Being involved in a car accident is a pretty horrifying experience. No matter how big or small, vehicle accidents can cause both mental and physical scars, which can take anywhere from a few days to years to heal from.
In the aftermath of an automobile collision, survivors are frequently unaware of the extent of their injuries. Also, some collision injuries are slow to develop and remain undetected for some time.
Here are just a few collision injury symptoms that may not show up until later.
NECK OR SHOULDER PAIN
Stiffness of the neck or shoulder, often caused by whiplash, is a very common symptom associated with car wrecks that can take up to 24 hours to develop. Whiplash injuries are difficult to see on a standard X-ray and specialized imaging tests such as CT scans or even an MRI might be necessary to properly diagnose what kind of damage was done to discs, muscles, or ligaments that sustained injuries.
FREQUENT HEADACHES
Headaches are also another common symptom of a collision injury and can be due to whiplash. They can also be caused by something more serious such as a blood clot in the brain or a severe concussion. An MRI might be necessary to assess the damage if you have frequent headaches after a car crash.
BACK PAIN
Back pain—lower back pain specifically—is commonly associated with collision injuries. Sometimes this lower back pain has been caused by whiplash, but it could also be an injury to muscles, ligaments, or even the nerves.
ABDOMINAL PAIN
Unfortunately, one of the scariest collision injury symptoms that may not show up until later is abdominal pain. Abdominal pain or swelling could be a sign of internal bleeding and must be treated early or it could potentially be life-threatening.
NUMBNESS
Numbness in the limbs is also a common symptom that might not show up right away after a car crash. Although numbness after an accident typically occurs because of whiplash, it can also be a symptom of a herniated disc and can make your arms and legs have a tingling sensation due to pressure on your spinal nerves.
CHANGE IN PERSONALITY
A sudden change in personality post-car accident can mean that you could possibly have a brain injury due to a concussion. You may suffer from a lack of concentration or even have impaired short-term memory.
If you’ve been injured in a car collision in Georgia, do not lose the opportunity to fair compensation for your pain and suffering. Learn more about how the Fry | Goehring can help you after an automobile collision here.
