Delayed Injuries After A Car Accident
While many car accident injuries are immediately apparent and treatable, others can present themselves later, and you may experience new symptoms weeks or months after your accident.
It's best to see a doctor after any accident you're involved in, even if you don't feel hurt. A doctor can make sure you don't have any hidden injuries and advise you on what to watch out for regarding delayed injuries, and you'll have a medical record dating back to the accident to help your case if you do have delayed injuries and decide to file a personal injury lawsuit.
Headache
Headaches can range from mild to severe and can come on at any time after the accident. If you've been in a car accident and experience any kind of headache, it's important to see a doctor. The pain could be a simple stress headache, but sometimes it's an indicator of a more severe problem, such as a concussion, brain injury, blood clot, or whiplash.
Neck and Shoulder Pain
Neck and shoulder pain are other common delayed symptoms after a car accident. Sometimes the pain and stiffness are due to bruising or other minor injuries. In some cases, neck or shoulder pain can be a symptom of whiplash or a spinal injury in the cervical spine, so it's important to see your doctor for imaging tests to rule out potentially serious injuries.
Back Pain
Back pain is common after a car accident. Lower back pain is common in people who suffer from whiplash, but several other spinal injuries and conditions can cause back pain, including sprains, herniated disks, muscle damage, or vertebrae damage.
You may experience nerve pain that starts in your lower back and travels along your sciatic nerve over your buttock and down your leg. This type of pain can be indicative of serious nerve damage, especially if you also experience numbness, tingling, or burning in the same area.
Abdominal Pain
Abdominal pain is a symptom you should never ignore after being involved in a car accident. Internal injuries to your organs and internal bleeding can cause abdominal pain that you might not notice until several days later. See your doctor if you experience any kind of abdominal pain, particularly if it's accompanied by bruising, dizziness, or fainting.
Personal injury law can be very complicated. If you've been injured in a car accident due to another person's negligence or misconduct, it's best to seek the advice of a personal injury attorney as soon as possible to help you file the appropriate paperwork according to the court's deadlines and your state's statute of limitations.
For more information, contact an auto accident attorney.
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