Many drivers come out of car accidents with just some scrapes and bruises without realizing that delayed pain is something that may occur. Shock, adrenaline, and inflammation can all delay pain after an accident.
If you start to feel pain days – or even weeks – after your accident, it can be due to a severe injury.
Here’s a list of severe injuries with their accompanying symptoms to look out for:
- Whiplash occurs when energy from a collision forces the neck and skull to rapidly move forward and backward, or side to side. This unexpected motion can stretch and tear structure in your neck.
- Symptoms include headache, dizziness, trouble sleeping, neck pain or stiffness, shoulder pain or swelling.
- Soft tissue injuries consist of damage to the muscles, ligaments, tendons, and nerves in the body.
- Symptoms include pain or tenderness, redness or warmth, muscle spasms or cramping, limited range of motion, weakness, bruising, or swelling.
- Back and spinal injuries is when the force of impact causes the muscles, tendons, and ligaments in your back to overstretch or tear.
- Symptoms include neck pain, lower back pain, soreness and stiffness, limited range of motion or mobility, sharp pain when coughing, redness or warmth, pain or tenderness, muscle spasms or cramping, numbness or tingling.
- Concussions are caused by a blow to the skull that can damage the brain. One can occur if a victim’s head slams into the steering wheel or the airbag upon impact.
- Symptoms include: dizziness, headaches, emotional changes, confusion or disorientation, fainting or losing consciousness, temporary memory loss, pain at the base of the skull, nausea, or vomiting.
These are injuries that drivers should not be driving with, since they are severe and can lead to more worse injuries or symptoms.
Car Accident Support from IDG Legal
If you or a loved one is feeling any amount of pain after a car accident, it is important that you seek medical help right away. If an injury develops over time, a paper trail from your doctor will allow you to be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits from The Black Car Fund, which can help pay for medical bills and lost income.
Tap below to fill out a form for assistance, or call the Member Helpline at (646) 687-7587.
