When you were injured in your accident, you had immediate medical needs. You might’ve suffered lacerations and broken bones, as well as sprains, strains, or torn ligaments. These wounds certainly require attention and care, but they’re not the only accident injuries that you might’ve suffered.
There are some types of car accident injuries that don’t present until much later, and if you’re not attentive, you could even miss their symptoms. This can be problematic in your recovery and in the context of your personal injury case, since failing to spot these hidden injuries could stymie your recovery, perhaps even leading to a worsened medical condition, and leave you unable to collect additional compensation for the harm that’s been caused to you.
That’s why this week on the blog we wanted to draw your attention to some accident injuries that can remain hidden for days, weeks, or even months after you wreck. By being aware of these conditions and their symptoms, you’ll hopefully be better prepared to spot them and take timely action to treat them.
Common car accident injuries with delayed symptoms
While there can be several car accident injuries that can carry delayed symptoms, here we want to look at some of the most severe. This includes:
- Whiplash: This condition occurs when the head suddenly moves from one direction to the other, just like a cracking whip. This abrupt change in direction can cause damage to neck muscles and tendons, resulting in stiffness, pain, loss of motion, and even numbness in your arms. These symptoms of whiplash can be somewhat delayed, and they can linger for months or even years absent proper treatment.
- Concussion: If your head strikes the steering wheel, dashboard, or even an air bag during your wreck, then you could experience this type of traumatic brain injury. The symptoms of this injury aren’t always readily apparent. They can include difficulty sleeping, loss of memory and concentration, irritability, changes to personality, headaches, dizziness, and excessive fatigue, just to name a few. Given that these symptoms can present days after an accident, they’re sometimes erroneously attributed to the stress of the situation rather than a brain injury.
- Back injuries: The pain that you experience in your back after a car accident can take several days to develop. In some instances, you’ll simply feel sore due to the whiplash-like strain that your back muscles experience, but you might also experience excessive pain and numbness in your limbs if there’s bleeding or swelling that presses on your spine. So, be sure to seek out prompt care if you start experiencing back pain of any sort.
- Internal injuries: Some internal injuries, like broken ribs, should be readily apparent and quickly caught during your initial medical care. But if you start experiencing abdominal pain in the days following your crash, you should go back to the doctor, as this could be a sign of something more severe, such as internal bleeding or organ failure.
Stay alert in the days and weeks after your car accident
We know you’re dealing with a lot in the aftermath of your car wreck. But you have to be sure to listen to your body so that you can seek out any follow up care that may be needed. By doing so, you’ll hopefully avoid a worsening condition and can get back to your normal life as quickly as possible. If you’re also interested in securing compensation for the harm that’s been caused to you, then you might want to consider pursuing a personal injury lawsuit.
