Common Delayed Injuries After a Car Accident
March 23, 2021
When most people think of vehicle accident injuries, they think of visibly traumatic ones such as broken arms, lacerations, contusions, etc. However, there are many injuries that can occur due to the mechanism of a vehicle accident that do not have immediate signs and symptoms. These types of delayed injuries can be particularly devastating because it often means that accident victims put off seeking medical care.
Delayed Injuries After a Car Accident
Some of the most common car accident injuries that result in delayed symptoms include the following:
- Concussions or more severe traumatic brain injuries
- Internal bleeding
- Internal bruising
- Whiplash
- Spinal cord injury
- Herniated disc
- Sprains
- Soft tissue damage
There are a range of symptoms that a person may experience if they have sustained a delayed car accident injury. Some of the most common symptoms that victims should look for after a vehicle accident occurs include the following:
- Constant or worsening headaches
- Abdominal pain
- Neck and back pain
- Tingling or numbness in the extremities
- Nausea
- Excessive fatigue
- Concentration issues or memory loss
As mentioned above, it may not always be clear what type of injury these symptoms relate to. For example, tingling or numbness in the extremities could be the result of a few things, including spinal cord trauma or a loss of blood volume due to internal bleeding. Headaches could be caused by a traumatic brain injury or a stroke that has occurred due to a blood clot caused by lower leg trauma.
In many cases, the signs and symptoms of a delayed car accident injury may not appear for hours or even days after a crash occurs. This is when it’s important to seek help, especially from an Orange County personal injury lawyer.
Seek Medical Care Immediately After a Car Accident
It’s important for those involved in car accidents to seek immediate medical care following the incident. This could include allowing emergency medical personnel to take the injury victim to the hospital, but this could also include a friend or family member taking the crash victim to the hospital or emergency care facility.
Even if there are no immediate signs and symptoms after an injury has occurred, delayed injuries can severely affect a person. A medical professional will be able to complete an evaluation and help determine whether or not a person needs to undergo additional testing and treatment to uncover delayed injuries.
If a person chooses to ignore the signs and symptoms of delayed car accident injuries, they run the risk of sustaining permanent impairments or disabilities.
Work With an Attorney
If you or somebody you love has been injured in a vehicle accident caused by the actions of another individual, contact a skilled Orange County car accident attorney as soon as possible. An attorney can use their resources and legal expertise to help thoroughly investigate the claim and determine the best steps moving forward so the individual can secure full compensation for their losses.