Soft tissue injuries will impact the quality of your life long after a car accident and the settlement of any related personal injury claim. It is quite common for people who are involved in car accidents here in Mission Viejo and Irvine and across Orange County to believe they are uninjured. They may feel bruised, battered and a bit shaken up, but there seem to be no obvious major injuries or visible trauma.
The reality is quite different. You see, many injuries which result from a car accident will take weeks or even months before presenting any observable or noticeable symptoms. You may feel a bit stiff after the accident, and then believe you are starting to improve when all of a sudden you are bedridden with extreme pain in your back and neck, muscle spasms resulting in missed work and recreational opportunities.
The soft tissues surrounding your back and neck and throughout your vertebrae are quite vulnerable to the forces associated with a motor vehicle accident. Your upper body, including your head, neck and back, endure violent forces in many directions within a few seconds during an accident. These forces stress joints, muscles, ligaments, tendons and discs throughout your neck and back. The brain is suspended in fluid and can actually suffer long term as it is slammed against the skull at impact – even if you have no head injury and no outward signs of concussion or head injury.
“Whiplash” is a soft tissue injury which has gotten a substantial amount of bad press and frankly misinformation over the years. Unfortunately, whiplash and other soft tissue injuries will impact the quality of your life for years after the accident. While it may take several days or even weeks for initial symptoms to present, most whiplash cases appear to heal within several weeks. However, many whiplash victims will suffer continuous headaches, chronic pain and ultimately arthritis for the rest of their lives.
Another example of how soft tissue injuries will impact the quality of your life is a herniated disc. The vertebrae of your back and neck are separated by small, fluid filled discs which protect the surrounding bone and absorb the energy of jumping, running, and other body movement. The violent forces experienced by your body during a car accident often result in small micro-tears in these discs which are called herniations.
Soft tissue injuries cause patients to miss time at work and initially often involve severe pain and discomfort. This is why it is important to see a doctor within 24 to 48 hours of any motor vehicle accident, even if you think you have not been injured. Over time, the headaches, chronic pain and arthritis associated with soft tissue injuries will impact the quality of your life for many years to come.
Check out the reviews of former clients and contact us or call 949-305-1400 to speak personally with an experienced personal injury attorneys for a free consultation. Learn more about what to do after a motor vehicle accident how to ensure you receive full and fair compensation for soft tissue injuries.
