Soft Tissue Injuries

Not all serious injuries are visible. After a crash, you might walk away with no broken bones — but that doesn’t mean you weren’t hurt.

Soft tissue injuries, like sprains, strains, and deep bruises, can cause lasting pain and limit your ability to work, move, or sleep. And because they don’t always show up on an X-ray, these injuries are often downplayed — including by insurance companies.

What Are Soft Tissue Injuries?

Soft tissue injuries affect the muscles, ligaments, and tendons that support your body. In personal injury cases, they’re often the result of sudden impact, overextension, or strain caused by the crash.

Common types include:

• Sprains – Damage to ligaments, often affecting the wrists, ankles, or knees
• Strains – Tearing or overstretching of muscles or tendons (like in the neck or lower back)
• Contusions – Deep bruises caused by blunt impact
• Whiplash – A specific neck strain caused by sudden back-and-forth motion
• Tendinitis or bursitis – Often from overuse during recovery or repetitive motion injuries after a crash

Common Symptoms

These injuries may not appear until hours or days after an accident. Watch for:

• Localized pain or tenderness
• Swelling or inflammation
• Stiffness or reduced mobility
• Muscle weakness
• Visible bruising
• Numbness or tingling (in more severe cases)

Diagnosis & Treatment

Because these injuries don’t always show up on imaging, your provider will often rely on a physical exam, movement testing, and your reported symptoms. That’s why it's critical to document everything early and consistently.

Treatment often includes:

• Rest and immobilization
• Ice and elevation
• Compression wraps or braces
• Anti-inflammatory medications
• Physical therapy for strength and flexibility
• Injections or surgery (in more serious cases)

Recovery can range from a few weeks to several months depending on the location and severity of the injury.

Why Documentation Matters

Soft tissue injuries are one of the most contested issues in accident claims — mostly because they don’t always appear on scans. But the pain, mobility issues, and long-term effects are real.

If you’ve been hurt in a crash, make sure your medical visits, symptoms, and treatment progress are all documented. It can make a major difference in the outcome of your claim.

Support for Your Recovery

You shouldn’t have to fight to prove your pain is real. If your soft tissue injury was caused by someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation for your treatment, missed work, and overall impact on daily life.

Talk to a Car Accident Attorney