Your recovery from a car crash injury can be a complicated process. Sometimes an injury appears to heal, only to reappear later. This is just one of the reasons why it is important to seek immediate medical attention. You should also hire an experienced lawyer to review your situation to determine the full value of your medical bills and other damages, including damages you may suffer in the future.

Below, the Silver Spring car accident lawyers at Goldberg Finnegan explain how some car crash injuries could have delayed symptoms and may reoccur.

Soft-Tissue Injuries

If you break a bone in a car crash, your recovery could be very predictable, particularly if you suffer a clean break and not something like a hairline fracture. Doctors set the bone, stabilize it and give it time to heal and you are likely to make a good recovery.

However, soft-tissue injuries can be much more complicated and long-lasting. These are injuries to muscles, ligaments and tendons in your spine; and other joints.

Some soft-tissue injuries include:

  • Whiplash
  • Sprains
  • Strains
  • Herniated discs
  • Contusions
  • Bursitis
  • Tendonitis

While bones do not change shape, muscle does. It can lengthen, shorten or thicken over time, based on how much it is used. If you do not use muscles over a prolonged time period, they can shorten. Injury victims often need to limit motion during the healing process. This may result in abnormal healing, which could have a negative effect on joints and nearby soft tissue. You must also be careful about stretching scar tissue that forms.

This could result in a variety of complications, such as:

  • Chronic pain
  • Osteoarthritis
  • Chronic numbness
  • Loss of muscle strength
  • Mobility limitations
  • Loss of bodily functions

One of the biggest problems that can be associated with a soft-tissue injury is joint instability. Grade I soft-tissue injuries cause little to no joint instability. Grade II soft-tissue injuries may cause some joint instability. Grade III soft-tissue injuries often cause a complete tear around a joint that may require surgery.

Recovery time for soft-tissue injuries varies based on your age and overall health and how you respond to treatment. Sometimes the pain and physical limitations resulting from soft-tissue injuries can appear to be healed. However, there is a chance that these symptoms could reappear weeks or months later.

Recurring Effects of Whiplash

Whiplash is one of the most common injuries that results from a car accident and is common in rear-end crashes. Whiplash is caused by a quick and forceful back-and-forth movement of the neck.

Many people who suffer whiplash recover within a matter of weeks. However, this injury can become a chronic problem, causing severe neck pain and other complications.

Some common symptoms of whiplash may include:

  • Neck pain and stiffness
  • Increased pain with neck movement
  • Inability to move or turn the head
  • Headaches, usually beginning at the base of the skull
  • Pain or tenderness around the shoulder, upper back or arms
  • Tingling or numbness in the arms
  • Dizziness
  • Fatigue

Other symptoms related to whiplash can include:

  • Blurry vision
  • Vertigo
  • Ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
  • Insomnia
  • Depression
  • Easily irritable
  • Lack of focus
  • Difficulty remembering

Calculating Your Damages

Since your injury could reappear or worsen in the future, it is important to have your claim reviewed by an experienced attorney who can determine your future treatment needs. Your lawyer will likely wait until a medical professional has declared your injury to be stabilized before determining the value of your claim. If your injury still has a chance to return or worsen, you could be selling yourself short by accepting a settlement offer too early in the legal process.

Call a Licensed Lawyer Today

If you or someone you love was involved in a car accident, we recommend seeking an immediate medical evaluation, followed by contacting a licensed attorney. Our attorneys offer a free case review to determine whether you have a valid claim.

If you have viable claim, we are prepared to pursue maximum compensation. We charge you no upfront fees and we only get paid when you do.