Common Soft-Tissue Injuries From Car Accidents in NJ
Every day, hundreds of New Jersey residents suffer serious injuries from automobile accidents. Soft-tissue injuries are a relatively common complaint among car accident victims. Since these injuries do not typically appear on x-rays, it can be more difficult to recover fair financial compensation for them from a car insurance company. An experienced New Jersey personal injury attorney can help you build a strong case and fight for the compensation you deserve.
What Is a Soft-Tissue Injury?
A soft-tissue injury describes damage or harm to the non-bony tissues and structures that make up the human body. This can include the muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves, blood vessels and fat. Soft tissues support and surround other parts of the body, including the bones and internal organs.
Common Soft-Tissue Injuries From Motor Vehicle Crashes
The soft tissues of the body can suffer various injuries due to the forces of a car accident. Blunt-force trauma to any part of the body can cause bruising and deep-tissue injuries, for example, while rapid whipping or jerking motions can cause soft-tissue strains and tears.
Whiplash
Whiplash is one of the most common soft-tissue injuries diagnosed among car accident victims in New Jersey. Whiplash is a neck injury that is caused by the head and neck being yanked rapidly forward and backward in an automobile accident. It is especially common in rear-end collision cases. The symptoms of whiplash often include neck pain and tenderness, pain with neck movement, stiffness or restricted range of motion, tingling or numbness in the arms, dizziness, blurred vision, and headaches. Early intervention is important for whiplash injuries to prevent potential long-term pain and complications.
Sprains and Strains
A sprain describes a stretched or torn ligament, such as from a joint being pushed or twisted into an unnatural position in a car accident. A strain is an overstretched or torn muscle or tendon (either partial or complete), such as from a limb being pulled away from the trunk of the body in a crash. Sprains and strains may affect a car accident victim’s limbs, shoulders, neck or back. These injuries can lead to pain and instability in the affected area, as well as impaired mobility and muscle strength. Physical therapy, rehabilitation and potential surgeries may be necessary to repair sprains and strains.
Contusions
A contusion is a severe bruise or a hematoma of the soft tissues. It can be caused by physical trauma to various parts of the body in an automobile accident, resulting in bleeding and discoloration under the skin. The symptoms of a contusion can include skin color changes, swelling in the affected area and pain. They typically heal on their own, but severe contusions can restrict movements and require medical care.
Disk Injuries
Damage to one or more spinal disks from a car accident in New Jersey can lead to chronic pain from the disks pushing on surrounding nerves. It can also affect spinal mobility. Bulging or herniated disks from the trauma of a car accident can potentially be treated with rest, physical therapy, muscle relaxants and surgery to relieve pressure on nerves.
Repercussions of Soft-Tissue Injuries
Although typically invisible externally, a soft-tissue injury can be painful and debilitating. They can be devastating or catastrophic and have long-term effects on mobility and daily enjoyment of life. Soft-tissue injuries can impair the functioning and stability of different body parts, as well as cause chronic pain. If you or a loved one suffered a soft-tissue injury in a recent car accident in New Jersey, contact a New Jersey car accident lawyer for assistance seeking fair compensation. A lawyer can help you prove an invisible injury and pursue the settlement or judgment award that you need. Call the Law Offices of Jeffrey S. Hasson, P.C. at (201) 582-8321 to learn more during a free case review.