bigger problems.
The tricky part is that these injuries are not very visible, and the symptoms don’t always show up right away. You might think you’re okay at first, only to get worse out of the blue, feeling stiff or sore, or even beginning to swell hours or days later.
That’s why if you have an accident, you should see a doctor immediately to ensure you catch any injury as soon as possible.
The 4 Most Common Soft Tissue Injuries After a Car Crash
Even though soft tissue injuries are very common after car crashes, they aren’t always obvious, but they can be very serious and affect your ability to move if you leave it like that. Even if you feel okay at first, you could feel the injury hours or even days later.
That’s why it is always a good idea to get medical attention right after the accident. There are many types of these injuries, but the most common are:
Bruises (Contusions)
As we are very familiar with bruises, we tend to underestimate them and see them as minor, but they can be more serious than you think. You might just see a colorful mark, but that’s just the surface. Underneath, things get a bit more complicated. When your body hits against something during the crash, like a seatbelt, dashboard, or even the car door, the impact can go deeper than your skin and into your muscle tissue.
Sometimes, those deeper layers need a closer look; that’s why doctors may need to take X-rays or other studies to make sure there isn’t a hidden injury hiding under the bruise.
Concussions
Something most people don’t realize is that you don’t have to hit your head to get hurt. You can get a soft tissue injury affecting your brain, called a concussion, from the sudden jolt of a crash, shaking your brain inside your skull and causing the injury.
Concussions can make your head hurt. Maybe you feel sick to your stomach or find it hard to remember things, like your thoughts are slipping away, or have problems concentrating. These symptoms may not show up right away, which is why it is so important to pay attention to what your body feels in the following days.
Sprains & Strains
It’s easy to mix up sprains and strains, but they affect very different parts of the body:
- Sprains happen in the ligaments, which are like stretchy bands that connect bones at the joints, like ankles or wrists, that are stretched suddenly and torn. These injuries often cause swelling, bruising, and pain, making it difficult to move the area.
- Strains, on the other hand, affect the tendons that connect the muscles to the bones. These are fibers that, if overstretched or torn, can cause muscle spasms, leaving you weak and uncomfortable.
Both of these injuries are very frequent after a car crash because of all the force put on the body. Without good treatment, they can take too long, even months, to heal.
Whiplash
Whiplash happens very often in car accidents and is actually one of the most common injuries, especially in rear-end collisions. Imagine your head being suddenly yanked forward and then snapped back; it can stretch and strain the muscles and ligaments in your neck beyond their limits.
This leaves you feeling stiff, hurting, and dizzy, with a terrible pain that can go down your shoulders and arms. Whiplash injuries are difficult; the symptoms don’t always come right away, which is why getting checked by a doctor after a crash is so important.
Medical Attention and Soft Tissue Injury Care
After a car accident involving soft tissue injuries, the steps to take include the following:
- Getting the Right Diagnosis: First, you’ll need a doctor’s evaluation. They’ll ask you about your symptoms and perform a physical exam. Maybe they’ll have to do an X-ray, MRIs, or CT scans to see if there’s anything more serious, like a fracture or internal injuries.
- Starting Treatment: If your injury is milder, they might suggest some resting, anti-inflammatory medications, and physical therapy. If your injury is more serious, you might need injections and even surgery.
- Following Through With Recovery: The final and maybe most important step is to stick with your treatment plan. Healing takes time, and you may need more care like chiropractics, physical therapy, or other treatments. Keep up with it so you can heal well and don’t end up with pain.
What If You Can’t Afford Medical Bills?
Medical bills can pile up pretty quickly, especially if you need special treatment for your injury, and it is easy to feel overwhelmed. But if you’re concerned about your bills, there might be a way to ease the burden, like finding a helping hand, such as a medical lien. This lets hospitals treat you without any initial payment. The bills will be paid once your accident claim is settled.
Getting checked out at the right moment isn’t just about fixing any injury in your body; it’s about protecting yourself, too. A medical record can turn into a strong piece of evidence if you need to file a claim since it’s an official document proving your injuries.
So, it doesn’t matter if you feel pain at the moment of the accident or a few days later; getting medical help can make the difference both in your treatment and your case.
Getting Compensated For Soft Tissue Injuries
If you were in a car accident, and it was someone else’s fault, you have the right to seek compensation for what happened to you. You might’ve been injured, but since they are not as visible as a broken bone, you probably think you’re not entitled to any compensation. Well, you are!
Your injuries, even though not that obvious, can still cause you pain, affect how you move, and take a lot of money in recovery.
You could get the following covered:
- Medical bills – Doctor visits, hospital stays, and those expensive tests, as well as any treatment you might need.
- Physical therapy and rehabilitation – Your injuries might leave you with trouble moving, which might need some therapy so you can get your strength back.
- Lost income – You can be compensated for the money you lost while you couldn’t go to work until you’re fully recovered.
- Pain and suffering – A car crash and the injuries you got from it can cause pain, stress, and troubles, and you deserve compensation for all of this suffering and emotional distress.
- Prescription medications – Any medication you might need for the pain and your recovery.
- Property damage – In case you had your stuff, like your car, damaged in the accident and needed any repairs or had to be replaced.
The total money you can be compensated will depend on the specific details of your case, like how serious or expensive your injuries were and who was at fault. Keep in mind that insurance companies will often try to argue that soft tissue injuries are not as serious as others.
If they do not offer a fair settlement, or if they deny your claim, you may need to hire an experienced St. Louis personal injury lawyer and file a lawsuit. Take the right steps, and make sure to fight for your health and what you deserve.
Award-Winning Missouri Car Crash Lawyers Near Me
We get it. If you’ve been injured in a car accident, no matter how big or small the injury is, it can be frustrating. But don’t you worry, Beck & Beck Missouri Car Accident Lawyers are here to help! We are ready to fight for you and what you deserve. Let the complicated legal stuff be left to us while you focus on recovering and getting control of your life.
Why choose us?
- We fight for maximum compensation – medical bills, money lost, pain and suffering—we make sure you get everything you’re owed.
- We deal with the insurance companies – don’t let them take advantage of you; we’ll handle them
- We’re here for you – because more than lawyers and clients, we are people helping people. We understand how you’re feeling and will treat your case with the compassion it needs.
The one thing you need to keep in mind is that you don’t have to do this alone. Contact Beck & Beck today for a free consultation—you don’t pay unless we win.
