If you have been in an automobile accident, there may be obvious signs that you have an injury, such as lacerations and other external injuries. But what about injuries that are not immediately obvious?
In an automobile accident, the victims can experience shock or a large adrenaline rush that can mask traumatic injuries. This is why it is important to seek medical attention immediately following an automobile accident. The following are just some of the common symptoms that may not show up for days after an accident but could be signs of life-threatening injuries.
Mood swings
Following an automobile accident, mood swings could signal a traumatic brain injury or some other classification of brain injury. Emotional changes could also be a sign of post-traumatic stress disorder.
Tingling or numbness
If you experience tingling or numbness after an accident, it could indicate that you have sustained some nerve damage. Sometimes, these symptoms do not show up for days because inflammation takes time to reach its apex. So feelings of numbness may increase instead of decrease over time.
Abdominal pain
If you start experiencing abdominal pain after an accident, it could be an indication of internal bleeding. Injuries to your spleen, stomach, kidneys or other internal organs could be life-threatening.
Headaches
In the days or even weeks after an accident, the onset of persistent headaches could be the sign of a TBI or concussion. If this is the case, your brain is in a fragile state and even the smallest new injury could cause severe new damage. An increase in headache frequency and intensity could also indicate that you have blood or other fluid pooling inside your skull and creating dangerous pressure.
If you experience any of these symptoms after an automobile accident, consider going to your primary physician to get checked out. Report any symptoms that show up days or weeks after an accident to your physician immediately.
