Car Crash Injury Symptoms

Being involved in a motor vehicle crash, even an apparent minor one, can be very unsettling. Often, a car crash will leave a person emotionally traumatized and this emotional trauma can mask any physical injuries the accident may have caused. A victim may not realize physical injury symptoms for hours – or even days – after the crash occurred.

Symptoms may indicate a serious injury has happened and the victim should seek medical help right away. For a person who has been in a vehicle crash, the following symptoms may be indicators that the crash resulted in a serious injury:

Pain or Swelling in the Abdominal Area

If a victim feels any pain or has swelling in the stomach area, they may be suffering from internal bleeding. Another indicator of internal bleeding is any area that has any dark purple bruising, as well as any feelings of dizziness or fainting.

Back Pain

In more than half of all rear-end crashes, victims report symptoms of back pain. The number of back pain victims in side-impact collisions is almost 75 percent. Pain in a victim’s back signals possible injury to ligaments, muscles, or nerves, and even more serious, there could be damage to the victim’s vertebrae.

Changes in Behavior or Ability to Function

Any kind of cognitive behavior changes after a crash could mean a traumatic brain injury (TBI) has occurred. In fact, car crashes are the third cause of TBIs. They are also the second leading cause of death from TBIs. If a person shows signs of problems with their hearing or vision, difficulty moving, impaired memory or thinking, or any changes in their normal personality, they should be seen by a doctor immediately, as these are all symptoms of a TBI.

Headaches

If a victim begins suffering from headaches following a vehicle accident, this could also be an indicator of a TBI, such as a concussion. Headaches may also mean that there is a blood clot, or some other serious injury to the head or neck which was caused by the accident.

Pain or Stiffness in Shoulder or Neck

Symptoms such as pain or stiffness in the neck or shoulder are may be a sign of whiplash, especially in rear-end crashes. Many people do not realize just how serious an injury whiplash is, and in some cases, whiplash can be fatal. Numbness in the arms and hands is also another sign of whiplash. Any of these symptoms should be checked out with medical personnel immediately.

If you have been injured in a car crash, contact an experienced Lake County vehicle accident attorney to find out what compensation you may be entitled to for your pain and loss.

Source:

http://ktar.com/story/605000/7-delayed-injury-symptoms-after-a-car-crash/