Car accidents frequently inflict soft tissue injuries. When vehicles collide on Georgia roads, the forces of impact usually jolt or bash the occupants. These sudden movements or impacts could stretch, strain or tear tissue like muscles, tendons or ligaments. These injuries might not be immediately obvious like most broken bones. Hours or even days might pass before a car crash victim realizes that an injury has occurred. The delayed onset of symptoms and the inability of X-rays to identify most soft tissue sprains or strains could complicate the association of the injury with the accident.
Whiplash presents one of the more severe soft tissue injuries. The injury occurs when a sudden force makes the head snap forward and backward. The weight of the head yanks on neck tissues and could stretch or tear ligaments, tendons or muscles. Neck pain or stiffness, headaches or herniated discs could result. Whiplash might also cause symptoms like burning, shoulder pain, memory loss and dizziness. The injury leaves some victims with chronic pain.
Even if symptoms take some time to develop, ongoing pain, swelling and loss of function could trouble a person. Untreated soft tissue injuries might not fully heal.
A person with concerns about injuries after a motor vehicle accident could talk to a lawyer about pursuing damages. The lawyer could provide advice about how to document injuries so that an insurance company might accept the validity of a claim. Proof of the other driver’s fault will also need to accompany an insurance claim. Legal counsel could ask a specialist who reconstructs car accidents to provide testimony supporting the case. An attorney’s negotiations with an insurance adjuster might succeed in winning an adequate settlement for medical bills and lost income.
