What Injuries are Commonly Overlooked After a Car Accident?

Shock and adrenaline are very common after a car crash. It is natural to first focus on whether anyone was injured, calling for medical help, and assessing the damage to the vehicles involved. With all of this going on, it is easy to overlook symptoms that may not be immediately obvious. Delayed symptoms are very common and they can have a significant impact on your health and the strength of your claim when they are not properly evaluated. Below, our Tampa car accident attorney outlines the injuries that are most commonly overlooked.

Neck and Back Injuries

Neck and back injuries are often overlooked after a car accident. These include herniated discs, pulled muscles, whiplash, and even broken bones. Adrenaline masks pain and even if you feel a slight twinge, you may not realize the severity of it at first. Over time, though, that ‘typical soreness’ may turn out to be far more serious than you first thought.

Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs)

As the name suggests, there is no such thing as a minor traumatic brain injury. Even concussions, which many people think are not serious, can cause serious cognitive and health issues. Headaches, confusion, dizziness, memory issues, and irritability may not appear until days after the accident. Once a person starts to experience them, they may not even attribute them to the crash.

Emotional Injuries

The injuries suffered during an accident are not always physical. Emotional injuries such as anxiety, depression, hyper vigilance, panic, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are very common after car crashes. These injuries can develop gradually over time and people often overlook them because they are more focused on their physical ailments. Emotional injuries can impact confidence, sleep, and daily functioning.

Internal Injuries

Organ damage and internal bleeding are some of the most dangerous overlooked injuries. These issues are not always visible but they can still be life-threatening. Weakness, abdominal pain,  dizziness, and worsening pain should never be ignored after a crash.

The Importance of Early Medical Treatment

Seeking medical treatment quickly after a car accident is critical. A doctor can examine you and identify any injuries that are not immediately apparent. For example, a doctor may diagnose you with a concussion after asking you several questions about how you are feeling and testing your cognitive functions, such as your concentration level or memory.

Seeing a doctor will also document the injuries and prevent them from getting worse. Medical records are extremely important when filing a claim, particularly if the insurance company tries to argue that delayed symptoms were caused by something else other than the accident.

Our Car Accident Attorney in Tampa Can Explain Your Options

If you were in a crash and started noticing symptoms that were not immediately obvious, it is critical that you speak to our Tampa car accident attorney. At Moore Law, our experienced attorney can explain your legal options and help you obtain a full settlement that will cover your injuries and other losses. Call us today at 813-510-5400 or contact us online to schedule a consultation and to get the legal advice you need.