Three Common Soft Tissue Injuries After a Car Accident

A soft tissue injury is any injury that affects your body’s soft tissues. Soft tissues include muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Three common soft tissue injuries that could be sustained in a car accident include:

Injury #1: Whiplash. Whiplash occurs when a sudden force, like a car collision, causes the head and neck to jerk backward or forward. It affects the neck and back, but it could also cause a head concussion. Effects could include pain and stiffness, nerve damage, headaches, and cognitive issues.

Injury #2: Contusions. A contusion is a bruise that occurs from blunt force or impact. It affects the underlying muscle and tissue. Contusions can cause inflammation, swelling, and mobility issues. Depending on the severity of the accident and without medical attention, contusions could cause permanent damage to the body’s soft tissue.

Injury #3: Herniated Disc Injuries. Some accident survivors experience back pain. The back is full of soft tissue that is especially vulnerable in the event of a collision. Herniated disc injuries could occur when force is placed on the back and moves a spinal disc out of place. The spinal disc could put pressure on surrounding nerve tissue, causing sharp pain in the back and other limbs.

Should I Seek Medical Attention After a Car Accident?

Yes. First, soft-tissue injuries are not visible. Soft tissue injuries can have delayed symptoms for up to a few days, making it challenging to identify the source of your pain. Unlike a broken bone, soft tissue injuries cannot be seen using X-rays. Since soft-tissue injuries are not visible like other car accident injuries, speaking with a doctor is even more critical when you want to file a claim with your insurance company or against another driver. Proof that you have received medical attention is essential because insurance companies use medical history to assess the validity of your injury. You should continue seeking medical attention if your injury symptoms persist.

Need a Lufkin Car Accident Attorney?

If you have been injured in a car accident due to the negligence of another driver or entity, contact the car accident attorneys at Mike Love & Associates, LLC. We advocate for victims of car accidents in Lufkin and the surrounding East Texas areas. You could have a viable case to recover compensation for your injuries. Call us today at (936) 632-2000 to discuss your situation.

Notorious Auto Defects in History Part 1: Ford Pinto

The Ford Pinto is responsible for one of the most infamous scandals in US automotive history. This once-popular subcompact car is also a terrifying example of what can happen to consumers when products contain deadly safety defects. Fuel tanks in these vehicles were prone to punctures or ruptures during low-speed rear-end collisions. Gasoline would leak underneath the car and combust. Fuel tank fires killed an estimated 27 to 180 people. Additional victims were disfigured from burn injuries.You may be wondering why a company would release a product that was prone to exploding in minor rear-end collisions.

The story of the Ford Pinto is also a tale of corporate greed. During the late 1960s, Ford was desperate to compete with foreign manufacturers that were selling cheaper, smaller vehicles in the US. The Pinto was Ford’s answer to becoming competitive in this market. Ford executives wanted to get the Pinto onto the market as soon as possible. A 25-month delivery deadline was set. Ford initially discovered the fuel tank problem during low-speed, rear-end crash tests. Multiple tests resulted in fuel tank ruptures.

There were two reasons why this kept happening. Engineers discovered that bolts could puncture the fuel tanks. The filler necks could also tear away from the fuel tanks. Both flaws caused fuel leaks and created a major fire hazard. However, several tests did not result in fuel tank ruptures. Engineers used various safety devices to protect the fuel tanks during those tests. An internal memo uncovered during a lawsuit against Ford showed that it had made a cruel calculation while deciding whether to apply fixes to the fuel tanks. According to this memo, Ford calculated that it would have cost $113 million to delay production and apply the fixes, but only $49 million to pay damages from lawsuits filed by victims.

Ford did eventually issue a recall for 1971-1976 Pintos in 1978. By the time the recall was announced, countless people had their lives ended or destroyed. In one case, a 13-year-old boy suffered severe burns and disfigurement. Three teenage girls in Indiana were burned alive while riding in a Ford Pinto. More than 100 lawsuits were filed against Ford by crash survivors and their families. We will never know the damages Ford paid victims because many of the cases were settled out of court. However, the damage to Ford’s reputation at the time was substantial. Even decades after its release, many people still remember the infamous Ford Pinto.

Injured by a Defective Auto Product?

You can contact the Texas product liability lawyers at Mike Love & Associates, LLC for a free consultation if a defective auto product injured you or a loved one. Our attorneys can review your situation and inform you of available legal options to pursue damages.