SERIOUS INJURIES
Soft Tissue Injuries
Car accidents and slip and falls result in a wide range of injuries. One of the most common injuries is a soft tissue injury, which is an injury to the muscles, tendons, and ligaments. For example, whiplash is a type of soft tissue injury. Although these injuries are not visible, they can be very painful and force victims to miss work for an extended period of time. As such, these injuries may result in substantial medical bills and lost income. The experienced attorneys at Slatter Law Firm will aggressively fight to recover the maximum compensation for your injuries.
Muscles, tendons, and ligaments are soft tissues commonly injured in car accidents and falls. There are many types of soft tissue injuries. Below is a description of each type of injury relating to falls and accidents along with common symptoms.
Contusions are bruises of soft tissue that are caused by an object directly striking the body. This trauma will cause bleeding into the tissue, which results in discoloration at the injury site. Other symptoms for contusions include pain and swelling.
Sprains are partial stretching tears of a ligament, which support your body’s joints. The body parts that are commonly sprained in falls and accidents are knees, ankles, and wrists. Sprains are caused by sudden twisting or turning movements. Sprains range in severity from Grade I to Grade III. Grade I sprains involve slight stretching of ligaments; Grade II sprains involve a partial tear of ligaments; and Grade III sprains involve a complete tear of ligaments. Symptoms for all three grades include pain, swelling, and inflammation.
Strains are injuries to a muscle or tendon caused by blunt force or overstretching. In car accidents, the neck, back, and legs are often strained. Strains range from minor to severe. Minor strains occur when the muscle or tendon is overstretched, while severe strains occur when muscle or tendon is partially or completely torn. Symptoms for strains include pain, swelling, inflammation, muscle spasm, muscle weakness, and cramping.
If you demonstrate any of the above symptoms, you should seek immediate medical attention. Treatment for these soft tissue injuries depends on the severity of injury. However, most soft tissue injuries properly heal with the RICE protocol. This protocol consists of rest, icing the injured area, wearing a compression bandage to prevent additional swelling, and elevating the injured area. However, severe sprains and strains may require surgery. Most soft tissue injuries heal within six weeks.
The law allows you to be compensated for injuries caused by another person or business’ negligence. However, you must have evidence or proof of your injuries. This is another reason to be examined and treated by a healthcare provider after your accident or fall. Additionally, it is vitally important that you retain an experienced soft tissue injury attorney, who will recover compensation for you past and future medical treatment, lost wages, and pain and suffering relating to your injuries.
Contact Us Today
Contact a Los Angeles personal injury attorney today if you or a loved one was involved in an accident involving a dangerous road condition. Slatter Law Firm has been helping individuals injured due to car accidents and slip and falls throughout Los Angeles and Southern California for over four decades. To schedule a free consultation, call our office at (310) 405-0964 or contact us online.
