5 Delayed Symptoms to be on the Lookout for After a Car Accident

It is not always immediately obvious what sort of personal injuries you might have sustained straight after a car accident. It can take days, or even longer, for the true extent of your injuries to become apparent.

One of the first things you should do after the dust has settled on your accident is to contact a car accident lawyer. They will help you to register a claim and talk to you about your legal options.

This action can often prove vital if you subsequently experience delayed symptoms.

Here are some pointers on what to look out for.

You start experiencing persistent headaches

Suffering from a headache after a collision is common. However, you should be mindful that the force of the impact could cause your brain to move around inside your skull.

This could trigger what are known as post-traumatic headaches. Even if you are suffering from persistent or frequent mild headaches these symptoms should not be ignored. They could be pointing to a more serious underlying injury.

You might have damaged your spine

Although back injuries are commonplace as a result of the impact of your collision the damage could be worse than just a bit of stiffness and soreness.

You could have a compression fracture, for instance, or you could even have suffered spinal cord damage.

It might be advisable to have a scan or an X-ray to get a clearer idea of the extent of the spinal damage you might have suffered.

Abdominal pain could be the precursor for something more serious

The sheer force of a collision can cause blunt trauma to your abdomen. This should never be ignored or underestimated as this is a condition that could become life threatening.

Abdominal pain can be a symptom of organ damage or internal bleeding. Early diagnosis is essential, especially when you consider that internal bleeding is rarely visible from the outside. That’s why you need to heed the warning signs.

You start to experience numbness and a tingling sensation

Issues such as spinal cord damage and nerve damage can often reveal themselves through symptoms like numbness and tingling.

There is the very real threat of long-term neurological damage or even potential paralysis with these symptoms. Get checked out immediately if you experience numbness and tingling.

Your emotional state changes

As well as the physical clues to look out for it is also important to understand that a collision could lead to noticeable behavioral or emotional changes.

These are potential symptoms of both physical and psychological damage. It may require professional intervention to resolve these particular issues.

One of the fundamental problems associated with delayed symptoms is how you can prove an injury shortly after a collision. This is where a lawyer with specific knowledge of car accident claims can help. They know how to guide you on getting the right medical attention and what to do to ensure you get compensation once the full extent of your injuries is confirmed.

Don’t ignore any of these signs and talk to a lawyer as soon as possible after your car accident.