It’s not always necessary that a car accident victim will feel all the injuries at once. Most often, it can take days and even weeks for some symptoms to show up. While minor injuries can be treated with first aid, it is not advisable to ignore a complete medical checkup if the accident is major. Today, I will share with you some of the most common injuries that may show delayed signs.
Some common types of injuries which surface after a few days are whiplash and concussions. Also, psychological traumas and mental suffering are long-term effects of accidents.
The thing is that our body experiences a strong rush of a hormone known as adrenaline after events like car accidents, which not only pumps in anger and frustration but also masks the injuries. And as adrenaline level lowers with time, the injuries start coming to the surface.
Contact a doctor immediately.
Delayed injuries, if ignored, can be very harmful to health. They can and must be diagnosed by doctors immediately. And ignoring them will also make it difficult for you to get the right compensation. It would be best if you got in touch with a doctor as soon as the symptoms arise.
Suppose you have survived a car accident and are feeling either of the following symptoms. In that case, you should see a doctor and also contact our Brampton Personal Injury Lawyers to understand how you can receive compensation for your delayed injuries.
- Whiplash: Whiplash is an injury that is common after rear-ended car collisions. It is the most common type of injury in parking lots. In highway accidents, too, it is reported in significant numbers.
It is a neck injury that occurs when you jerk forward against the steering, and your head and neck are stopped abruptly. This causes overextension of the nerves and muscles, and this can damage the joints in your neck. Whiplash injuries are usually delayed and take from 12 hours to 15 days to show the first sign.
Whiplash injuries can result in
- Aching neck, shoulder, upper back, and head
- Dizziness
- Chronic Headaches—Many people tend to ignore headaches or self-declare them as not connected to the car accident. You should avoid this and seek medical immediately.
- Sleep disturbance
- Eye problems
- A persistent ringing in the ears
Minor whiplash injuries can be healed over time, but severe ones take a longer time to heal and result in permanent damages.
- Concussion: Concussion is a brain injury that happens when a severe blow on the head causes the brain to hit against the skull. It can result in strange medical, psychological, and behavioral conditions.
Concussions can also take place without any blow to the head. So, the chances that you ignore this are very high.
In case of abrupt jerking motion, the brain can get damaged without any physical impact on the head.
A variety of symptoms can indicate concussions, such as:
- Severe headaches
- Disorientation
- Equilibrium loss
- Irritation
- Change in eating and sleeping habits
- Lowering of responsiveness
- Sound and Light Sensitivity
Fortunately, medical science has treatment for concussions, and you must see a doctor if the symptoms mentioned above occur in the course of a few days after the accident.
- Soft-tissue injuries: Tearing of muscle cells and tendons is also one of those injuries which appear later. Whiplash can also lead to soft-tissue injuries such as bruises, sprains, and strains.
Following are the common symptoms of soft-tissue injuries:
- Swelling
- Inflammation
- Stiffness
- Problems in lifting weights
- Change in color of the affected areas.
- Stomach Pain: Internal bleeding can occur because of car accidents, and you may not detect these yourself. You may be totally unaware of this injury, and it can be fatal since the blood starts clotting inside your body.
Fortunately, there are symptoms like pain in the stomach and the purpling of the skin, which indicates that there may be internal bleeding. A thorough medical checkup must be done after the accident.
- Psychological Trauma: Victims of a car accident may develop post-trauma stress disorder, resulting in serious side effects such as a complete change in lifestyle. The problem is that there are no physical ways to detect it, and insurance companies may say that you are exaggerating so as to receive more benefits. However, the following conditions can indicate PTSD:
- Nightmares related to the accident
- Constant flashbacks
- Mood swings
- Change in sleeping and eating habits
- Anxiety
- Hopelessness
- Bizarre dreams
Another problem is that car accident victims don’t want to admit that they’re suffering from PTSD. But you should keep in mind that hiding any injury after the accident will only help the insurance companies and the at-fault drivers.
- Numbness or Tingling: If your neck or spinal columns have been damaged, it can create a constant feeling of numbness and tingling. It can also be the result of a herniated disk. Long term tingling can even paralyze a part of the body. Fortunately, doctors can detect the reason behind the numbness using an x-ray and then start the treatment.
Always keep in mind that how you feel right after the accident is not the complete story. If you’ve any doubt about your condition, then don’t hesitate to call the ambulance and get a complete body check up. In my long experience as a lawyer this will not only save you from the intense medical situation, but also stop the defendants from trying to make it look like you were all right after the accident, or it was your ignorance, which worsened your situation.
You should also talk to me or my Brampton Personal Injury Lawyer, who will help you calculate the right compensation for your losses and represent you in court.
Car accidents are a grim unfortunate truth of our road travels, and whether you seek a free consultation or want to hire us to represent your case, we ensure the strongest claims from your side.
