What to Expect Physically After a Car Accident

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Thousands of car accidents occur every day in the U.S., and the drivers involved experience a wide range of injuries and economic damages depending on the location, severity, and causes of their accidents. Every driver should know what to expect when it comes to aches, pains, and injuries after a car accident. Injured drivers who know how to handle these situations typically have an easier time recovering compensation for their damages with the help of a local car accident lawyer.

What to Expect Physically After a Car Accident  

Most Common Pains After Car Accidents

A car accident is an acutely stressful experience. Many people who get into accidents experience an adrenaline surge, even after mild fender-benders. The stress of the situation and the impending financial issues can easily cause a rush of adrenaline that dulls pain sensations for several hours or more. It is not uncommon at all for a driver to walk away from a car accident feeling fine and then feel unable to move out of bed the next day.

Most people who experience car accidents, even moderately damaging ones, report a wide range of symptoms shortly after their ordeals.

  • Headaches and persistent dizziness, which could be symptoms of a concussion.
  • Muscle pain, stiffness, and tenderness.
  • Tinnitus, or ringing in the ears.
  • Vision problems.
  • Neck and shoulder pain, which may be symptoms of whiplash.
  • Nausea, which may be a symptom of an internal injury.

These are not the only possible symptoms, and some drivers may suffer internal injuries that do not manifest any noticeable symptoms immediately at all.

Some drivers experience concussions, or mild traumatic brain injuries, from even mild accidents. These injuries may seem relatively mild at first, but any traumatic brain injury can cause serious problems in the long run.

Potential Major Injuries from a Car Accident

Car accidents that occur at higher speeds or those involving larger vehicles like commercial trucks and tractor-trailers tend to cause more serious injuries. Drivers who experience severe accidents can sustain various possible injuries requiring immediate medical attention.

  • Bone fractures, some of which may require surgical correction and/or physical rehabilitation.
  • Severe lacerations from broken glass and debris, which pose a serious risk of infection and other complications.
  • Crushing injuries, some of which may result in permanent disability or even loss of a crushed limb.
  • Burn injuries, which can easily cause severe disfigurement and interfere with motor functions in the affected body part.
  • Seatbelt Syndrome, an internal condition caused by an improperly fitted seatbelt injuring internal organs.
  • Traumatic brain injuries, such as severe concussions or penetrating head wounds that have the potential to cause permanent intellectual impairment and other long-term medical issues.
  • Spinal cord injuries, which may result in partial or total paralysis of the limbs.

This is not an exhaustive list, and car accident victims experience a wide range of injuries, some of which require long-term medical treatment or cause permanent impairment on some level.

The Importance of Prompt Medical Treatment

Even if you do not feel like you suffered any major injuries from a car accident, you should still seek prompt medical care. A physician will know how to identify hidden injuries or injuries that have not caused any noticeable symptoms yet. Your doctor can provide you with a full medical report of your injuries, prognosis, and the doctor’s treatment plan. This report will also indicate any possible long-term effects of your injuries.

Obtaining this medical report could be crucial to a future lawsuit or insurance claim. If an insurance claims adjuster or a jury in a car accident case at trial notice a plaintiff or claimant did not seek immediate care, this will likely cast doubt on any claims made for injuries. The logic behind this is that if a person is seriously injured he or she should seek immediate medical care. Any delay makes it seem like the driver’s injuries are not as severe as claimed since the driver did not feel compelled to seek immediate medical treatment.

Recovery From Physical Injuries in a Car Accident

Even a mild rear-end collision can cause injuries or aggravate an existing medical condition like a herniated disc in the driver’s back or a previous injury. The injured driver may not notice symptoms immediately, but seeking immediate medical care not only helps protect the driver’s personal health and well-being but may also lay the groundwork for a personal injury lawsuit against the driver who caused the accident.

Anyone injured in a car accident, however mildly, should seek prompt medical care, obtain a medical report of his or her injuries and prognosis, and keep a journal or log of daily pain symptoms and other damages. These records could prove extremely useful when it comes time to file an insurance claim for the accident or file a lawsuit against the driver who caused your accident. If you or a loved one are unsure how to proceed, schedule a free consultation with a qualified attorney in your area.