Common Delayed Injuries After a Car Accident

A car accident can happen in a second. One minute you are running an errand and the next, you are stressed and left with a car that has sustained significant damage. Many people who have been involved in a crash leave the scene of the accident thinking they feel completely fine, only to realize days or weeks later that the collision resulted in serious injuries. Below, our Tampa car accident attorney explains the most common delayed injuries after a crash and how to protect your rights.

What are Delayed Injuries After a Car Accident? 

In the moments after a crash, adrenaline and shock flood the body and this can mask symptoms of serious injuries. There are many different types of delayed injuries after a car accident, but the most common are as follows:

• Whiplash: This injury is caused by the head snapping back and forth in rapid succession during a crash, similar to the actions of a whip. As the inflammation builds, headaches, neck stiffness, and radiating shoulder pain often set in 24 to 48 hours after a crash.
• Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs): You do not need to hit your head or lose consciousness to suffer a concussion. After a crash watch for delayed symptoms such as confusion, nausea, dizziness, and difficulty concentrating.
• Herniated discs: The blunt force of a crash can displace the discs in the spinal column. Initially this may feel like mild soreness but can progress into tingling, debilitating nerve pain, or numbness as the disc slides away from the vertebrae and places pressure on the spine.
• Internal damage: Internal bleeding and damage to vital organs are major medical emergencies, but these injuries are not always visible. Dizziness, deep bruising, and severe, unexplained chest or abdominal pain are a few warning signs of internal damage.
• Psychological injuries: Not all injuries caused by car accidents are physical. They can also result in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which can cause symptoms such as a fear of driving, nightmares, flashbacks, and severe anxiety.

The Importance of Seeking Medical Attention After an Accident

Even if you feel okay after a crash and do not believe you suffered serious injuries, it is critical that you seek medical attention immediately after any accident. Not only will this help you identify your injuries and ensure they do not become worse, but it can also strengthen any future personal injury claim you file.

Visiting a doctor after the accident documents your injuries through medical records. These are vital when filing a claim. Without them, insurance companies will argue that you were not hurt because you did not seek medical attention. They will also use any gap between the crash and medical attention to attribute your injuries to something else other than the accident. All of these make it harder to prove your case and may result in a lower settlement than you deserve.

Our Car Accident Attorney in Tampa Can Protect Your Rights

In addition to seeking medical attention after a crash, you should also speak to a Tampa car accident attorney. At Moore Law, we can protect your rights after you were hurt by someone else’s negligence, provide sound legal advice, and advise on how to protect your rights every step of the way. Call us today at 813-510-5400 or contact us online to schedule a consultation with our experienced attorney.

Source:

michiganneurologyassociates.com/blog/common-car-accident-injuries-and-the-hidden-risks-you-should-know