When you’ve been involved in a car accident, there are several injuries that will be readily apparent. Broken bones, lacerations and damaged tendons are all going to present themselves immediately, thus requiring prompt medical attention. But there are a handful of other injuries that may not be so easily detected. In fact, some may take days, weeks or even months to show symptoms. All too often, accident victims minimize the extent of these delayed injuries, sometimes chalking them up to mere aches and pains related to the wreck. But this can be a devastating mistake.
If you don’t recognize some of the hidden injuries that can be suffered in a car accident, then your medical condition can worsen to the point that you suffer permanent damage and decreased enjoyment of life if you experience one of them. You can’t let that happen to yourself, which is why in this post we want to look at some common hidden car accident injuries, that way you know what to be on the lookout for as you navigate your recovery.
Common hidden car accident injuries
There are several accident injuries that are more difficult to detect than you’d expect. Let’s look at some of them here so that you have a better idea of what could be on the line in your accident recovery:
- Whiplash: This neck injury occurs when your head is snapped forward and then backward, which is a common movement in a car accident that occurs at a moderate or high rate of speed. Symptoms can include neck pain and stiffness, limited range of motion, headaches, dizziness, tiredness and tingling or numbness in your arms. If you don’t seek treatment for your whiplash, then these symptoms can linger for a significant period of time.
- Concussion: If you suffered a blow to the head in your accident, then you should be evaluated to see if you’ve suffered a concussion. Symptoms of a concussion include headache, nausea, fatigue, confusion and memory loss. Delaying treatment of your concussion can slow your recovery, and it could also lead to long-term effects like mental health concerns such as depression.
- Back injuries: The impact of your accident can cause serious damage to your back. While your muscles might be strained, leading to pain and discomfort, you may also experience a herniated disc, which is the rupturing of the fluid-filled disc between each vertebra. If left untreated, the inflammation caused by a herniated disc can damage surrounding nerves, leading to chronic pain that may be unrepairable.
- Internal injuries: It’s hard to see what damage has been caused to the inside of your body unless you undergo extensive testing. But if you’re experiencing abdominal pain, then you need to be checked out by your doctor. If you have internal bleeding related to your accident, then it could prove fatal if left untreated.
There are other hidden injuries that you could suffer in your accident. You just need to be sure to listen to your body and take your symptoms seriously. If you have any questions about what you’re experiencing, then be sure to speak with your doctor.
Find accountability for your car accident injuries
Recovering from your accident can be painful, time-consuming and costly. Fortunately, you might be able to offset these losses by pursuing a personal injury lawsuit. If successful, you can also obtain a sense of a justice by imposing accountability on the driver who caused your wreck. This can be a challenging process, though, so be sure to craft a strong legal strategy so that you can maximize your chances of achieving the outcome you desire.