Soft tissue injuries have a reputation for being minor “aches and pains” which don’t really deserve financial compensation. As experienced Atlanta car accident lawyers, we know the truth. Many soft tissue injuries leave our clients flat on their backs. They cannot move for weeks, and many will have extreme financial losses as a result, especially if they can’t work through the agony. Call Stewart Miller Simmons Trial Attorneys to discuss whatever injury you have suffered in a car crash. We have won settlements for men and women with some of the worst soft tissue injuries, like those below. Our consultations are free!
Whiplash
This is a serious injury which occurs in all types of car accidents, including rollovers and rear-end collisions. When a car is involved in a collision, the seat belt will decelerate (slow down) your chest. But the belt doesn’t slow down your head, which instead relies on your neck to decelerate it. As a result, your neck suffers extreme strain in a collision. Even worse, your head can rebound back in a “snap” like fashion.
Whiplash involves injury to most of the soft tissues in the neck:
- Muscles
- Ligaments
- Tendons
- Nerves
This soft tissue can stretch and twist and tear, sometimes tear in two. The result is intense pain and neck stiffness. Many people will struggle with neck stiffness for months in the case of moderate whiplash. More extreme whiplash might require surgery.
Rotator Cuff Injury
The rotator cuff consists of several muscles and tendons which surround and provide stability to the shoulder. A car accident can damage the rotator cuff, with the seat belt cutting into the muscles and even dislocating the shoulder.
You might have a rotator cuff injury if you experience:
- Pain in your shoulder
- Weakness in your arm
- Inability to lift your arm
A rotator cuff injury can keep many people out of work. Our clients might be unable to lift their arm over their head for months, which means they cannot work certain jobs, like stocking shelves.
Hernia
The force generated from a car accident can tear a motorist’s muscles, especially muscles in the abdomen. When organs push out through the opening, then you have suffered a hernia. These are often common injuries in the abdomen where someone’s intestines partially poke through the opening.
Hernias are dangerous injuries. The hernia can cut off blood flow to the affected organ, such as your intestines. Death can result if you do not have the injury treated immediately.
A common sign is a lump in your abdomen or groin, which you might even be able to “push back” through the hole. A doctor can use an imagining test to get a better view of what is going on. Many hernias require surgery so that the problem does not come back.
ACL Tear
The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) provides stability to the knee by connecting the femur to the tibia. Unfortunately, this ligament can get injured in an accident, especially if your knee jams into the dash or is twisted. Any stretching or tearing can lead to instability and pain. When the ACL tears in two, many people require surgery to facilitate healing.
As athletes know, an ACL tear can keep someone off their leg for months and is a very painful injury. You might need crutches or a wheelchair to help.
Meniscal Injury
The meniscus is a piece of cartilage found in the knee. It provides cushion so that your bones don’t grind against each other as you straighten or flex your leg. Unfortunately, this piece of cartilage can be injured in a car accident (possibly along with the ACL). You can notice pain and weakness in your knee.
A meniscus tear is hard to repair. There is limited blood flow to some parts of the meniscus, so the cartilage cannot repair itself. Knee injuries can sometimes become degenerative, with a victim suffering arthritis in their knee after any type of traumatic injury.
Go to the doctor even if you don’t experience stabbing pain. Any weakness or instability could be a sign something is wrong with the meniscus, and you want to check out the injury before it worsens.
Myofascial Pain
This is an underappreciated soft tissue injury. The fascia is a thin layer of tissue which holds the muscles in place. Some car accident victims feel pain at certain “trigger points” in their fascia and muscles.
The most common symptoms include:
- A deep pain in a muscle;
- Pain which doesn’t go away or lessen;
- Difficulty sleeping due to muscle pain;
- Fatigue;
- Malaise (general feeling of being unwell).
Myofascial pain can be difficult to diagnose. Doctors do not fully understand the cause of the injury or why people develop certain trigger points. However, a muscle injury is commonly related.
Treatment is difficult, also. Doctors try to manage symptoms with pain relievers and antidepressants. Exercise can also help with recovery, but this could be a long-lasting injury.
How Much is Your Injury Worth?
Common soft tissue injuries are usually so painful that victims will need to stay at home, at least for a little while, until they get pain under control. As a result, many struggle with lost income. Some soft tissue injuries might be so minor that you don’t miss work, but many injuries will keep a person out of a job for months.
Call Stewart Miller Simmons Trial Attorneys. We excel at reviewing accident cases and estimating how much they are worth. In addition to medical care and lost wages, you should receive damages for pain and suffering, along with emotional distress. An injury that leaves someone at home depressed could be worth a large amount of money.
Get a Free Consultation
Insurance companies like to nickel and dime accident victims, especially those with soft-tissue injuries. A claims adjuster might not believe you feel the intense pain that you claim. Instead, they might blame you for exaggerating your symptoms.
A car accident lawyer with our firm is available to review the facts of your case. Motorists have liability insurance to pay compensation when someone suffers an injury due to the driver’s negligence. Call (404) 529-3476 to speak with an attorney at our office.