Top 5 Most Common Delayed Injuries After Car Accidents

Some car accident injuries are apparent, such as cuts and lacerations, but others might not be evident until a few hours or days after the accident. In some cases, the shock of the accident causes the victims to underestimate their injuries or increases adrenaline in their bodies that might numb the pain sensation.

It is always best to get a medical examination after any moderate or severe car accident; however, even a medical exam immediately after the accident might not be able to identify some injuries. Therefore, if you have been in an accident, take it easy for a few days, and keep a close eye on any symptoms that might appear. You don't want to aggravate the injury by not resting it, so don't push yourself to strenuous activity until you are entirely healthy.

You should also get in touch with a car accident lawyer in North Hollywood, CA, to check if you can recover any compensation for your economic and non-economic suffering. On this page, we have highlighted five of the most common delayed injuries after a car accident.

Whiplash

Whiplash is a common injury after a car accident. It is a type of neck injury that typically can take a few hours or days to show symptoms. The cause of whiplash is the sudden and forceful back-and-forth movement of the neck. The name whiplash refers to the analogy of the injury to the "cracking of a whip".

Common symptoms of whiplash include neck pain, neck stiffness, dizziness, ringing in your ears, back pain, shoulder pain, or numbness in your arm or hand. Whiplash can also result in tiredness, sleeplessness, irritability, and difficulty concentrating. To diagnose whiplash, the physician might prescribe specific tests such as an x-ray, MRI, or CT scan. MRI and CT scans are more detailed than general x-rays.

Concussion

A concussion is a traumatic injury to the brain caused by a blow or jolt to the head. It can also be caused by violent shaking of the head. It is a misconception that when a concussion happens, the victim loses consciousness; however, that is not always true. For example, a driver or passenger in a car accident might not have any concussion symptoms until a few hours or days after the accident.

You should seek immediate medical attention if you suffered any injury to the head. The physician may order brain imaging tests, such as CT scans, to view cross-sectional images of your brain. As long as the concussion has not resulted in bleeding or other complications, the physician will likely advise rest and prescribe medications to aid recovery.

Blood Clots

A car accident can result in blunt force trauma to your body, which can lead to blood clots. The sudden impact of a car accident means the victims might not be aware of all their injuries, especially internal injuries like blood clots.

Blood costs are gel-like clumps of blood that flow inside the veins. They can cut off circulation; in severe cases, the victim can suffer from a heart attack, stroke, or damage to the brain and other critical organs of the body.

The diagnosis of blood clots may require the use of ultrasonography or other imaging tests. If a physician diagnoses you with a blood clot, they may prescribe a blood thinning medication.

Soft Tissue Injuries

It is common for the victims of car accidents to feel pain in different parts of the body. Some of this pain subsides after a few days of rest; however, severe injuries will take longer to heal. It can be challenging to distinguish between mild soreness and severe soft tissue injuries a few hours after the accident. Some soft tissue injuries start hurting one or two days after the accident.

There can be multiple soft tissue injuries such as strain, sprain, bursitis, tendonitis, or bruises.

Therefore, it is best to get a soft tissue injury inspected by a physician to determine if any treatment or medication is needed.

Joint Pain

The joints can be damaged due to the impact of a car collision. You could have hurt your knees, wrists, elbows, shoulders, or other joints. If you notice the swelling and pain have not subsided a couple of days after the accident, it is time to head to a physician. If you have severe pain or complete immobility of the joint, you should seek immediate medical attention as you might have suffered joint dislocation, fracture, or other complications.

Hire an Experienced Car Accident Attorney

Although most people recover from car accident injuries in a few days or weeks, you shouldn't ignore symptoms, especially if they don't get better after a few days of rest. You should seek medical attention as soon as possible. The physician will provide the appropriate treatment based on the severity of your injury.

If you suffered injuries due to someone's fault or negligence, you could sue them with the assistance of an attorney in a car accident. Even if you don't plan on taking the case to court, an attorney can help you file a personal injury claim to recover maximum compensation for your medical expenses, such as diagnostic tests, hospital stay, surgery, medicines, etc. Getting all the medical treatment and attending all follow-up appointments with a physician can strengthen your claim for compensation for your suffering.