The Consequences of Delayed Injury Symptoms After an Accident: Legal Advice for Claimants

Minor Crashes Can Still Result in Severe Injuries

You may have been there before, where you get into what feels like a minor fender bender and don’t suspect any significant injury issues. What may be a seemingly minor issue can still result in substantial or severe damages if not treated immediately. Not only is it problematic to let injuries fester without treatment, but waiting to seek medical attention can lead to legal obstacles should you choose to pursue compensation following the accident.

How Our Bodies Respond to Car Accidents

Our bodies are prepared to ensure we can get through stressful or dangerous situations. There are a couple of things that happen following a traumatic event, such as a car accident. The first reaction our bodies typically experience is the creation of endorphins. Endorphins are meant to block the pain we may be feeling; therefore, until the endorphins are no longer released in our brains, we may not feel pain resulting from the accident. Adrenaline may be familiar to most of us, but not in the way that you may experience it following a car accident. The adrenaline rush is typically our bodies’ first natural response to an accident. Regardless of the crash’s severity, a significant amount of force normally crosses through the body, which can result in many issues. Adrenaline is a good mask for injuries you may have sustained, as when you are experiencing it, you feel almost hyper or more alert rather than dazed or sluggish due to the accident. This hyper and aware state, coupled with pain-blocking endorphins, may lead us to believe that we are fine and haven’t suffered any injuries, and this can be a severe mistake.

What Signs Should I Be Aware Of?

A headache is one of the most common symptoms we may experience following an accident. Some may brush this off as a minor issue, but it can indicate more severe injuries. Our body and head can be knocked against the vehicle’s frame or a window/windshield in many collisions. This collision can result in your brain shifting inside your skull or causing trauma to your neck or head. These injuries can often lead to Traumatic Brain Injuries, which can be highly problematic and can be permanent. It’s crucial to seek medical attention if you are experiencing headaches, which can sometimes take hours or even days to appear. Soft tissue injuries such as whiplash are also prevalent after a car accident. Whiplash occurs when the head is suddenly jerked back and forth, resulting in severe damage to the neck muscles and soft tissue. Tearing or stretching of the neck muscles can also occur, resulting in a lower range of motion and stiffness, and typically need to be medically addressed through physical therapy or other treatments.

Tingling or Numbness

Another symptom to be aware of is tingling or numbness. This symptom is commonly attached to injuries to the spine, traumatic brain injuries, or nerve damage. All of which can worsen significantly over time if left untreated and can result in permanent issues. When immediately diagnosed or discovered, these injuries are much more responsive to treatment, and the treatment options are more plentiful. If one waits to seek medical attention, the injuries may have escalated and can result in far more severe medical ailments and limited resources to treat them.

What If I’m Experiencing Abdominal Pain?

Abdominal pain may be tricky to perceive, as some pass over it assuming that due to the traumatic event, they are just “shaken up” and, therefore, are experiencing abdominal issues. You should pay attention to the pain’s severity and keep a record of it. If it persists, you should seek medical attention immediately, as it can mean internal bleeding, which can be life-threatening if it goes untreated. Especially if the abdominal pain is coupled with feeling faint or dizzy, it’s crucial to seek medical attention immediately.

Back Pain

Another tough pain to perceive is back pain, in terms of whether it’s severe enough to seek medical attention. Many pass over the symptoms or pain as just a normal response of our bodies following an accident. What can occur are far more severe injuries, such as herniated discs or other soft tissue injuries that may require significant therapy or surgery to fix. If you listen to your body and know something is wrong, it’s important to advocate for yourself and push for an MRI or an X-ray that may show issues in the spine. Remember that having a beeline after an accident is essential so you can document the problems and treat them immediately. Knowing what to look for and being persistent with medical staff is something that all of us should be prepared to do following an accident. A complete exam must be given to rule out possible severe issues. Medical staff won’t get it right every single time. It’s essential to ensure that you are thoroughly checked and that if you suspect something is wrong, it’s because it usually is, and you may have to push to have them check out the issues. What we all can hope for when facing a scary or unknown situation is a strong advocate. We are fierce and tireless advocates for our clients, allowing them to tend to the injuries they are facing. We provide sound legal advice, compassionate professional guidance, and a strong advocacy for our clients when facing various legal issues. Contact our office today at 713-999-6549 to schedule your free initial consultation and learn more about why our clients feel like family when they work with us.