Car Accident Injuries: When do They Appear?

Being involved in a car accident is a horrific experience that you’ll always remember. Even if the property damage incurred isn’t severe, a car crash can cause lasting physical and emotional harm. If you were able to get up and walk away from an automobile accident without seeking medical attention, you might just simply believe that you were one of the lucky ones. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, someone is injured every ten seconds in a motor vehicle accident. Medical experts say that injuries from a car accident can manifest over several days after the initial shock of the incident has worn off. Auto accidents account for a substantial amount of injuries annually. In fact, the Association for Safe International Travel reports that over two million people are injured or disabled in car accidents each year.

Delayed Pain After A Car Accident

If you received medical attention after a car accident and you’ve been given a clean bill of health by an Emergency Room doctor or your private care provider, you might feel as if you’re good to go. However, it is important not to ignore the aches or pains that begin 24-72 hours after the accident. Even if there was minimal property damage, it is still very possible that you sustained injuries that require attention from a medical professional. Oftentimes, minor injuries can become bigger issues if left untreated. Imagine, for example, a carton of eggs. At first glance, the carton may look perfectly fine but at a closer look at the eggs may show they are cracked or broken – despite the undamaged packaging. Here are some common symptoms or delayed pain that you might experience after a car accident:

• Headache A persistent headache can be an indication of a neck and head injury, or even worse, a concussion. In some cases, a headache can signify hematoma or blood clotting, which can cause death if an individual doesn’t get medical attention soon enough.
• Numbness If you begin to lose feeling in your hands or arms, it is possible that you are experiencing the after-effects of spinal cord damage in your neck and/or back.
• Intense abdominal pain Persistent and/or intense abdominal pain can indicate internal bleeding, which requires emergency treatment.
• Coordination Difficulty or Personality Changes Traumatic brain injuries after an automobile accident are very common. Concussions and other types of brain injuries, like a contusion or an acquired brain injury, can affect the way the brain translates signals to the body or can cause damage to the brain that may manifest in strange ways, such as personality changes.
• Whiplash Whiplash is one of the most common neck injuries that people suffer in car accidents due to the rapid back and forth movement of the neck that happens when a car forcefully collides with another vehicle. Whiplash is one of those injuries that can show up hours or even days after an accident.

Fortunately, most automobile accidents aren’t fatal but even the minor ones can have a major impact on an individual’s long-term mental health. Many people develop anxiety or phobias about driving. It’s even common for some to develop post-traumatic stress where they relive the accident over and over in their mind. Many studies have shown that even children who have been involved in a car accident tend to develop anxiety and post-traumatic stress from the event. Such mental injuries typically don’t manifest until several weeks after the accident.

How Long Do You Have To See A Doctor After A Car Accident?

It’s important to see a doctor as soon as possible if you have been involved in a car accident. If you walked away from the accident feeling fine and didn’t go to the hospital, you should consider getting checked out at an urgent care clinic or your primary care physician.

Seek Compensation for Car Accident Injuries

You can seek compensation for both physical and emotional injuries that you sustained in an automobile accident. Many people think that they can only pursue legal actions if they sustained major injuries like a broken limb. However, if you were hurt, missed work or developed serious anxiety from your automobile accident, you deserve to be compensated for these injuries. Here at Casas Law, our team of experienced personal injury attorneys has spent years enforcing the legal rights of car accident victims. Here at Casas Law, our team of experienced Personal Injury Attorneys has spent decades enforcing the legal rights of car accident victims. Contact us right away to schedule a FREE consultation.