Your body’s soft tissue consists of muscles, fat, nerves and tendons which surround your bones and joints. Soft tissues are especially vulnerable to physical trauma endured during a car accident.

When you sustain a soft tissue injury, it’s normal to experience minor to severe pain, swelling, bruising and even stiffness and reduced mobility in the affected area. Soft tissue injuries are a common occurrence among car accident victims. Fortunately, with prompt medical intervention and treatment, you are likely to make a full recovery from a wide range of soft tissue injuries.

What Are Some Common Soft Tissue Injuries Suffered in Car Accidents?

Whiplash

Whiplash is a soft tissue injury of the neck and is typically caused by rear-end accidents. The rapid change in momentum caused by vehicles suddenly and violently stopping causes the head to whip back and forth rapidly, potentially injuring the vertebrae, tendons and muscles in the neck. Symptoms of whiplash include neck pain and stiffness, inability to move the neck, immobilization of the neck, headaches, dizziness and fatigue.

Strains

A strain is a soft tissue injury to a muscle or tendon (tissue that connects muscles to bones). Injuries from a car accident can cause tears in these tissues, commonly referred to as strains or pulled muscles.

When your body is forcefully thrown around during a car accident, the soft tissue in your muscles and tendons may become stretched beyond normal capacity, causing a strain. Parts of the body most susceptible to strains are legs, hands, elbows and the lower back. Symptoms may include pain, muscle spasms and swelling.

Lacerations

Perhaps the most noticeable and unsightly car accident injuries are lacerations. A laceration is a wound caused by a tear or cut in the skin. When you’re in an auto collision, your body becomes vulnerable to various hazards, like shattered glass or debris. This razor-sharp accident detritus can easily injure your skin.

Lacerations can range from shallow grazes to deep gashes, the latter of which may require stiches or even surgery to repair. Symptoms of lacerations include excessive bleeding and pain.

Contusions

Blunt trauma from a car accident can cause significant damage to the soft tissue under your skin. A contusion is commonly known as a bruise, which is a collection of damaged blood vessels that leak underneath the skin. Signs of a contusion include black, blue or purple skin discoloration, tenderness to the touch and swelling. As a contusion heals, the affected area will gradually turn to green and yellow before it fades all together.

Concussions

A concussion is a traumatic brain injury caused by a blow to the head. Concussions are usually mild and don’t cause people to lose consciousness. Nevertheless, they should never be ignored. If left untreated, a concussion can result in complications, such as headaches and vertigo. Common symptoms of a concussion include headache, nausea, blurry vision and ringing in the ears.

Pinched Nerves

A pinched nerve is a result of excessive pressure applied by surrounding muscles, bones or tendons. For instance, if a car accident causes one of your spinal discs to slip, it can end up compressing nearby nerves. A pinched nerve usually manifests as a “pins and needles” sensation in the affected area. Additional symptoms may include pain, numbness and muscle spasms.

When to See a Doctor

Seek immediate medical attention if you’ve been involved in a motor vehicle accident, no matter how minor it may have been. Many injuries, including soft tissue injuries, may not be felt right away. Seeing a doctor as soon as possible and receiving prompt treatment can accelerate your recovery.

Additionally, seeing a doctor immediately after the accident occurs increases your chance of receiving fair insurance compensation for your injuries.

Treating Soft Tissue Injuries

If your injuries are minor, your doctor will likely prescribe self-care remedies, like rest, over-the-counter pain medication and heat and cold therapy. If you have a deep gash, a medical professional may have to stich it up with sutures before you can go home. More severe injuries may require more complex treatment, such as prescription medication, chiropractic care, physical therapy, and in extreme cases, surgical intervention.

Seek Treatment for Your Car Accident Injuries in Atlanta

If you’ve been injured in a car accident in Georgia, you deserve medical treatment from a skilled medical professional. At HURT911, we offer comprehensive injury care and treat a diverse array of post-accident symptoms, including neck pain, low back pain and upper limb pain.

To schedule a same-day appointment at our Atlanta locations, call 1-800-HURT-911.