Delayed Injuries from a Car Accident

Serious injuries and emotional distress can result from automobile accidents, even if the damage to the vehicle is not significant. Every individual responds to a vehicle accident in a different manner. Some may experience pain immediately after the crash, while others may not experience any symptoms until weeks or even months later.

At times, the vehicle accident victim will walk away from the crash site with their adrenaline raging and may even feel fine. However, over the next several hours or days, they may start to feel the effects of the accident until they gauge that something might not be alright.

Sadly, such situations can not only create impediments in your recovery but also place roadblocks in your path to recovering compensation for your injury. Below is a list of the most commonly experienced symptoms of delayed injuries after an automobile wreck. Bear in mind that after being involved in a crash, you might not feel immediate pain and might end up believing that you’re fine (for a while at least).

Neck and Shoulder Pain

Delayed neck and shoulder pain could indicate whiplash, which is the most common delayed injury related to automobile accidents. In general, whiplash occurs in rear-end accidents when the joints, nerves, and muscles in the neck are overstretched beyond their normal range of movement.

Whiplash injuries can be serious and usually require MRIs, x-ray, or CT scans in order to be appropriately diagnosed. Whiplash is an injury that can be diagnosed by a skilled doctor before you even begin to experience any pain. In case the injury is detected early, treatment can commence, which may help the patient avoid long-term pain.

Headaches

After a vehicle accident, headaches can take several days to manifest. Often, they will not be associated with the incident right away. Many individuals may not think much of a headache that develops a few days later. They may just take non-prescription meds and hope to feel better. However, headaches can indicate a potentially serious health concern, such as a severe concussion or a blood clot on the brain.

Headaches can still commonly occur after a car crash, even if you did not hit your head during the incident. If you were involved in a vehicle accident and experience headache days or even weeks later, you should promptly contact a medical care practitioner to ensure that you are not suffering from a severe head injury.

Back Pain

Another delayed side effect of a vehicle accident injury is back pain, including strains, sprains, and herniated discs. Back pain can indicate damage to the muscles, ligaments, or vertebrae. At times, patients may experience sciatica, or other symptoms such as numbness or tingling of the spinal cord sustain damage and presses on the nerves.

In many side-impact and rear-end collisions, back pain is a reported symptom. You do not need to be struck at 90 mph to suffer a back injury. Thus, ensure that you consult a doctor to ensure that you have not sustained a serious back injury after a car crash.

This type of injury occurs when the vertebrae discs in the spine rupture, which sends stabbing or shooting pain up and down the arms and legs. This injury is also known as a slipped disc. Herniated discs occur commonly between L4 and L5 or L3 and L4.

It usually occurs when a lot of pressure is placed on the spine. This can cause the disc to rupture in the back. There are several people that require surgery following a rear-end crash. However, this is not always required. You should speak to a car accident injury lawyer for seeking adequate compensation to pay for your injuries.

Numbness and Tingling

Damage to the spinal cord or neck may manifest as numbness and tingling in the hands and arms. These symptoms will usually not present until hours after the collision.

If a person suffers from a herniated disk in a car crash, they may experience numbness and tingling in their limbs before they experience back pain. A herniated disk compresses the spinal nerves, leading to numbness and tingling in the hands and arms.

Thus, it is vital to consult a medical professional and undergo an x-ray or another image testing procedure after a crash to help diagnose this injury. This will allow the doctor to initiate treatment before the symptoms worsen.

Abdominal Pain

After an accident, abdominal pain can go unnoticed for a number of days. Sometimes, such pain can be life-threatening if it goes undiagnosed and untreated for a long time. Abdominal pain can indicate internal bleeding, and the victim may experience:

• Deep bruising and purplish skin
• Headaches
• Fainting
• Dizziness
• Lightheadedness

Internal bleeding cannot be seen or self-diagnosed right after the crash. It needs to be detected and treated by a seasoned medical practitioner, which is why you should never delay medical treatment after an automobile accident.

Work with an Experienced Car Accident Attorney to Get Your Rightful Compensation

Insurance adjusters may begin to call shortly after you are involved in a car accident. Within days of your crash, they may make you a settlement offer. But if you accept this offer and symptoms of a serious injury surface afterward, you will not be able to pursue any further compensatory damages. Settling a claim before your injuries have been fully assessed may leave you responsible for thousands of dollars in medical bills.

At the Smith Law Firm, our automobile accident lawyers are experienced in handling complex delayed injury cases. We will fight hard to make sure that you receive full and fair compensation for your losses, and we are not afraid to take the case to trial to fight for your rights. For a consultation with a proven and capable car accident attorney, call today at (334) 702-1744.