What To Expect Physically After a Car Accident
You can suffer a wide range of injuries in a car accident. Whether you are in a minor accident or a high-speed collision, injuries can occur. However, you might not realize immediately after your accident that you are injured. After a car crash, your body releases adrenaline. While adrenaline plays a crucial role in your fight-or-flight response, it can mask the true physical impact of a car accident. So, if you don’t feel any pain or discomfort after a car accident, it is not necessarily because you are uninjured.
After a car accident, it might take hours or days before injury symptoms begin manifesting. You need to stay on the lookout. Look out for, among others, the following physical symptoms in the hours and days following your car accident;
Headaches
Many people experience headaches after a car accident. However, most people do not experience headaches immediately after a car accident. Often, after a car crash, someone will wake up the following morning with a headache. Other accident victims don’t experience headaches until days after their car accident. Headaches can indicate various car accident injuries, including traumatic brain injuries, whiplash, concussion, neck or shoulder tissue damage, or spinal cord injuries. Immediately you start experiencing headaches after a car accident, ensure you seek medical attention.
Bruising
After a car accident, bruising can happen for various reasons. It can happen because of a tightened seatbelt. Bruising can also occur if a moving object hits your body during the accident or your body hits the dashboard, seat, airbag, steering column, or car’s sides. Bruising can indicate broken blood capillaries, or it can also indicate internal bleeding. So, it is crucial that you don’t ignore bruising.
Neck, Back, or Shoulder Pain
After a car accident, neck, back, or shoulder pain may appear within a few days. Neck, back, or shoulder pain can appear out of nowhere and can be very noticeable. Whether the pain is focused in one spot or it feels like it is shooting down to your arms or legs, you should not ignore it. Immediately you start experiencing pain in your neck, back, or shoulder, see a doctor.
Numbness or Tingling
Sometimes, car accident victims experience numbness or tingling in the hands, neck, back, and other body parts. Numbness or tingling can indicate nerve damage. It can also indicate a brain injury or a spinal cord injury. These are all injuries that can cause permanent damage, so ensure you seek medical attention immediately you start experiencing numbness or tingling.
Stomach or Abdomen Pain
If your stomach or abdomen was constricted during your accident, you may experience pain in the stomach or abdomen sometime after your accident because of bruising and trauma. If you experience pain in the abdomen or stomach, see a doctor so they can check if you have internal bleeding.
Swelling
Pulled muscles, tissue damage, and sprains are just a few of the reasons you may experience swelling after a car accident. You should seek medical attention as soon as possible after a part of your body swells.
Legal Help Is Available
If you’ve suffered injuries in a car accident, our Tampa personal injury attorneys can help you understand your legal options. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.
The Pendas Law Firm also represents clients in the Miami, Jacksonville, Ocala, Orlando, Naples, Melbourne, Fort Myers, Fort Lauderdale, Bradenton, Daytona Beach, and West Palm Beach areas.
