Soft Tissue Injuries In Florida Accidents
Data from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimate that more than 32,000 people are killed and around 2 million are injured in auto accidents every year. Those injuries, however, tend to be very visible – broken bones, head and spine injuries, cuts, and bruises. Another type of injury is referred to as a soft tissue injury, and sometimes, they can take hours or even days or weeks to manifest after a serious accident. They should not be ignored.
What Is A Soft Tissue Injury?
Soft tissue injuries are those which affect the “soft tissues” in your body – muscle, tendon, ligament, or even skin. They can show up as many different things – bruises, strains and other stress injuries, or conditions like bursitis or tendonitis are all soft tissue injuries. In car accidents, one of the most common types of soft tissue injury is known as whiplash – when one’s head is thrown sharply in one direction, causing damage to the tendons and ligaments in the neck.
Even for those who intend to seek immediate medical treatment after an accident, soft tissue injuries can easily be missed, simply because the tissue may not immediately show signs that anything is wrong. Whiplash in particular is manifested as not only potential swelling of the neck area, but also headaches, dizziness, joint stiffness and shoulder or back pain – none of which necessarily shows up immediately after an injury. In some cases, the person may even display what are known as psychosomatic symptoms, such as memory loss or anxiety.
Seek Medical Help Immediately
If you suspect that you have sustained soft tissue injuries after an auto accident, it is crucial to immediately seek medical care. Many people do not do this, writing off neck pain or headaches as inconsequential or not worth troubling a doctor for – but in reality, these injuries can be quite serious. Certain tendon or ligament injuries may, for example, require surgery, particularly in the neck itself – failure to deal with an injury in that area can result in permanent harm.
One thing that Floridians should be aware of is that since Florida is a no-fault state in terms of auto insurance, most accident expenses will be dealt with by making a claim with one’s personal injury protection (PIP) insurer instead of filing a lawsuit. If this applies in your case, be advised that the law states PIP will cover “80 percent of all reasonable expenses for medically necessary” care – but will only do so if you seek medical treatment within 14 days of your accident. This can sometimes put a person in an awkward position, if a soft tissue injury manifests later – but it is still important to seek medical care as quickly as possible.
Contact An Orlando Car Accident Attorney
The average person may not be familiar with soft tissue injuries until they experience one, but it is important to treat them just as seriously as any other harm you suffer. If you have sustained soft tissue injuries after an auto accident, contacting an Orlando car accident attorney from the Hornsby Law Group is a good first step toward hopefully getting the compensation you deserve. Call our offices today at (407) 499-8887 for a free consultation.
Source:
cdc.gov/vitalsigns/motor-vehicle-safety/index.html
