3 Things to Know About Soft Tissue Injuries

Pain and suffering can take many forms following an incident; soft tissue injuries are a common occurrence and, sadly, a type of injury that is often misunderstood.

Whiplash, sprains, contusions, and stress injuries can all lead to significant pain and, if left untreated, can become long-term aggravating conditions. If you or a loved one have been injured following a serious accident, knowing some of the core facts about soft tissue injuries will be crucial to help you get diagnosed and receive the proper treatment. Read on to learn three of the most important facts about soft tissue injuries and how the award-winning team at James H. Brown and Associates can help you secure the compensation you deserve following an accident.

If you’re injured and need legal advice now, contact us today using our Whiplash Hotline.

What is a Soft Tissue Injury?

As the name suggests, soft tissue injuries refer to damage to the body’s soft tissues, including muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Just like breaking a bone, injuring these delicate tissues can have severe and painful repercussions. These can manifest as bruising, generalized pain, swelling, mobility issues, nerve damage and more.

What is particularly concerning about soft tissue damage is that it can often be trickier to catch in its earlier stages, with core symptoms “hiding” under more predominant, upfront injuries like bursitis or heavy bruising. Getting medical treatment immediately following an accident is imperative to catch the first signs of soft tissue damage and build a comprehensive and effective recovery plan.

Common misconceptions about soft tissue injuries include:

Only Extreme Accidents Lead to Soft Tissue Injuries

One of the biggest misconceptions is that it takes a serious accident or high-speed collision to sustain a soft tissue injury. Not True. Soft tissue damage can, and often does, occur as the result of any kind of impact or sudden forceful motion, regardless of the speed or force of impact involved. Many individuals have suffered whiplash-related injuries in accidents occurring at as little as 15 km/h; you can never “rule out” serious injury based on the speed at which the accident occurred.

If You’re Not in Pain, You’re Not Injured

This is, perhaps, the most dangerous personal injury myth that gets passed around. Put simply, pain is not the only indicator of an injury. Soft tissue injuries, as well as spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries and other issues, can take days or even weeks to appear. The best way to know if you are hurt and how to recover is to see a doctor as soon as possible. The right medical care provider will be able to catch even hard-to-detect soft tissue injuries early from developing into serious conditions with long-term consequences.

Not All Soft Tissue Injuries Are Capped

Many Albertans have heard about the Minor Injury Regulations and the Diagnostic and Treatment Protocols (Also known as the Cap). What people may not know is that Alberta’s Cap only limits the amount you can receive for “pain and suffering” for very specific types of soft tissue injuries. Other expenses like loss of income, the inability to perform housekeeping tasks, and long-term care expenses are not necessarily covered by The Cap, meaning accident victims can still get the compensation they need in many cases.

Here to Protect Your Rights

Since 1993, James H. Brown and Associates has built a trusted reputation as one of Alberta’s top teams of Alberta injury lawyers. We understand firsthand what it’s like to be seriously injured, and have over 250 years of combined experience attaining justice and fair compensation for our clients in Edmonton, Calgary, and across Alberta.

James H. Brown and Associates offer complete legal services and support for Edmonton accident victims and their families, including:

• Over 250 years of combined injury law experience, including an unrivalled record of success in Alberta courts.
• Complete accident investigation services, including evidence preservation, accident reconstruction, and more.
• Multi-disciplinary experts and specialists to fully diagnose your injuries and determine long-term impacts.
• Strong relationships with Alberta organizations ready to assist with rehabilitation and recovery.
• And much more!

Unlike many large law firms in Alberta, James H. Brown and Associates’ injury lawyers are ready to speak with you right away. No call centres, no intake teams, just the expert legal advice you and your family need.

Contact us today to speak with a lawyer and schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with James H. Brown and Associates.