Late-Onset Injury Signs To Watch For After An Accident

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If you've never experienced a car accident before, you may find that the whole experience can be a bit traumatic. No matter how minor the incident may seem, the force of the accident can cause injuries that may not be immediately apparent. Here's a look at what can cause some delayed injuries and what you should be watching for after an accident.

Causes of Delayed Auto Accident Injuries

Your body responds to the physical stress of an auto accident by releasing both endorphins and adrenaline. Together, these chemicals can dull your nerves and create a boost of energy. This means that you'll have a sudden energy boost, and you might not feel the pain of an injury right away. The pain won't become apparent until your body calms down and the production of those chemicals subsides.

Types of Delayed Auto Accident Injuries

• Soft Tissue – injuries to things like ligaments, muscles and tendons are referred to as soft tissue injuries. The force that's caused by a car accident can heavily damage your body's soft tissue. The seat belt can cause pressure on your body, and the air bag's impact can be damaging as well. One of the most common soft tissue damages is whiplash, which is an injury to your neck muscles. Whiplash is caused by the sudden backward and forward movement of your neck in the midst of an accident. It can take several days for the pain of soft tissue injuries to appear, and they aren't apparent on x-rays, which makes them challenging to detect during an emergency medical examination. If you start to feel stiffness or muscle pain in the days after an accident, you need to reach out to your doctor. Your accident attorney will need documentation of these injuries.

• Concussion – If you hit your head in a car accident, the velocity at which it often happens can cause your brain to strike the inside surface of your skull. This can cause a condition known as a concussion, which refers to swelling in your brain. An untreated concussion can leave you disoriented, and the symptoms may not become apparent for several hours to a couple of days. Things like trouble focusing, blurred vision, fatigue and headaches can be signs of concussion. If you're experiencing any signs like this after an accident, you'll need to see a doctor immediately.

Remember that the sooner you get treatment for an injury, especially invisible injuries like these, the more detailed the records will be for your accident attorney. Talk with a medical professional right away if you experience any of these symptoms after your car accident, then reach out to an attorney like Altizer Law P.C. for more details about filing an injury lawsuit.

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12 September 2015