No two car accidents are the same. The types of vehicles are always different, with differing weights and sizes, and designs. Each vehicle is going at a different speed, and each vehicle has different safety devices in use.
Since each car or truck accident is different, the symptoms after a car accident are usually different as well. But because most car accidents can be quite violent, the types of injuries people experience are often the same, affecting the same body parts but to differing degrees. It all depends on the force of impact and whether safety devices, like seatbelts and airbags, were used.
But no matter how safe the car is, some car crashes are so violent that people can still get injured. This article will discuss the usual symptoms after a car accident. Also, we will discuss the car accident injuries to expect and what causes these symptoms.
If you have suffered serious injuries in a car crash, you may be entitled to compensation for those injuries. It all depends upon if a negligent driver caused the crash and the injuries. If you’re not sure, you should have your case reviewed by knowledgeable and skilled New Jersey car accident lawyers. Serious car accident injuries can turn your life upside down, but you don’t have to go through the ordeal alone. Our advice is only a quick, free phone call away.
Seven Symptoms to Look for After a Car Accident
Instead of talking about the common injuries we see, we want to discuss the symptoms to look out for. One problem that we often see is people going through the trauma of a crash, being thrown about the inside of their car, banged up, but not going to see a doctor. Men are especially inclined to skip a doctor’s visit so as not to appear weak. But there is nothing weak about taking care of yourself so you can take care of the people you love. It’s a huge mistake not to get proper medical care. Even minor fender benders can still cause a serious injury.
Many people have symptoms after a crash, but they don’t think they’re a big deal and presume they’ll go away after a few days. And sometimes that happens. But often the symptoms don’t go away, and the problems get worse.
No one knows how long the physical recovery for certain types of car crash injuries is. That’s why it’s essential to go to the doctor immediately. At the very least, a medical professional will give you a once-over examination, and if everything is fine, they’ll send you on your way. But sometimes there are hidden concerns with certain symptoms. There are ways to recover faster and better that are prescribed by a doctor versus just suffering through the pain for weeks.
Here are the seven symptoms you should look out for after a car accident:
- Neck pain and stiffness: Victims of even minor car accidents can experience neck pain and soreness since the head and neck get whipped back and forth from the impact. This causes a whiplash-type injury to the cervical spine. This type of injury happens especially with rear-end crashes. Most of the time, whiplash injuries are minor and clear up after a bit of time and some physical therapy. The pain is caused by muscle damage and not any type of structural problem. However, it could lead to serious injuries, like herniated discs, sprains and strains, and other spinal cord injuries. Neck pain may show up hours or days after the accident.
- Spinal pain: Spinal pain or back pain can be the symptom for many types of injuries. It can happen immediately after a crash or days after. When people experience back pain after a car accident, most of the time it’s merely a muscle injury. But it could be much more serious. It might indicate a herniated disc or spinal cord injury in the mid-spine (thoracic) or lower spine (lumbar).
- Stomach or abdomen pain: Pain in one’s midsection after an accident can indicate soft tissue damage or internal bleeding. Many symptoms are caused by someone wearing a seatbelt and being injured by the pulling of the belt wrapped around you. Especially if the pain is persistent, it could be something more serious like internal bleeding—not something to take a chance on.
- Headache, dizziness, nausea: These symptoms often appear in someone who struck their head during a crash. If this happens, there could be a serious concussion or closed head injury, like a traumatic brain injury (TBI).
- Numbness and weakness in extremities: If after an accident you begin to feel numbness or tingling in your fingers or toes, or if you feel pain shooting down your arms or legs, then this is indicative of a more serious spinal cord injury. For example, a herniated disc in the neck could cause numbness, shooting pain, and weakness down an arm or both arms.
- Confusion: Being confused after a serious car accident is normal. Sometimes people are in shock. But if it lasts longer than a few hours, it could indicate brain injury.
- Tiredness or sleepiness: If you or a loved one who has gone through a violent car crash is excessively tired or sleepy, this is also a sign of a potential head injury.
If you experience any of these symptoms, even if you believe it’s a minor injury, don’t risk it and see a doctor immediately.
Trust Petro Cohen with Your Personal Injury Case
At Petro Cohen, P.C., our injury attorneys have decades of experience handling thousands of personal injury cases with successful outcomes for our clients, fighting hard to recover fair compensation and appropriate medical care for their injuries. Petro Cohen Managing Partner Susan Petro heads the Personal Injury Department, which includes experienced personal injury attorneys Rich Gaeckle and Mike Veneziani. Whether your injury resulted from a slip and fall, construction site mishap, or an accident involving an automobile, truck, motorcycle, boat, or bicycle, we can help, even if it means litigating against big corporations or public entities. Petro Cohen, P.C. has offices to serve you in Northfield, Cape May Court House, Cherry Hill, and Hamilton, NJ. To determine if you may have a potential personal injury case, schedule your free and confidential consultation with a Petro Cohen, P.C. attorney by calling 888-675-7607. You can contact us through our online form or via 24/7 live chat at PetroCohen.com.
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