Unlike an injury such as a broken bone, soft-tissue injuries can be invisible and difficult to detect after an automobile accident. Yet they can cause serious harm, including chronic pain and stiffness. Learning how to recognize the signs of soft-tissue injuries after a car accident can help you get the medical care that you need, as well as the Albuquerque car accident compensation that you deserve.
Common Soft-Tissue Injuries Caused by Car Accidents
Soft-tissue damage is common in car crashes due to the impact between an occupant’s body and elements inside the vehicle, such as a seat belt or the dashboard. When the forces of a collision propel a victim forward, the victim’s body can strike one or more objects and sustain damage to the soft tissues in that area. These include the muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves, fat and blood vessels.
Common types of soft-tissue injuries suffered in car accidents include:
- Whiplash and other neck injuries
- Shoulder injuries
- Back injuries
- Muscle sprains and strains
- Bruising and contusions
- Torn ligaments
- Knee and leg injuries
- Torn ACL or meniscus
- Bursitis or tendonitis
- Joint injuries
Soft-tissue injuries can range from minor to catastrophic. A victim may require treatments such as surgery, physical therapy, rehabilitation and pain medications to improve function and strength in the affected area. Some patients may experience lasting effects from soft-tissue damage, including permanent nerve damage, loss of flexibility and chronic pain.
What Are the Signs and Symptoms of a Soft-Tissue Injury?
After a motor vehicle accident occurs, everyone involved should take a moment to check themselves for signs of injury. It is important to note, however, that the adrenaline generated from a crash can mask injury symptoms for the first few hours, including the pain of a soft-tissue injury.
While symptoms can vary from person to person, the following signs could point to soft-tissue damage:
- Constant pain or pain when moving
- Swelling or inflammation
- Tenderness
- Bruising
- Stiffness
- Reduced range of motion
- Physical deformity
- Inability to bear weight
Soft-tissue injuries often come with delayed symptoms. This is why it is essential for crash victims to visit emergency rooms immediately. Medical tests can detect soft-tissue injuries even before the victim notices symptoms, allowing for prompt treatment. If a victim experiences severe pain, symptoms that persist longer than normal or signs of infection, he or she should seek emergency medical attention without delay.
How to Pursue Compensation for a Soft-Tissue Injury After a Car Accident in New Mexico
New Mexico’s car accident laws allow an injured crash victim to file an insurance claim against the driver or party at fault for causing the crash. To recover compensation for a soft-tissue injury, the victim must prove that the other driver is at fault. Establishing a car accident claim typically requires evidence such as a police report, eyewitness statements, photographs and videos, and medical records.
A soft-tissue injury can be difficult to prove. Unlike broken bones, these injuries typically do not appear on x-rays. For this reason, you may need assistance from a car accident attorney in Albuquerque to prove your claim. An attorney can hire medical experts and take other actions to help you recover fair compensation from the at-fault driver’s insurer. If necessary, your lawyer can take your car accident case to trial in Albuquerque.
Seek legal help from an experienced attorney for your soft-tissue car accident injuries, beginning with a free consultation, by contacting The Fine Law Firm. We have been helping clients for more than 40 years.