Understanding Soft Tissue Injuries Resulting from Automobile Accidents

 Posted on October 18, 2013 in Personal Injury

If you've been in a car accident, it is usually apparent. Your car may be scratched, dented, or worse. Our bodies can also be injured, but the injuries are not always as apparent.

Many automobile accidents result in soft tissue injuries. While these injuries can be quite severe, they are not easy to see with the eye and symptoms are not always immediate. For this reason, prompt evaluation by a physician is important. There are several types of soft tissues that are commonly injured during an automobile accident. Understanding their function can help you visualize what may have happened to your body.

Muscles are soft tissues primarily for movement. In the skeletal system, muscles span between bones. When a muscle contracts, a specific joint movement will result. At the ends of the muscle are tendons, which are a tough fibrous tissue connecting the muscle to the bone. Either can be injured during a motor vehicle accident by being overstretched or torn. This is called a strain. One bodily response to strain is spasm, an involuntary contraction of a muscle that immobilizes the area to prevent further injury.

Ligaments are soft tissues comprised of tough fibrous bands that connect bones to other bones. Ligaments are designed to stabilize a joint and limit the mobility of the joint. When you overstretch or tear a ligament it is called a sprain.

Between the bones of your back (vertebrae) is a soft tissue structure called an intervertebral disc. Each disc is made of a tough outer circle of fibers with a soft center. This soft center can push through the outer circle. Sometimes this “bulge” happens gradually due to spinal disease, but it can also happen with the trauma of an automobile accident. A bulge can be especially painful if it results in compression of a spinal nerve root.

Your physician can determine if you are suffering from any of these conditions and document your injuries in the event of a lawsuit. Consulting with an attorney as soon as possible after an accident is important for getting maximum compensation for your injuries. Contact a qualified Illinois personal injury attorney today.