Every year nearly 1.25 million people die in car accidents. If you’ve been injured from a car accident, it was probably fairly obvious at the time.
However, there is a sizeable proportion of crash survivors who experience late-appearing car accident injuries. These can present days or weeks after the accident. If you’re experiencing any pain after a car accident, you should visit a doctor immediately.
In this article, we’ve collected five of the most common late-appearing car accident injuries. If any of these symptoms sound familiar, head to a doctor such as this Injury Doctor NYC or others in your area.
Ready to see what those aches and pains are symptoms of? Read on.
1. Concussion
A concussion can be a very scary experience. If you hit your head during your car accident, it’s possible that you could be suffering from one.
Often, they present immediately and are obvious: you may, for instance, lose consciousness. However, other times there’s no loss of consciousness. In these cases, you may experience symptoms like:
- Clouded thinking or brain fog
- Amnesia
- Difficulty concentrating
- Headaches
- Blurred vision
- Lethargy
While these symptoms are often worrying, concussions are unlikely to be serious.
2. Soft Tissue Injury
Soft tissue is the medical term for muscles, ligaments, and other such tissue. Even minor car accidents can damage these tissues and they are common late-appearing car accident injuries.
Whiplash is the most common example of a soft tissue injury. While this usually gets better within two or three months, it can cause serious discomfort. Common symptoms of whiplash include:
- Neck pain or stiffness
- Headaches
- Painful muscle spasms
If you are experiencing these symptoms, you should visit experienced car accident doctors. They will be able to help ease your symptoms through the healing process.
3. Stomach Pain
Stomach pain may not present for hours or days after the accident. However, if it does present, it could be a sign of something more serious.
Stomach pain can be a sign of internal bleeding. It may also cause large bruises. The pain may be intense.
If you are experiencing any stomach pain after a car accident, visit a doctor immediately.
4. Back Pain
If you were struck from behind, back pain after a car accident is very common. It should not be ignored, as it could be a sign of something serious.
Back pain after a car accident can be a sign of pinched nerves, slipped discs, or even a spinal cord injury. These can cause serious mobility issues if left untreated.
5. Emotional Distress
We know that being in a car accident can be a traumatic experience. It’s important to remember that not all late-appearing car accident injuries are physical. It is not uncommon for car accidents to cause PTSD in survivors.
If you notice increased anxiety, distress, or personality changes, see a psychiatrist.
Late-Appearing Car Accident Injuries: Not a Myth
If you were in a car accident some time ago, and are only now developing symptoms, see a doctor. Even though they took time to arise, late-appearing car accident injuries can cause serious issues if left untreated.