Iowa drivers who get in an accident may wonder about the aches and pains they’re experiencing in its aftermath. If these pains are accompanied by inflammation and loss of function in the limbs, they indicate an injury to the soft tissues of the body. These include the muscles, ligaments and tendons, and they can be strained, sprained or torn when stretched by the sudden movements of a car accident.
Soft tissue injuries are often linked with collisions because of the sudden impact that the occupants of a vehicle undergo. Unfortunately, their symptoms arise at irregular times with some people experiencing nothing until days after a crash. This can delay treatment and prevent proper healing. Another issue to be aware of is the fact that X-rays cannot identify soft tissue damage.
The symptoms can be worse in the case of whiplash, a condition affecting the neck tissues and usually resulting from rear-end collisions. Victims could experience shooting pains in the neck, back and shoulders; a tingling, burning sensation in the neck; and neck stiffness. In some cases, victims may suffer from joint dysfunction and slipped discs.
PTSD is a not infrequent result of whiplash with victims reporting depression and increased anxiety. Others get chronic headaches and face continual fatigue, dizziness and moments of memory loss.
When an auto accident leads to soft tissue injuries and the victim is not to blame for it, he or she might seek legal representation and file an injury claim against the other driver’s insurance company. If successful, the victim may be compensated for past medical care, future medical care to address the complications of soft tissue damage, lost wages, and pain and suffering. A lawyer may be able to evaluate the claim, find evidence to back it up with the help of investigators and proceed to the negotiation stage, leaving litigation as a final option.