Many car accident victims in Montana and across the U.S. suffer from soft tissue injuries, sometimes without knowing it. This is because injuries to the soft tissue, like muscles, tendons and ligaments, do not show up on X-rays like trauma to hard tissue, such as bones and cartilage, does. The onset of symptoms can vary widely with some people experiencing pain and swelling a few hours after an accident and some individuals only after a few days after a collision.
The nature of soft tissue injuries make getting a correct medical diagnosis very difficult. Soft tissue is normally damaged when the impact of an accident causes it to stretch to a dangerous degree. This can result in sprains, soreness, strain and even tears. In serious cases, victims may experience problems with certain sensory and motor functions. There may also be bleeding.
Whiplash is a serious type of soft tissue injury arising from rear-end collisions. In such accidents, the head is snapped back, tearing the tissues in the neck and causing chronic pain and inflammation. The neck could develop shooting pains that travel to the back and shoulders, a burning and tingling sensation and stiffness. Headaches, dizziness and moments of poor memory are not uncommon. Whiplash may induce depression and anxiety in some people.
The serious consequences of this type of trauma is why those who suffer soft tissue damage in a motor vehicle accident will want legal representation when they decide to file a claim against the other driver. An auto accident attorney could bring in medical experts to determine how extensive the injuries are and what could be claimed as pain and suffering and emotional trauma. A lawyer could also hire third parties to investigate the accident scene, recreating it if necessary. After estimating a fair settlement, the attorney can negotiate with the auto insurance company, and if the company refuses to pay out, the case could proceed to the litigation stage.
