Motor vehicle accidents are a common occurrence, causing a range of minor to severe, or even fatal injuries. However, no matter how minor you believe your injuries to be, you should always make a trip to your doctor among your top priorities. Even minor injuries can develop into bigger problems if left untreated, possibly leading to permanent damage.
Some of the most common injuries sustained by accident victims are known as soft tissue injuries. This refers to the body’s soft areas, such as the tendons, ligaments, muscles. Some of the most typical examples of soft tissue injuries include:
- Sprains: Common symptoms of sprains include localized pain in the area of impact, ongoing muscle spasms, muscle and nerve weakness, swelling of the impacted area, inflammation, and cramping. These types of injuries are caused due to joint overextension, which can damage the ligaments.
- Contusions: Also known as bruising, contusions are caused by a direct blow, which crushes the underlying muscle fibers and connective tissue. The bruise or contusion is essentially the pooling of blood beneath the skin.
- Strains: Strains are caused by the stretching and tearing of ligaments, which can create laxity. Laxity in one’s joint can cause any area of a person’s spine to move past its usual range of motion, putting a vast amount of stress on the vertebral discs. Whiplash is one of the most common examples of this type of injury.
Insurance companies tend to treat soft tissue injuries as insignificant, but these types of injuries have the potential to lead to chronic pain and require lengthy periods of rehabilitation, so make sure you seek proper medical attention.
WHIPLASH
Among the soft tissue injuries individuals frequently sustain in motor vehicle accidents, whiplash is the most common. This injury, also known as a cervical strain or hyperextension injury, occurs when the impact of a rear-end collision causes your head violently move back and forth. Symptoms of whiplash include:
- Stiff neck
- Back problems
- Neck pain
- Cognitive difficulties, including memory issues and the inability to concentrate
These symptoms may or may not occur in the immediate aftermath of sustaining a whiplash injury. In fact, it is actually quite common for symptoms of whiplash to emerge later on throughout the coming days, weeks, or even months after being involved in an accident. If left untreated, whiplash can develop into chronic pain and discomfort in the neck and back, so it is critical for anyone suffering from this injury to seek medical attention. You might feel fine, but that does not mean you are not at risk for permanent damage.
Treatment for whiplash can include a neck brace, physical therapy, or muscle relaxant medications.
Seeking medical attention is not only vital for your wellbeing, but it will serve as important evidence if you decide to move forward with a personal injury claim. Having records of medical care and treatment will help prove the existence of an injury and the extent of damages suffered.
PERSONAL INJURY ATTORNEY IN TULSA
If you recently sustained injuries in a motor vehicle accident that was caused by another party’s negligent or reckless actions, you need a skilled attorney on your side to fight for your right to compensation. At Richardson Richardson Boudreaux, PLLC, our team of personal injury attorneys in Tulsa are dedicated to providing injured victims with top-level representation. Backed by a reputation for results, you can be confident in our ability to represent your case.
If we cannot recover compensation on your behalf, you will not owe us any legal fees!
Contact our office today at 918-492-7674 to schedule a free initial consultation with a knowledgeable member of our firm.