What is Soft Tissue Injury In a Car Accident?

Every year in New York, thousands of individuals are injured in car accidents. These injuries can vary from simple scratches and bruises to fractures, amputations, and other catastrophic conditions. One of the most prevalent types of injuries sustained following a car accident is soft tissue damage. Unfortunately, they are one of the most overlooked types of injuries. Soft tissue injuries aren’t always obvious shortly after a collision, but they can have severe consequences, like suffering from chronic pain. Recovery can be lengthy; some conditions may necessitate surgery or physiotherapy, and the majority of them have a significant impact on our daily lives. If you have just been in an accident and had a soft tissue injury, you need to act quickly to guarantee you get the compensation you deserve for your medical expenditures. An experienced soft tissue injury lawyer can help you demonstrate the severity of your injuries even if they are not visible.

What is a Soft Tissue Injury?

All injuries that affect muscles, ligament and tendons are considered to be soft tissue injuries.

• Muscles pull our joints together, allowing us to move, walk, talk, chew, and perform other body functions. A torn muscle can make it difficult to carry out normal tasks and can be extremely painful.
• Ligaments are tissues that connect two bones together, particularly in the joints, providing stability.
• Tendons, on the other hand, connect our bones with our muscles. They allow us to move by transmitting the muscle’s contraction force.

Any injury to either of these tissues will obviously make it harder for us to move and execute numerous tasks that require physical effort.

Most Common Soft Tissue Injuries

There are many injuries that can be categorized as soft tissue injury. Nonetheless there are some more common than others, especially when it comes to car accidents. Here is a list of injuries that are very common:

• Whiplash: In most rear-end collisions, the driver’s head moves violently back and forth. Muscles, ligaments, nerves, and spinal discs in the neck may be damaged as a result of this movement. The severity of the whiplash can vary, some may cause neck stiffness or sharp neck pain for several days or weeks. 
• Contusion: This happens when a muscle receives an impact strong enough to crush the fibers and connective structures in a muscle, without piercing the skin. This results in bleeding and pain around the lesion. When drivers and passengers collide with the steering wheel or other automotive parts, contusions are common. Bruises are another name for contusions.
• Sprains: These injuries typically occur when a ligament is overstretched, causing it to partially or totally tear. Ligaments hold bones together, so injuries to joints, such as the knees, wrists, and elbows, are common. Sprains induce swelling and pain in the afflicted joint. Depending on the degree of the sprain, it may be possible to recover by simply resting for a few days or weeks. Some sprains, however, may necessitate surgery.
• Strains: These injuries are quite similar to sprains, with the exception that tendons are affected. Tendons can be partially or totally ripped when stretched or twisted beyond their limitations. The back, legs, feet, and neck are the most typically affected areas by strains. Pain, swelling, and muscle spasms are all symptoms of strains.
• Tendinitis: Tendinitis is an inflammation or irritation of tendons. Pain and tenderness are felt just outside a joint in this situation. These injuries can affect any of your tendons, but they are most frequent in the areas of your shoulders, elbows, wrists, knees, and heels. The majority of tendonitis instances can be successfully managed with rest, physical therapy, and pain medication. If tendinitis is severe and a tendon ruptures, surgery may be required.
• Bursitis: Bursitis is a painful condition that occurs when small, fluid-filled sacs, called bursae become inflamed. Bursitis is most commonly found in the shoulder, elbow, and hip. Resting the injured joint and preventing it from further stress are common treatments. Bursitis discomfort usually goes away in a few weeks with correct treatment, although repeated bursitis flare-ups are common.
• Herniated disk: Refers to an issue with one of the disks that sit between the various bones that make up your spine (vertebrae). A herniated disk might irritate a neighboring nerve if it occurs in any area of the spine. A herniated disk can cause discomfort, numbness, or weakness in an arm or leg, depending on where it is located.

What Are the Treatment Options for Soft Tissue Injuries?

Soft tissue injuries can take a long time to manifest, but once they do, they can be quite painful. Most soft tissue injuries are treated with the “R.I.C.E” approach, which is widely accepted. Rest, ice, compression, and elevation are the letters that make up this acronym. Nonetheless, a doctor will need to assess your injuries properly in order to determine the appropriate medical treatment. Some soft tissue injuries are serious enough to necessitate physical treatment, movement restriction, and surgery. 

Can You Claim Soft Tissue Damage?

Yes, you can submit a soft tissue injury claim with your own insurance company or with the insurer of the liable party. Soft tissue injuries, on the other hand, are not always possible to easily verify and hence compensate. Following an accident, you must take specific steps to safeguard your rights. Gather as much evidence as possible, including photos of the accident scene, your injuries, and anything else that can assist you prove that a lesion was caused by a crash. If you feel any new pain, immediately go to a doctor, they will order tests in order to determine the injury you suffered. Medical records and test results are also vital to build a strong case. Additionally, getting professional assistance from a personal injury attorney will help you reunite all evidence faster and therefore increase your chances of receiving fair compensation for your injuries. Remember that insurance companies will try to pay as little as possible. Lawyers with experience in car accidents will know how to negotiate with insurance companies and protection from their allegations. 

New York’s Soft Tissue Injury Statute of Limitations

If you need to file a personal injury lawsuit against the liable party, keep in mind that you only have a certain period of time to do so. You have three years from the date of the accident to initiate a lawsuit in New York State. If you do not complete this by the deadline, your case will be dismissed. Keep in mind that, while three years may seem like a long time, it is advisable to bring a lawsuit as soon as possible because it will strengthen your case and keep evidence and memories fresh.

Free Case Analysis

Suffering injuries as a result of an accident is both physically and mentally exhausting. Having to deal with medical bills, car repairs, and lost wages can be stressful, and you’ll also need to follow the appropriate procedures in order to be reimbursed by an insurance provider. If you ever find yourself in this situation, feel free to contact us. Our attorneys at Greenberg & Stein P.C. have assisted countless car accident victims in receiving the compensation they deserved. Call us at 212-969-8776 to schedule a free case consultation with a member of our legal team to review your case.