According to the Medico-Legal Society, some of the most common soft tissue injuries from car accident situations include whiplash, shoulder pain, wrist injuries, and knee problems. While statistics show how prevalent these soft tissue injuries can be, numbers often fail to communicate their discomfort and stress. Many injured motorists face drastically different lives after suffering soft tissue injuries from car accident incidents. According to South Tampa Immediate Care, some sprains can take longer to heal than fractures – and they can be more painful. Motorists attempting to recover from soft tissue injuries may wish to contact a personal injury lawyer in Florida. With help from a personal injury law firm, it may be possible to recover compensation for medical expenses, missed wages, and other damages. To continue this discussion in more detail, consider contacting Shillen Mackall Seldon & Spicer at (802)457-4848 today.
Whiplash Is a Common Injury for Car Accident Victims
Whiplash is one of the most common soft-tissue injuries caused by car accidents. This type of injury gets its name from the movement of a whip, and the neck goes through a similar motion before it “cracks” and falls out of alignment. Whiplash generally occurs in rear-end accidents, as the sudden jolt of a rear impact can throw occupants backward and then forward in rapid succession. However, it can also occur in head-on collisions.
How Long Does It Take to Heal From Whiplash?
The healing timeline for whiplash depends on the severity of the injury. A relatively “low grade” whiplash might take a few days to heal, while a “high grade” whiplash injury could take months to resolve. Healing also depends on the quality of treatment available. Some patients may be unable or unwilling to visit specialists such as chiropractors or physiotherapists. Patients should take a cautious approach when treating whiplash, as this injury may be more severe than it seems at first. Prompt treatment also creates sufficient medical records, which patients can use when proving their injuries.
Can I File a Personal Injury Claim for Whiplash in New Hampshire?
Experienced personal injury lawyers in New Hampshire, such as Shillen Mackall Seldon & Spicer, may be able to help victims assess their options for compensation after suffering soft tissue injuries. Since whiplash is often caused by rear-end accidents, it may be relatively straightforward to prove negligence. After all, drivers who rear-end other vehicles are typically at fault – and each driver should follow at a safe distance. Many drivers rear-end other vehicles because they become distracted by phones. Others cause rear-enders because they are too intoxicated to accurately judge distances. That said, victims might not need to prove fault in order to pursue compensation after a car accident. To learn more about these options, consider speaking with an experienced personal injury lawyer.
Hand and Wrist Injuries Are Common for Drivers
Soft tissue injuries commonly affect the hands and wrists, although these injuries are almost exclusively limited to drivers. Unlike passengers, drivers generally have their hands on the wheel at the moment of impact. This subjects the delicate wrist and finger joints to significant impacts and pressures, causing a variety of soft tissue injuries. Torn ligaments around the knuckles are particularly common, and entire joints can become dislocated.
Hand and Wrist Injuries Can Cause Significant Missed Wages
Although hand and wrist injuries may not appear to be severe, they can cause patients to miss weeks or months of work. Ligaments receive very limited blood flow compared to other parts of the body, and the healing process can take up to a year in some cases. Since most people work with their hands throughout the day, this can translate to many thousands of dollars in lost wages. For high-income individuals, this could even cause millions of dollars in losses.
Manual laborers could face heightened financial and medical pressures. In 2023, The Aspen Institute reported that 61% of Americans were living paycheck to paycheck – and a single missed week could push entire families into destitution. Of course, office workers may also be forced to rest after suffering hand injuries. Most of these workers spend hours typing at computers, and even this light duty becomes impossible with dislocated fingers and sprained wrists.
How Do I Prove Soft Tissue Injuries From Car Accident?
Soft tissue injuries are generally less detectable than fractures, disfiguring burns, amputations, and lacerations. This makes proving soft tissue injuries particularly important, and victims can accomplish this goal by seeking prompt treatment. Accept aid at the scene of the car accident and cooperate with transport to the nearest hospital. Often, first responders fit car accident victims with neck braces as a precautionary measure during transport. Even if patients cannot feel any problems with their necks, they should still accept the neck brace. Refusal could make it difficult to pursue compensation at a later date – and adrenaline or shock could make it difficult to feel the true extent of a neck injury immediately after the accident.
Once car accident victims arrive at hospitals, they should follow all directions and undergo necessary tests – including MRIs, X-rays, and other forms of medical imaging. After visiting the emergency room, patients should follow up with their doctors as instructed and see specialists if recommended. Patients might also want to keep a journal of their feelings during treatment – including any trauma, nightmares, shock, anxiety, or depression. These journal entries may help victims pursue additional compensation for emotional distress and other “non-economic damages.”
Contact an Experienced Personal Injury Attorney Shillen Mackall Seldon & Spicer Today
Soft tissue injuries from car accident incidents may be challenging for many victims, and the path toward recovery might not be clear. During the recovery phase, patients may benefit from various forms of medical treatment – and it may be easier to access this treatment with help from personal injury lawyers in Vermont. A personal injury claim could provide victims with the necessary funds to cover medical expenses, missed wages, and other damages. However, the most appropriate path forward depends on the unique circumstances of each victim. To chart a path forward, consider contacting Shillen Mackall Seldon & Spicer at (802) 457-4848.