Millions of Americans suffer catastrophic injuries in car accidents every year. The injuries suffered by Lake Charles motorists will depend on the severity of the accident and the vehicles involved. However, some of the most common car accident injuries are soft tissue injuries.
The impact caused by two vehicles colliding can cause various types of harm. In an accident, drivers and passengers can be thrown violently against the walls of the vehicle, leaving them with soft tissue injuries. Soft tissue injuries refer to damage caused to the ligaments, tendons and muscles. Sprains, contusions and muscle strains are all considered soft tissue injuries.
The most common soft tissue injury is whiplash. Whiplash typically occurs in rear-end collisions when an impact causes a motorists’ head and neck to move forcefully back and forth. Those suffering from whiplash may notice stiffness of the neck, neck pain, back problems, and cognitive issues that affect a person’s memory. Untreated whiplash can lead to chronic neck and back pain, so it is important for accident victims who have suffered this type of harm to seek medical attention as soon as possible.
If you suffer an injury in a car crash, you may be overwhelmed by treatment plans and medical expenses. To help take some of the stress off, you may want to consider filing a lawsuit against the parties responsible for your accident. Motor vehicle accident cases are centered on determining fault. Police officers who report to the scene of an accident typically file an official accident report, which can later be used by juries to help determine fault. Juries will also consider whether there were any violations of Louisiana traffic laws. A violation could prove that a driver was negligent, therefore making him responsible for your accident. If you successfully prove that someone else was at fault for your accident, you may be awarded damages to help pay for some of your expenses.
Source: FindLaw, “Soft Tissue Injuries Caused by Motor Vehicle Accidents,” accessed on May 9, 2016