A car accident can turn your life upside down, even when the damage is not severe or life-threatening. After the initial shock of the crash or collision subsides, its important to call the paramedics or get immediate medical attention to make sure that your injuries are treated. However, many people discover that although they thought they were fine directly after their accident, they were not. Symptoms can appear at a later date and impact your health and well-being. The following is a list of the most common symptoms that may not appear immediately:
- Headaches: Headaches can develop several days after the accident. They may indicate a serious problem, such as a blood clot on the brain, or an injury to the neck or head including a serious concussion.
- Neck, Shoulder Pain and Stiffness: Whiplash is the most common delayed symptom injury after an accident. Most cases occur as a result of a rear-end collision at speeds of less than 14 miles per hour. These injuries can be serious and may need MRIs, CT scans and X-rays to diagnose and treat correctly.
- Back Pain: Back pain can stem from an injury to the muscles, ligaments, vertebrae or nerves in the back. Lower back pain occurs in more than half of rear impact collisions and almost three quarters of all side impact crashes.
- Abdominal Pain and Swelling: This pain can be a symptom of internal bleeding, which is life-threatening. There may also be deep purple bruising, dizziness and fainting.
- Numbness: Losing the feeling in your arms and hands is another symptom of a whiplash injury. The loss of feeling is from damage to the neck or spinal column.
- Changes in Personality or Physical Functioning: This may be an indicator of traumatic brain injury (TBI) resulting from a concussion. The signs may include impaired thinking or memory, problems with hearing, vision and movement, and personality changes including depression. Motor vehicle crashes are the third leading cause of TBI.
- Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Victims of PTSD may have nightmares as well as vivid, disturbing and disruptive visions after an accident. They may also experience sudden flashbacks of the incident which can lead to panic attacks and depression.
The best course of action after a vehicle accident is to seek immediate medical attention. If any of the above symptoms appear after several days have elapsed, it is important to visit a doctor experienced in treating car accident victims to diagnose and treat any issues or problems. Remember that just because the collision occurred at a lower speed and there was minimal property damage, serious injuries could still have occurred.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident due to someone else’s negligence, the attorneys at Ganim Injury Lawyers can help you. We have years of experience helping personal injury victims and we know how to help you get the compensation you need and deserve. Call us today to get started.