Common Delayed Injuries to Look out for After a Car Accident

At a car accident scene, many do not believe they suffered common car accident injuries because they feel no symptoms. However, in some cases, symptoms of pain after a car accident indicate more severe injuries.

Even if you feel fine, it’s important to get checked by a medical professional. They may notice symptoms and risks you are unaware of.

In addition to seeking an evaluation by a medical professional, contact an experienced personal injury attorney to discuss your options.

If injured by the fault of another following a car accident, you may be entitled to recover compensation through a personal injury lawsuit.

Common Delayed Car Accident Injuries and Their Symptoms

What to expect physically after a car accident varies from person to person. While physical injuries commonly occur, many people experience severe psychological symptoms.

If symptoms begin to arise in the hours, days, or weeks following a car accident, never ignore these warning signs, as they may indicate a life-threatening condition.

Neck or Shoulder Pain Stiffness

Whiplash injuries are very common and may be delayed after a car accident. Whiplash symptoms occur regularly after accidents involving rear-end collisions.

When a car suddenly decelerates and accelerates it causes a rapid forward and backward movement of the head and neck.

This sudden movement causes whiplash symptoms that may be delayed after an accident. The pain associated with neck and shoulder pain stiffness may not be immediately apparent in the minutes following a collision.

However, in the days and weeks following a collision, your neck and shoulder pain after a car accident may increase.

Headaches

A headache after a car accident may signal a more serious condition. Although people suffer from headaches daily, if you get a headache after a car accident contact your doctor for an evaluation.

A blood clot, brain injury, or other types of injury to the head and neck may cause a headache after a car accident. A headache may also indicate a closed head injury, traumatic brain injury, or hypertension.

Pain in the Back

Back pain after a car accident may indicate a wide variety of possible injuries, including torn ligaments, nerve damage, or vertebrae damage. Rear impact collisions commonly cause lower back pain.

If you begin feeling back pain following a car accident, immediately schedule an appointment with your doctor for a medical evaluation.

These injuries may worsen rapidly without proper treatment and render you unable to function properly.

Stomach and Abdominal Pain or Swelling

Swelling or abdominal pain after a car accident may indicate a severe delayed injury. Abdominal pain can be a sign of internal bleeding, a condition warranting emergency medical treatment.

If your stomach pain accompanies other symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, lightheadedness, and deep bruising to the abdomen, seek medical attention.

Internal bleeding may be fatal if left untreated, so obtain a diagnosis immediately.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

The after-effects of a car accident may not always result in physical injuries. Car accidents signify scary and life-changing events that people rarely forget.

Though you may physically feel fine, you may experience pain after a car accident through delayed psychological symptoms. Post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD manifests through multiple symptoms, including:

• Insomnia,
• Increased irritability,
• Anxiety,
• Disturbing flashbacks,
• Emotional detachment, and
• Social isolation.

This list does not represent all the symptoms that one may experience with PTSD. Children may be especially susceptible to PTSD following a car accident.

Consult with a doctor or therapist to undergo a physical and psychological evaluation. Once you receive a diagnosis, you and your doctor may determine the best method of treatment.

Numbness

Numbness represents a mild symptom that many ignore or brush off as a minor side effect of their car accident. However, numbness may indicate multiple serious medical conditions, including a brain injury, head injury, spinal cord injury, or internal bleeding.

Numbness and tingling may also indicate back injuries such as a herniated disk or a pinched nerve. Failure to address these symptoms may create long-lasting injuries.

What Can I Recover After A Car Accident?

Following injuries and property damage suffered in a car accident, Wyoming law permits you to seek recovery for your losses. Damages recoverable after a car accident can be economic or noneconomic.

Economic Damages

Economic damages represent those quantifiable financial losses that one determines with certainty. These damages include the following:

• Medical bills,
• Lost wages,
• Future medical treatment,
• Future lost wages or employment, and
• Property damage.

Be sure to keep track of all your expenses by documenting them and retaining all receipts and copies of bills. Additionally, providing pay stubs or tax returns can support your claim for economic damage recovery regarding lost wages.

Non Economic Damages

Noneconomic damages include subjective losses that can’t be calculated with certainty. Therefore, noneconomic damage awards often vary from person to person. These damages include the following:

• Pain and suffering,
• Emotional distress,
• Diminished quality of life,
• Loss of companionship, and
• Loss of enjoyment of life.

Noneconomic damages vary because car accidents affect people’s lives differently. Based on the evidence presented, a noneconomic damage award may be substantial. Expert testimony will frequently be required to support your claim for noneconomic damages.

Contact Us

At Platte River Injury Law, we fight to recover financial security and peace of mind for all our clients. You may experience pain after a car accident due to a delayed onset of injuries. Suffering severe injuries may complicate your case, but they also increase your opportunity to recover just compensation.

In addition to recovering from physical injuries, you may feel the mounting financial burden compounded by your inability to work. After a car accident, you should immediately seek medical attention, report the accident to law enforcement authorities, and contact the experienced personal injury team at Platte River Injury Law.

We provide free consultations, so let us get to work for you! Contact our office today!