Being involved in a car accident can be physically and emotionally damaging, even with only minor damage to your vehicle. With the adrenaline that courses through your body after an accident, it is sometimes easy to miss the signs of an injury. In fact, some injuries from a car accident don’t show up for several days.
It’s important to check yourself and your passengers for any apparent signs of injury following a car accident. This is an important step to avoid health problems that could arise. If medical personnel are on the scene, it’s a good idea to have them look you over, even if you feel alright. They may notice something you don’t see following an accident and provide you with the proper treatment.
In some cases, you may feel fine right after an accident, and then several days later, you could start to feel like you have an injury. According to Adam S Kutner, a professional injury attorney, almost 40% of injuries from a car accident don’t appear for several days. Let’s take a closer look at a few of the common injuries that can happen in a car accident.
Neck and Shoulder Pain
If you have pain in your neck and shoulders after a car accident, it could indicate that you have sustained a whiplash injury. Whiplash is one of the most common delayed injuries from a car accident. When a car is hit from behind, the neck, shoulders, and spine are extended beyond the normal range at fast speed, causing strain and injury. Whiplash injuries can be very serious and painful and need to be looked at by your doctor. To get the right diagnosis, you may have to undergo tests like an MRI, x-rays, or a CT scan.
Headaches
While headaches themselves are relatively common, you should talk to your doctor if you are experiencing headaches following a car accident. Don’t mistake the headaches you have following a car accident as a symptom of the stress you have been through. These types of headaches could indicate a more serious problem. You could potentially have a concussion or a blood clot in the brain. If you are getting headaches following a car accident, you need to see your doctor.
Back Pain
After a car accident, it can take several days for the pain of a severe back injury to appear. Common back injuries following an accident can include herniated disks, sprains, and ligament damage. If there is spinal cord damage, victims of car accidents may experience numbness or tingling in their hands and feet. Even low-impact car accidents can be jarring enough to cause a back injury. If you have back pain after your accident, you should see your doctor to determine the nature of your injury.
Abdominal Pain
Your seatbelt is designed to save you from fatal injury during a car accident, but if you have a serious collision, you may sustain specific abdominal injuries from your seatbelt. Abdominal pain is a common symptom following a car crash. Severe abdominal pain can be a sign of internal bleeding, which can be extremely serious. Victims may experience deep bruising, headache, dizziness, or fainting following an abdominal injury. If you are having pain in your abdomen following a car accident, you should seek medical attention.
If you have been involved in a car accident, it is vital to seek medical care as soon as possible. Even if you feel fine, you may have hidden injuries that need to be addressed. Allow medical staff to look you over following a car accident to ensure that you return home safe and healthy.