A car accident can change your life. The moments after a car crash are critical. Although you may not feel sore after a car accident, you may find new injuries occurring in the weeks following. There’s a lot of injuries you can sustain from a car accident, but some aren’t always apparent right away.
The way to make sure you’re safe and healthy is to see a doctor right after your accident. Although your injuries may not be apparent right away, seeing a doctor is the only way to legally protect yourself if you do develop an injury.
Here, we’ll share with you 6 common car accident injuries that may not be apparent right away.
Also Read: 7 Things Not To Say After A Car Accident
Neck Injuries (Whiplash)
Whiplash is one of the most common car accident injuries. A car’s sudden jolt can seriously damage the neck and other muscle ligaments. Whiplash and other neck injuries are common with rear-end collisions. To heal any neck injury, you’ll need the help of massage therapy, physiotherapy, chiropractic therapy, as well as anti-inflammatory pain medications.
Common symptoms of a neck injury include:
- Stiffness or soreness in neck, shoulders, lower back, hands, and arms
- Dizziness
- Blurred vision
- Ringing in ears
- Loss of sleep
Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI)
Traumatic brain injuries are considered one of the worst “invisible” injuries. Symptoms may take a few days to a few weeks to appear after your accident. But TBIs often have the worst long-term effects of any injury.
TBIs can affect your personality, your sleep, your eating habits, and your memory. Common symptoms of TBIs include:
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Nausea and vomiting
- Fatigue
Another common symptom of a TBI is sensitivity to visual and audible stimuli. This means that you could begin to feel another symptom after exposure to light or sound.
Also Read: Getting A Settlement For You Traumatic Brain Injury
Back Injuries (Herniated Discs)
Similarly to neck injuries, you can experience whiplash in your lower back. Just like a neck injury, you’ll need the help of massage therapy, physiotherapy, chiropractic therapy, and mild painkillers.
If you do begin to experience back pain, you likely have what’s called a herniated disc or ruptured spinal cord. Common symptoms of back injuries include tingling in the arms, legs, buttocks, and lower body muscles.
Chest And Shoulder Injuries
Chest and shoulder injuries can also take a few days to appear. Hitting your car’s steering wheel or dashboard can cause serious bruising. Your seatbelt can also cause bruising on your chest and shoulders.
In the days following your accident, you may find you have limited mobility and pain. Observe yourself for pain, swelling, stiffness, or other deformities in your:
- Shoulders
- Joints
- Collar bones
- Neck
- Breast plate
- Ribs
If you begin to experience these symptoms, seek medical attention right away. You could have dislocated a bone, or punctured another organ.
Internal Bleeding
Commonly, if you have fractured, dislocated, or broken a bone, you may have an internal injury as well. For example, many car accident victims who fracture ribs can also puncture their lungs due to the fracture.
Your kidneys, liver, lungs, bowel, and heart are the most vulnerable organs that can be punctured in a car accident. Common signs of internal injuries and bleeding include:
- Pain
- Swelling
- Bruising and purple skin
- Headaches
- Faintness or fainting
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Other Psychological Problems
It’s normal to feel a little shaken up after an accident. Even some feelings of depression and anxiety are totally normal. However, if the stress of the accident has impacted your ability to socialize, you may have other psychological problems that need to be addressed.
Common signs of PTSD include:
- Flashbacks
- Night terrors
- Intrusive thoughts
- Over or under eating
- Losing sleep
- Avoiding obvious triggers like driving
Work through your PTSD, you’ll need the help of a therapist and may even have to go on antidepressants.
Hiring A Car Accident Lawyer
As you can see from our list, there’s a lot of expensive treatments that come with these injuries. Whether you need to take action against another driver, or your insurance company, a lawyer can help you.
If you were recently in a car accident, it’s important to go see a doctor right away to find treatments for your injuries. After reviewing your injuries with a doctor, call a lawyer. If you made the mistake of claiming that you weren’t hurt after an accident, a lawyer can still help you get compensation.
To talk to a lawyer about what legal options you have, and what compensation you’ll need to fully recover from your injuries, call My Case Helper. We can connect you with a lawyer in your area.
Also Read: 12 Questions To Ask A Personal Injury Lawyer
