You thought you were okay after that distracted driver rear-ended you. Or perhaps, after slipping and falling off the poorly maintained front porch of a local business, you believed that the most damaged part of you was your pride. Unfortunately, that doesn’t seem to be the case. You’ve been battling headaches and neck pain. Chewing feels harder, and your jaw is sore. Now, your jaw also clicks — something it never used to do — and its range of motion is limited.

You might be dealing with a temporomandibular joint (TMJ) injury or disorder. Sometimes, an accident directly injures your jaw, but injuries to your head and neck can also contribute to TMJ pain. These injuries can be difficult to diagnose, and symptoms may continue long after the initial accident.

If you developed a TMJ disorder because of someone else’s negligence, you may have the right to seek compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, pain, and other losses. Anderson Law Injury Attorneys helps injured people in Bonney Lake and throughout Pierce County understand their legal options and pursue compensation for accident-related injuries.

What Is a TMJ Injury?

The temporomandibular joints, commonly called TMJs, connect your lower jaw to your skull. Located on either side of your head, just in front of your ears, these joints allow you to open and close your mouth, chew, speak, and move your jaw from side to side.

Temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) affect the joints, the muscles responsible for jaw movement, or the surrounding structures. These conditions can cause pain and stiffness, restrict movement, and lead to other symptoms, such as jaw locking, headaches, and popping or clicking sounds that interfere with everyday activities.

A traumatic event, such as a car, motorcycle, or bicycle accident or a slip and fall, can damage your jaw joints or surrounding tissues and contribute to a TMJ disorder. Depending on the nature of the injury, you might experience temporary discomfort or persistent symptoms that require ongoing treatment.

Common Causes of TMJ Injuries

TMJ injuries can develop after an accident that places sudden force on the jaw, face, head, or neck. Some common causes include:

• Car accidents: A collision can cause your head and jaw to move suddenly, placing stress on the joints and surrounding muscles. Whiplash may also contribute to TMJ symptoms, particularly in rear-end collisions, when the rapid movement of your head and neck places strain on surrounding muscles and tissues.
• Truck accidents: The force of a serious truck collision can cause injuries to the face, jaw, and neck. Striking your face or jaw against the dashboard or steering wheel can also damage the joints and muscles around your jaw.
• Motorcycle accidents: A direct impact to the face or jaw can damage the joint or surrounding structures.
• Slip and fall accidents: Falling and striking your face or chin can injure the jaw joint.
• Pedestrian and bicycle accidents: Being struck by a vehicle can cause significant trauma to your face, neck, and jaw, potentially leading to TMJ pain.
• Other traumatic injuries: A blow to the face or head can damage the parts of your jaw you rely on for everyday activities such as eating, drinking, and talking.

What Are the Common Symptoms of TMJ Injuries?

TMJ injuries can cause symptoms that range from mild discomfort to persistent pain and difficulty moving your jaw. Some symptoms appear immediately after an accident, while others may become noticeable over time.

Common symptoms include:

• Pain or tenderness in the jaw
• Pain around the ears, temples, or face
• Ringing in the ears, also known as tinnitus
• Headaches
• Neck pain or muscle tension
• Difficulty opening or closing your mouth
• Jaw stiffness or locking
• Pain when chewing or speaking
• Clicking, popping, or grinding sounds in your jaw, particularly when accompanied by pain
• Changes in how your upper and lower teeth fit together

What Compensation Can You Pursue for a TMJ Injury?

Whether the at-fault party was a driver or a business owner who failed to repair a faulty staircase, you may be able to pursue compensation if someone else’s negligence caused your TMJ injury. The damages available depend on the circumstances of your case, the severity of the injury, and its impact on your life.

Depending on the claim, compensation may include:

• Medical expenses: Your claim could include the costs of medical evaluations, imaging, medication, dental treatment, physical therapy, and other necessary care.
• Future medical costs: If your injury requires ongoing care, your claim may include anticipated expenses for continuing treatment or additional procedures.
• Lost wages: When your injury prevents you from working, whether that means missing shifts or cutting back on hours because of symptoms like severe headaches or jaw pain, you may be able to pursue compensation for lost income.
• Reduced earning capacity: If your injury affects your ability to work or earn a living over the long term, you may need to account for future financial losses. For example, if your job traditionally involves extensive public speaking, a clicking jaw or persistent jaw pain could make it harder to perform your usual duties.
• Pain and suffering: If your injury causes physical pain and discomfort or affects your overall quality of life, you may be eligible for compensation for pain and suffering.

TMJ injuries can vary in severity, and symptoms may fluctuate between painful flare-ups and periods of relative comfort. Persistent symptoms can also affect your daily activities over time. When considering a claim, it’s important to account for the full extent of your injury rather than focusing only on the expenses you incurred immediately after the accident.

Why Hire an Attorney for a TMJ Injury Case?

A personal injury attorney can be a strong advocate as you build a TMJ injury claim. Insurance adjusters may argue that your symptoms stem from natural wear and tear, arthritis, or a pre-existing condition rather than the accident. An attorney can help gather the evidence you need to establish the connection between your injury and the accident.

After an accident, you’re likely already dealing with a lot of stress. You might be in physical pain while worrying about missing work, and medical appointments may leave you uncertain about your recovery. Handling an injury claim at the same time can add another layer of stress.

A personal injury attorney can help investigate the accident, identify potentially responsible parties, collect supporting evidence, and communicate with insurance companies. Your attorney can also help document the full impact of your injury, including treatment needs, lost income, and the ways persistent symptoms affect your daily life.

TMJ injury claims may require careful coordination between medical evidence and the legal issues involved. An attorney can help you understand what information you may need to support your claim and evaluate any settlement offers.

Discuss Your TMJ Injury With Anderson Law | Injury Attorneys

Living with jaw pain after an accident can make everyday life harder than it used to be. So you really don’t need an insurance company questioning if your symptoms are related to the accident. And the last thing you want to deal with is that insurance company minimizing the impact your injuries have had on your life. You feel the impact every time you go to chew, or in the headaches that weren’t there before. 

You have support. Anderson Law Injury Attorneys is a small, local firm based in Bonney Lake that focuses exclusively on personal injury law. As we help injured people throughout Washington pursue compensation, we also offer personalized attention that can be harder to find at a larger law firm. Our team lives and works in the communities we serve, and we care about our clients. 

TMJ injuries can be particularly challenging to document because symptoms may overlap with other conditions or develop over time. That’s why our team works to understand how your injury has affected your work, daily activities, and quality of life. We’ll help gather medical evidence, document your losses, and build a claim that tells the full story and impact of your injury.

Throughout the process, we can also handle communications and negotiations with insurance companies and pursue litigation when necessary if a fair settlement can’t be reached. You’ll have the opportunity to ask questions, stay informed about your case, and make decisions with guidance from a team that takes your individual circumstances seriously.

Contact Anderson Law Injury Attorneys today to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation. We don’t charge attorney fees unless we win your case.