Soft Tissue Injury Claims
Any damage to the ligaments, tendons, and muscles in your body is termed a soft tissue injury. Soft tissue injuries mostly involve damage to the muscle and ligament in the spinal columns of the neck (cervical) region, often characterized as whiplash.
Types of Soft Tissue Injuries
Many soft tissue injuries are a result of a sprain or an injury leading to overuse or contusion of a body part. Soft tissue injuries can be divided into two broad categories:
- Acute Injuries: are due to a sudden impact like a twist, fall, or blow to the body. Examples include sprains, strains, and contusions.
- Overuse Injuries: manifest slowly over a period of time due to repetitive physical activity that does not allow for enough time for the body to fully heal in between injuries. Examples include tendonitis and bursitis.
Motor vehicle accidents result in acute soft tissue injuries, with the damage to the soft tissue causing painful symptoms like headaches, swelling, inflammation, stiffness, and soreness.
The Severity of the Soft Tissue Injury
Soft tissue injuries can typically occur in both adults and children, and are commonly divided into three grades depending on the severity of the injury:
- Grade 1
A minor injury that takes between one to two weeks to heal, involving up to roughly 10 percent of the muscle or ligament. Symptoms of grade 1 soft tissue injury include swelling and mild tenderness of the injured region. A mild strain usually leads to this soft tissue damage, causing minor tearing of the fibers in some cases.
- Grade 2
A moderate strain or sprain leading to a partial fiber tear can cause a grade 2 soft tissue injury. The usual symptoms associated with this injury are pain and swelling of the injured region, with an injury of this severity taking almost three to four weeks to fully heal.
- Grade 3
Severe strain and sprain leading to a complete muscle rupture mark the grade 3 severity. Severe pain and discomfort leading to reduced mobility of the injured region are the typical symptoms. While recovery times are subjective, depending upon the age and general health condition of the injured person, recovery for these injuries usually takes much longer and needs urgent medical care.
Signs of a Soft Tissue Injury
- Reduced mobility
- Pain and discomfort
- Bruising
- Swelling and tenderness
- Muscle and fiber tears
- Stiffness
- Numbness
Common Injuries that Can Damage Soft Tissue
Mostly an injury leads to the soft tissues in our bodies getting damaged. Some of the common injuries that can lead to the damage of soft tissue include:
- Sprains and Strains
Ligaments are the strands of tissue made of fibers that help connect two bones in your joints together, and tendons are the tissue cords connecting bones and muscles. While a ligament tear causes a sprain, a muscle or tendon stretch can lead to a strain.
Backs of the thighs and lower back are the two main areas where strains usually occur. As both sprain and strain exert pressure on the tendons and ligaments, these can result in soft tissue injuries. Symptoms include reduced movement, swelling, pain, and bruising. Cubital tunnel syndrome is a typical strain injury.
- Bruising
Bruising, or contusion, is a soft tissue injury, generally caused by the use of blunt force to a certain region of the human body. Signs and symptoms include pain and swelling, with varying recovery times depending on the severity of the injury and its effects on soft tissues and the body. Kidney and heart contusions are two very common contusions.
- Tendinitis
Tendinitis is the inflammation of the tendons. Often, it can be hard to determine symptoms because of many different types of this injury. Tendon damage can lead to tissue injury and usually ranges in severity.
Common Causes of Soft Tissue Injuries
Whether it is the workplace, a public space, or on the road; soft tissue injuries usually occur as a result of:
- Wet floors
- Broken handrails
- Uneven flooring
- Inadequate lighting
- Potholes
- Inadequate protective equipment
- Poorly maintained footpath
- Lack of training
- Motor vehicle accidents
- Pedestrian struck by traffic
What is the Value of a Soft Tissue Injury Claim?
While the value of your soft tissue injury claim depends on the specific circumstances of your case, you must take into account the following:
- Nature of injuries
- Medical treatment expenses
- Lost wages
- Expected future medical expenses
- Potential future lost earnings
- Effect on the quality of life
Speak to Our Seasoned Mississippi Accident Attorneys Today
If you or a loved one have suffered soft tissue injuries due to a motor vehicle accident, consult with one of the experienced attorneys at Gardner Law Firm who understands the nuances involved in handling a soft tissue claim.
The attorneys at Gardner Law Firm work with injured clients, collecting evidence and pursuing liable drivers to secure the compensation required to cover medical bills, lost income, and compensation for your pain and suffering.
Learn more about the legal options available to you through a complimentary, no-obligation case review with our attorneys today. To schedule a consultation, contact us online or call today at 228-900-9618.
