Just because you walk away from an accident feeling fine doesn't mean your body isn't injured.
Thousands of drivers realize this too late every year. They brush off the crash, exchange insurance info, and continue on with their day feeling lucky.
The problem is…
Your body can often conceal trauma following an accident. After a crash, adrenaline kicks in and numbs pain for hours… sometimes days or weeks.
Let's take a closer look…
Your crash injury warning signs you need to know
-
Why Hidden Injuries Occur After Car Accidents
-
The Most Common Car Accident Delayed Symptoms
-
When to See a Doctor After a Car Accident
-
How to Protect Your Legal Rights After Crashing Your Car
Why Hidden Injuries Occur After Car Accidents
Your body goes into survival mode when you're involved in a collision.
The rush of adrenaline and cortisol help block out pain after an accident. These hormones are natural pain relievers that help your brain focus on getting you to safety.
The unfortunate side effect?
Your injuries are masked from you.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that car crash injuries send more than 2.1 million Americans to the emergency room each year. A large percentage of those injuries don't occur right after the crash. They happen days later when delayed injury symptoms reveal themselves.
This is precisely why personal injury attorneys exist. Injuries that occur days or weeks after a crash are more likely to be disputed by insurance companies. They claim the accident you've been involved in wasn't the cause. Partnering with a knowledgeable tampa personal injury lawyer can help ensure you're compensated properly and don't get stuck with medical bills.
The Most Common Car Accident Delayed Symptoms
Headaches are just one of many hidden symptoms you should watch for after a crash.
Some injuries don't present pain right away. In fact, the worst problems can take days or even weeks to show themselves. Here are a few delayed injury symptoms you should know.
Headaches That Won't Go Away
If you start experiencing headaches a few hours or even days after your accident, pay attention.
Headaches can be a sign of more serious conditions like:
-
Concussion
-
Traumatic brain injury
-
Blood clot on your brain
-
Whiplash related neck pain
-
Internal bleeding
Visit your doctor right away if your headache:
-
Gets worse as the day goes on
-
Is followed by dizziness, blurred vision, or nausea
Whiplash Related Neck and Shoulder Pain
Whiplash often occurs days after a vehicle collision.
When you're struck – even from behind – your head jerks back and forth rapidly. This motion can injure the muscles, ligaments, and tendons in your neck. Sometimes you won't feel any whiplash pain for up to 72 hours after the accident.
Other common symptoms include:
-
Stiffness when turning your head
-
Pain that radiates into your shoulders
-
Tingling arms or hands
-
Tension headaches
Research shows that approximately 70% of all whiplash injuries are caused by rear-end collisions. That said, don't assume you have to be driving fast for whiplash to occur. Many fender benders can trigger severe neck pain.
Back Pain and Possible Spinal Damage
Your spine suffers during any automobile accident.
Lower back pain that develops days after your crash could be symptomatic of:
-
Herniated or bulging disc
-
Soft tissue injuries
-
Broken vertebrae
-
Spinal cord compression
Just like with whiplash, pain may not show up for days. During that time your body will feel generalized soreness. But as inflammation kicks in, you'll feel the full effects of your injury. If you start to experience numbness or tingling in your legs, don't ignore it.
Abdominal Pain or Internal Bleeding
This is every driver's worst nightmare.
When you crash, your internal organs are at risk of being damaged by blunt force trauma. Sometimes you won't notice any injuries at all on the outside. But that doesn't mean you aren't injured on the inside. Symptoms of internal bleeding may not show up for several hours or days.
Symptoms to watch out for include:
-
Large, purple bruises on your stomach
-
Swelling or tenderness in your stomach
-
Feeling dizzy or faint
-
Feeling light headed
Visit your nearest emergency room immediately if you suspect internal bleeding.
Mood and Behavioral Changes
Brain injuries can cause subtle changes in your personality and mental capacity.
Difficulty concentrating, memory loss, irritability, and brain fog could all be signs of brain trauma caused by your accident. While some of these symptoms may appear quickly, others can take weeks to develop.
Much like internal injuries, PTSD is another condition to watch for after a crash. Drivers often experience anxiety, insomnia, flashbacks, and depression days or even weeks after the accident occurred.
When to See a Doctor After a Car Accident
The best course of action is to visit your doctor after every crash.
Even if you feel fine after your accident, it's always smart to get checked out. That way if something happens later, you have solid documentation that you were in a crash. Below are several reasons to seek emergency care immediately.
You Should Go to The Emergency Room Right Now If You Experience:
-
Severe headaches that get worse as time goes on
-
Loss of consciousness
-
Confusion
-
Numbness in your arms or legs
-
Stomach pain or swelling
-
Trouble breathing
It can be tempting to chalk up "minor" symptoms to nothing. But remember, serious conditions can develop from mild aches that get worse over time.
How to Protect Your Legal Rights After Crashing Your Car
Insurance companies love it when you skip the hospital after a crash.
If there's a gap in medical treatment, they'll use that against you to prove your injuries didn't happen because of the accident. Don't make their job easier and always seek medical treatment ASAP.
Follow these tips to protect yourself:
-
Take pictures at the accident scene
-
Visit your doctor within 48 hours regardless of how you feel
-
Save all medical records and visit documentation
-
Immediately report new or worsening symptoms to your doctor
-
Contact a personal injury lawyer before agreeing to any settlement
The longer you wait to link your injuries to your accident, the more difficult it will be to prove later on. Always act quickly and think about both your current health and future well-being.
Conclusion
Heading off hidden injury symptoms can catch drivers unaware every year.
Trauma from a car accident often hides behind a rush of adrenaline. Hours, days, or even weeks later, the initial injury symptoms flood in.
Symptoms ranging from whiplash to brain trauma and spinal damage can easily be masked. That's why it's always best to seek medical attention after a crash—even if you feel perfectly fine.
Don't take chances with your health. If something doesn't feel right, listen to your body. And never assume that because you walked away from an accident that you're uninjured.
