You might see a doctor right after being involved in a car crash. But, you might not realize the importance of medical follow-up, even if you look and feel healthy days and weeks later.
The reality is there are many injuries that won’t become clear until several days after the accident. Knowing the physical symptoms of delayed injuries can help you receive the proper medical treatment you need to heal and compensation you deserve.
Delayed upper body pain
A lot of car crash victims whose back and neck rattled back and forth in the incident, suffer from whiplash. According to Mayo Clinic, some common signs of whiplash include dizziness; numbness in the arms; and neck and back pain, soreness, stiffness and limited range of motion. While some not-so-common symptoms include blurry vision, loss of memory and ringing in the ears. No matter what whiplash symptoms one experiences, it’s worth noting they might not show up right away and they are all worthy of a doctor’s attention.
Following up with any type of headache or head pain is also important. That way you can find out it’s whiplash-related pain that you need a little rest and pain relievers to fix or a more severe injury like a traumatic brain injury or post-traumatic stress disorder.
Internal bleeding and clots
Whether or not you’ve suffered whiplash, your abdomen or lower body could have moved around or hit the window or steering wheel in a way that could cause internal bleeding or even a blood clot. Both of which aren’t instantly detectable.
WebMD lists car accidents as one of the traumatic events that can lead to blood clots in the leg, also known as deep vein thrombosis. Car accident victims should be aware of the potential of a blood clot if they’ve suffered the following leg injuries: broken bones, painful bumps, bruises or muscle injuries.
Also, abdominal pain can be a sign that internal bleeding is present. So, feeling the slightest bit soreness should lead you to your doctor’s office.
Essentially, you should track both external injuries and internal pain for days and weeks after your accident. As much as you may want to move on from the accident, keeping tabs on pain that doesn’t set in at the scene of the crash is crucial, as minor pain can lead to major complications. Plus, medical records help serve as evidence for you to receive compensation for medical bills you incurred or wages you lost as a result of the accident.
