A car accident is a traumatic experience, and even if you only have minor injuries, you may suffer symptoms related to the crash for a long time after the incident. Some injuries are obvious, such as broken bones, cuts and bruises. However, you may have suffered an injury that remained hidden for some time before it began causing you trouble.
Whiplash hurts all over
Whiplash is a symptom with a hallmark of showing up days after an accident. You may experience pain and stiffness in your neck and shoulder, or you may have low back pain. This is especially common if your car was rear-ended. In fact, over 50 percent of victims of rear-end collisions suffer low back injuries.
A car does not have to be traveling very fast to leave you with whiplash symptoms. Most whiplash injuries occur when the striking vehicle is traveling slower than 14 mph. Whiplash may also cause numbness in your arms or legs. If this happens, your doctor may want to examine you for signs of spinal injuries.
Pain in your abdomen
After an accident, any swelling or pain in your abdomen may be a sign of a potentially serious injury, especially if you are also experiencing dizziness, fainting or deep bruising across your stomach. These may be a sign of internal bleeding, which may be life-threatening. Because these symptoms may not reveal themselves for hours or days after an accident, you should seek immediate medical care as soon as you are aware of them.
Trauma to the head
If you experience headaches several days after your accident, this may be a normal result of the impact. However, it could also be a sign of traumatic brain injury. Some other symptoms of TBI include:
- Difficulty thinking
- Trouble remembering
- Impaired ability to walk or move
- Changes in hearing or vision
- Marked changes in personality
- Depression
Automobile accidents are the third leading cause of traumatic brain injuries. It is not uncommon for TBIs related to motor vehicle accidents to result in fatalities.
You may not be able to see your injury
Perhaps you, like many victims of motor vehicle accidents, were deeply shaken by your experience. You may be having nightmares or upsetting flashbacks that make it difficult to carry on with your normal activities. Perhaps you see these symptoms in your child who was with you during the accident.
Do not take any of these symptoms lightly. In addition to seeking medical help, you have the right to seek legal help. You don’t have to endure the pain of mounting medical bills on top of your physical suffering. If your accident was caused by the negligence or carelessness of another driver, an experienced attorney can guide you in taking steps to pursue possible damages
