When people think of car accidents and severe injuries, they often picture broken bones, brain injuries, or spinal cord damage. While these are serious risks, many victims also suffer soft tissue injuries. These injuries may seem minor, but they can lead to lasting pain, mobility issues, and significant disruption to daily life. If you’ve been hurt, consulting a Las Vegas personal injury lawyer can help you protect your rights and secure compensation for these often-invisible injuries.
What is a Soft Tissue Injury?
A soft tissue injury refers to damage or trauma affecting any of the body’s muscles, ligaments, or tendons, rather than bones or internal organs. These injuries can happen during car accidents or any event that causes sudden force or awkward movement to the body. Soft tissue injuries can range from mild soreness to serious tears, causing pain, swelling, tenderness, or limited movement depending on how severe the injury is. Common examples include:
- Whiplash: A neck injury caused by the head suddenly snapping forward and backward, often seen in rear-end car accidents. This can stretch or tear soft tissues in the neck.
- Sprains: Injuries where the ligaments are stretched or torn, commonly in the ankles, wrists, or knees.
- Strains: Injuries that happen when muscles or tendons are pulled or torn, leading to pain and difficulty with movement.
- Bruises: Blunt-force trauma that causes bleeding or swelling within the muscle or tissue, usually showing as skin discoloration and tenderness.
- Tendonitis: Inflammation or irritation of a tendon, often resulting from repetitive motion or overstress during an accident.
Soft tissue injuries aren’t always visible on X-rays, but they can still cause lasting pain and disruption to daily life.
Why Soft Tissue Injuries Are Hard to Prove
Soft tissue injuries can cause lasting pain and disruption, but convincing an insurance company or court that you’re seriously hurt isn’t always easy.
Lack of Visible Signs
Unlike broken bones or open wounds, soft tissue injuries don’t usually show up on X-rays or scans. There may not even be any noticeable bruising, swelling, or skin changes that others can clearly see, which makes proving your injury difficult.
Relying on Self-Reported Pain
Insurance companies and others tend to question injuries that are based on a patient’s description of pain. These symptoms can seem subjective to an adjuster who hasn’t experienced them firsthand.
Delays in Symptoms
Pain and limited movement from whiplash, strains, or sprains can take hours or even days to show up after an accident. Delayed symptoms can make it harder to directly connect your injury to the incident.
Working with a Las Vegas car accident lawyer helps ensure your injuries are documented and substantiated, increasing the likelihood of a fair settlement.
When to Call a Las Vegas Car Accident Lawyer for Soft Tissue Injuries
If you’re dealing with soft tissue injuries after a car accident in Las Vegas, it’s smart to call an experienced car accident lawyer from Valiente Mott Injury Attorneys as soon as possible. Insurance companies often downplay these invisible injuries, deny claims, or pressure victims into unfairly low settlements.
Legal help ensures your injuries are taken seriously and your medical and financial needs are protected. If your pain is making daily life difficult or your claim has been disputed, reach out to us today to schedule a free consultation. We’re always available to help.
