What to Do If You Experience Delayed Pain After Car Accident

Many people who get into motor vehicle accidents often incur bruises, scratches, cuts, fractures, and life-threatening injuries. Simultaneously, some are lucky enough to walk away from the mishap without experiencing any harm or damage to their body. Many people don't feel any pain immediately after an accident.

However, there are bodily pains or injuries that you may only feel or realize hours, days, or even weeks following a car collision. That's why, even if you don't feel immediate pain after an accident, you should seek medical attention so a medical professional can evaluate you. If you do, you can better understand the total extent of your injuries and get the medical help you need.

In this blog post, we will discuss the types of pain and delayed injuries accident victims should be aware of. We'll also talk about the importance of getting in touch with an attorney to evaluate your car injury claim.

How long after a car accident can injuries show up?

The onset of symptoms of car accident injuries may vary. Some people may incur immediate bodily pains, but there are some symptoms that may only appear hours, days, or weeks after the fact.

Types of Pain After a Car Accident

Here's a list of bodily pains that may only manifest themselves hours or days following a car crash. Waiting for symptoms to manifest can be detrimental. Learn about these types of pain and seek medical help immediately.

Abdominal Pain

The physical trauma that a car crash can cause you may damage your vital organs and internal bleeding. The bleeding of the internal organs can become fatal if you don't seek treatment immediately.

Abdominal pain is among the common symptoms of internal bleeding or soft-tissue injuries caused by a car accident. The bleeding can irritate the soft tissues of your body and increase the pressure on your vital organs.

Other symptoms like breathing difficulty, nausea, dizziness, purple skin, vision changes, and numbness or tingling sensations in the limbs often accompany abdomen pains.

Back Pain

It's common to experience back pain after a car collision, especially if the accident occurs at your vehicle's side or the back. The manifestation of back pain can be a sign of injuries like sprains, herniated disk, whiplash, and spinal cord injuries.

You may also experience other symptoms along with back pain. Such signs can help a medical professional to figure out the full extent of personal injury. For instance, your hands and feet may get numb, often the effect of a pinched nerve due to spine damage or herniated disc.

Back injuries may also manifest symptoms, such as weakness, bruising, headaches, loss of bowel or bladder control, shortness of breath, loss of balance, and neck or shoulder pain.

You have to know that your spine plays a significant role in your body function. Injuries to this part of your body can be permanent and fatal. That's why you shouldn't ignore back pain after a car accident. Visit a doctor as soon as possible.

Headaches

People who get into car accidents often complain about headaches. Although you may only feel it hours or days later, you shouldn't take them lightly. It can be a sign of traumatic brain injuries. Suffering head injuries, concussions, or brain blood clots can lead to permanent disability and even death.

When a car collides with another vehicle, your brain and the hard part of your skull can hit each other due to the collision force. This can result in bruising and bleeding. Make sure to seek the help of a medical professional to get you checked and treated if you hit your head.

Shoulder and Neck Pain

Shoulder and pain in the neck are a sign of whiplash, which is among the most common types of delayed injuries suffered by people who get into vehicle accidents. This happens when your shoulder and neck muscles, joints, and nerves experience strain or overextension.

Take whiplash injuries seriously. To get a proper diagnosis, you need to undergo an MRI, CT scan, or an X-ray. When you know the full extent of the damage, you should get immediate treatment to prevent long-term consequences.

Emotional or Psychological Distress

Physical pains like head injuries or neck injuries aren't the only damage caused by car accidents. Most of the time, folks in such accidents experience psychological and emotional issues. Some people may even get post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Post-traumatic stress disorder is a psychological condition caused by a terrifying or shocking event. Symptoms related to this condition are nightmares, panic attacks, flashbacks, depression, and anxiety.

If you're feeling emotional or psychological distress that's already not normal, it's a must to seek the help of a mental health professional. PTSD and other mental health conditions can prevent you from living a normal life. They can affect your work, relationships, and daily activities.

However, you can get treatment for PTSD through medication, therapy, and group counseling. Don't allow the problem to get out of control.

It's common after a vehicle accident that the other party's insurance company will get in touch with you and convince you with money offers to sign a release of your claims. However, it's advisable not to sign anything until you've gone through a medical evaluation.

It's also crucial to wait for the full manifestation of your car-related injuries. You can't ask the insurance company to pay you once you've already signed the release papers and symptoms of your injuries showed up later.

Hire the expertise of an experienced car accident lawyer to ensure everything goes smoothly. A legal expert can assist you with your car accident claims.

Takeaway

Even a minor automobile accident can cause lasting physical or emotional damage. Now you know the different types of pain and symptoms that occur hours or days after a vehicle accident. Seek medical help immediately, even if you can't feel the injuries at the scene of the accident. Seek the assistance of an attorney to help with your car accident claims. Please read here for further information on the common types of accidents and how to file an injury claim.

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