The Seriousness of Soft Tissue Injuries From an Accident

When you experience a sudden accident, it is easy to ignore signs of bruising and muscle stiffness as you deal with your sudden trauma. While injured individuals typically associate injuries like broken bones or blood loss with accidents, soft tissue injuries are also serious injuries. If you suffered a serious muscle strain or torn ligament due to no fault of your own, you should discuss your case with a Florida personal injury attorney.

The Most Common Types of Soft Tissue Injuries

The tissues that help with the body’s movement are easily injured when impacted by a serious accident. A soft tissue injury involves trauma to one or more of the following:

• Skin
• Muscle
• Tendon
• Ligament

There are two categories for soft tissue injuries:

• Acute trauma – The result of an external force impacting the body
• Overuse injury – Caused by repetitive use of soft tissues

Accidents are the most common cause of acute trauma injuries. The severity of the injury depends upon the type of accident and the force of the impact. Whiplash is one form of an acute traumatic injury involving soft tissue, and it can range from minor to severe. Sometimes called a neck sprain or strain, whiplash involves the rapid back-and-forth motion of the neck. While common in car accidents, whiplash can also occur due to a fall or an assault, as well. Severe cases of whiplash can result in headaches and pain that spreads to the arms. Some patients experience pain from whiplash for months, and even years, after an accident. Other examples of soft tissue injuries that fall under the category of acute trauma include the following:

• Sprains – A sprain is a partial tear to a ligament. If the ligament is completely torn, it may require surgical repair. The most common areas to experience a sprain are the ankles, knees, and wrists.
• Strains – A strain is different from a sprain. A strain injury involves damage to a muscle or tendon.
• Contusions (bruises) – Most any type of accident can leave you with some form of contusion. An injury to the soft tissue, a contusion is often the result of a blunt force impact. A contusion results in pain, swelling, and discoloration due to blood entering the tissue.
• Lacerations – Open wounds that result from acute trauma show signs of damaged skin that expose the layers of soft tissue under the skin.
• Abrasions – While abrasions only affect the layers of skin, they are quite painful and similar to a burn. A first-degree abrasion affects the top layer of skin, a second-degree burn affects the second layer, and a third-degree abrasion affects all three layers of skin. Abrasions are also referred to as friction burns because of the type of injury.
• Stress fracture – Described as a small crack in a bone, stress fractures are often the result of repetitive motion. In some cases, a stress fracture can progress into a broken bone and possibly require surgery.
• Tendonitis – This type of soft tissue injury involves inflammation of a tendon. Tendonitis, like a stress fracture, is often due to overuse of such body parts as the hand, wrist, knees, or ankles.
• Bursitis – A patient develops bursitis when the fluid-filled sac that serves as a cushion between the bones and muscles becomes inflamed. Bursitis can result from either repetitive use or from acute trauma.

If you experienced one or more of these types of soft tissue injuries due to no fault of your own, you deserve justice. Injuries involving your muscles, tendons, and ligaments are painful and often slow to heal. A personal injury attorney familiar with Florida law can help you with your case. Let an attorney deal with insurance companies so that you can concentrate on your healing and recovery.

Care and Treatment Necessary for Soft Tissue Injuries

What may seem like “just a bruise” or stiffness after an accident may, in fact, be something much more serious. Soft tissue injuries are why it is imperative to always accept medical transport to a hospital immediately. Diagnosing your soft tissue injury and deciding upon the best course of treatment requires a medical professional and diagnostic testing like that of an MRI. Soft tissue injuries are classified in terms of seriousness by grades:

• Grade one (mild): Sprain or tear comprising up to 5 percent of a ligament or a joint.
• Grade two (moderate): Sprain or tear of up to 50 percent of a ligament or joint.
• Grade three (severe): One hundred percent sprain or tear of a ligament or joint.

Soft tissue injuries can escalate to a grade four—the highest and most dangerous level of soft tissue injuries. A grade four injury means there is avulsion, defined as a sprain or tear of a ligament or joint that results in complete tear from a bone. Signs of a possible soft tissue injury include:

• Hearing a “popping” or “snapping” sound during or immediately after your accident.
• Experiencing a limited range of motion with your limbs.
• There are symptoms of pain, swelling, and bruising.
• You are unable to put any weight on the injured area.

Most mild cases of soft tissue injuries are treatable at home with ice, rest, and elevation of inflamed limbs. Doctors may use a splint, brace, or sling to stabilize the injured area. Moderate to severe cases of soft tissue injuries may require surgery and extensive physical and occupational therapy. Soft tissue injuries of any level limit your mobility and disrupt your life. The painful tear of a ligament can make you dependant upon others for assistance with your daily needs, such as bathing and dressing. When this type of injury is inflicted by another person due to his or her careless actions, it isn’t fair. A soft tissue injury can take weeks—even months—to heal. In serious cases, a patient may never recover full use of the injured area. Dealing with the resulting scar tissue, medications, and continuous appointments with doctors is downright frustrating. If you experienced a serious soft tissue injury due to the negligence of another person, you owe it to yourself to discuss your case with an attorney. Most personal injury attorneys offer free case evaluations, meaning you have nothing to lose by contacting one today.

Why You Need a Personal Injury Attorney

A soft tissue injury is no small matter when it comes to your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Insurance companies may try to diminish the seriousness of your injury or offer you as little money as possible. Retaining an experienced personal injury attorney can help protect your rights and maximize your compensation. The muscles, tendons, and ligaments in our body help us more than we know. It is only when they become seriously injured that we realize how they help us function on a daily basis. When you experience a serious soft tissue injury due to no fault of your own, you may be entitled to compensation. Don’t let insurance company representatives bully you into signing anything without legal representation. Insurance companies want to settle cases quickly. Their initial settlement offers may seem like a lot of money to you, but chances are that it’s not enough for your future medical care. Your severe injury may require more than one surgery, countless medications, and months of therapies. The majority of personal injury claims are settled outside of court. An experienced personal injury attorney is well aware of the tactics that insurance companies use to deny or delay compensation. If an insurance company is uncooperative when it comes to negotiations, the right attorney is ready and willing to go to trial. Trying to handle your case on your own is risky. This period of great pain and stress is no time to test your negotiation skills. Insurance companies are too experienced and too clever for injured individuals to deal with on their own. Your future medical and personal care needs are too important to leave to chance. Placing your case in the hands of a licensed attorney affords you the peace-of-mind you need during this difficult time. A personal injury claim is your right under Florida law, and you deserve the best compensation possible. While each case is different, you may be entitled to financial compensation for your injuries, depending on the specific circumstances of your case.

Soft Tissue Injuries Are Serious

It’s easy to dismiss a sore neck or a stiff muscle that develops after an accident as no big deal. However, it’s sometimes the smallest injury that can result in the largest problem for your health. Never shake off any type of injury after an accident, and always seek immediate medical attention. Your medical report can serve as valuable documentation should you pursue a personal injury claim. The muscles, tendons, and ligaments that connect to make our body’s movements are tough yet tender when it comes to sudden trauma. A collision from an out-of-control vehicle or a slip on a wet floor can result in a hard impact on your body. The moment of impact is the moment your life changes forever due to the carelessness of someone else. Soft tissue injuries can make your favorite hobbies impossible and can even lead to the end of your career. Your quick trip to the store or to a restaurant for dinner with friends can turn tragic in a second. Any possible surgeries can delay your healing and leave you without a steady income. If you experienced soft tissue injuries, you deserve quality care. Consider reaching out to a personal injury attorney to discuss the specifics of your case. No one should pay out-of-pocket for injuries experienced due to the reckless actions of someone else. Insurance companies are only looking out for themselves and not for you. Having someone on your side during this stressful time is important for protecting your interests. A personal injury attorney has the experience that you need for your case and the compassion that you and your family deserve. Time is of the essence due to the statute of limitations for filing your claim. The clock starts ticking the moment you become injured. By scheduling an appointment with a personal injury attorney, you take the first step toward possible justice. If you decide that you want a personal injury attorney to review your case for free, don’t delay. Gather your evidence, such as police reports and contact information for witnesses, and take it with you to your appointment. If your injuries are such that you are unable to travel, ask if the attorney can visit you.

A Personal Injury Attorney Can Help

Soft tissue injuries are painful, serious, and expensive. Securing legal representation is a smart idea when you face mounting medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Don’t listen to insurance companies who try to diminish your injuries. Listen to your gut instinct and ask a personal injury attorney if you have grounds for litigation. A drunk or distracted driver or any other type of negligent person has no right to disrupt your life in such a violent and painful way. No matter how defensively you drive or how carefully you walk, it only takes the negligence of one person to cause you to experience serious injury. Filing a personal injury claim is something worth considering as you contemplate your future medical needs. A proactive approach may seem overwhelming as you deal with your injuries. That’s why it makes good sense to talk with an attorney. A personal injury attorney can review your case and provide you with the best option for moving forward. You have nothing to lose by scheduling a free consultation. There is no commitment required with a free case evaluation; how you proceed following the evaluation is entirely up to you. Soft tissue injuries affect your daily life. You can go from completely mobile to completely immobile in an instant, thanks to a negligent person. If this has happened to you, you should chat with a personal injury attorney sooner rather than later. Knowing your options for pursuing justice may just help you feel a little better and make your future seem a little brighter. Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA 800 North Belcher Road Clearwater, FL 33765 (727) 451-6900 https://dolman.fuelm.dev/florida-personal-injury-lawyer/