Even minor accidents can leave lasting pain. Learn how whiplash, sprains, and disc injuries can impact your health and your Texas injury claim.
When people picture a “serious” car accident, they often imagine mangled vehicles, shattered glass, or a trip to the emergency room. But in reality, even a collision that leaves only a small dent in your bumper can cause lasting and painful injuries. Among the most overlooked are soft tissue injuries—damage to muscles, ligaments, and discs that don’t show up on an X-ray but can change the course of your daily life.
In Texas, many accident victims find themselves facing months of pain, physical therapy, and financial strain from these hidden injuries. If you’ve been in a wreck, it’s important to understand why soft tissue injuries after a car accident should never be taken lightly.
What Are Soft Tissue Injuries?
“Soft tissue” refers to the muscles, ligaments, and tendons that support your body and allow you to move. In a car accident, these tissues can stretch, tear, or become inflamed from the sudden forces involved—even when vehicles are traveling at low speeds.
Common examples include:
- Whiplash – Neck strain caused by the rapid back-and-forth motion of the head
- Sprains and Strains – Overstretched or torn ligaments and tendons in the back, shoulders, or extremities.
- Disc Injuries – Herniated or bulging discs in the spine that press on nerves and cause radiating pain.
Why They’re So Dangerous
The hidden risk of soft tissue injuries is that symptoms don’t always appear right away. Adrenaline and shock can mask pain immediately after a crash. In some cases, it takes days or even weeks before stiffness, soreness, or radiating pain becomes obvious.
By the time symptoms set in, an injured person may have already downplayed the accident to insurance companies—or worse, signed away their rights to fair compensation.
In Texas, we often see insurance adjusters argue that if the car wasn’t badly damaged, the driver couldn’t have been badly hurt. But medical science says otherwise: it’s possible to suffer serious whiplash or disc injuries even in low-impact accidents.
Warning Signs of a Soft Tissue Injury
If you’ve been in an accident, watch for:
- Stiffness or reduced range of motion in your neck, shoulders, or back
- Persistent headaches, often linked to whiplash
- Numbness, tingling, or shooting pains in your arms or legs
- Swelling or bruising around joints
- Ongoing fatigue or difficulty sleeping due to discomfort
Protecting Your Health and Your Claim
If you experience delayed symptoms after a wreck, here’s what you should do:
- Seek medical care immediately. A doctor can diagnose soft tissue injuries with MRIs, CT scans, or physical evaluations.
- Document everything. Keep records of your symptoms, medical visits, and time missed from work.
- Don’t dismiss the accident as “minor.” Even if your car looks fine, your body may not be.
- Consult an attorney. A lawyer familiar with Texas car accident cases can help protect your right to a fair whiplash claim in Texas or compensation for other soft tissue injuries.
How Our Firm Can Help
At Howard, Lotspeich, Alexander & Williams, PLLC (HLAW), we know how insurance companies work—and we know how to fight back. We’ve seen firsthand how clients suffer from soft tissue injuries that others tried to minimize. We take the time to understand your pain, gather the medical evidence, and build a case that reflects the true impact of your injuries.
Conclusion
The hidden danger of soft tissue injuries is real: they may not show up right away, but they can cause long-lasting pain and disruption to your life. Don’t let the insurance company dismiss your claim just because your car wasn’t totaled. If you’ve been in a wreck and are experiencing pain, reach out for help today.
Contact us for a free consultation. We’ll review your case, explain your rights, and fight to make sure you get the compensation you deserve.
