After any accident, it is critical to seek medical attention. Too many people make the mistake of thinking that they were not seriously injured and do not get the medical attention they need. However, there are many different types of injuries that do not present symptoms right away. These are known as hidden injuries, and they are often undiscovered until weeks later. At that point, they may have become much worse.
Seeking medical attention can prevent this from happening and ensure that your safety and well-being are protected. Below, our West Virginia car accident lawyer explains some of the most common hidden injuries after a crash.
Head and Neck Injuries
Some of the most common injuries after car accidents affect the head and neck. Whiplash is one of these. In fact, whiplash is the most common injury associated with motor vehicle accidents, according to the National Institute of Health. Whiplash occurs when the neck snaps back and forth in rapid succession, similar to a whip. This damages the ligaments, muscles, and other soft tissues in the neck.
Whiplash is not typically evident immediately following an accident. In the following days, you may develop neck discomfort and experience headaches, indicating that you suffered a whiplash during the crash. As time goes on, mobility becomes very limited and may prevent you from working and performing even the simplest of daily tasks, such as cleaning or cooking.
Traumatic Brain Injuries
When the head is impacted during a crash, the damage can also affect the brain and result in a traumatic brain injury (TBI). One of the most common delayed car accident injuries is concussions.
Concussions are caused by a direct blow to the head that causes the brain to hit the sides of the skull. This can result in several symptoms such as migraines, memory loss, confusion, dizziness, nausea, and tinnitus, but these often do not appear until days or even weeks after the accident.
Concussions are not the only type of brain injury suffered in car crashes. Diffuse axonal injuries, epidural hematomas, intracranial hematomas, and brain hemorrhages are also common and may not present symptoms right away.
Shoulder and Chest Injuries
Seatbelts are important safety features that protect occupants in vehicles during a crash. Unfortunately, they can also cause injuries in certain instances. As you decelerate, the seatbelt may tighten while pushing your body forward. This can result in injuries to the shoulder and chest, as well as muscle sprains or strains. These can cause great discomfort and aches that are not always apparent immediately following a crash.
Back Injuries
Car accidents can result in trauma to the back, impacting the nerves and the spine. Spinal injuries can cause numbness and even paralysis. Nerve damage occurs when the nerve tissues are impacted or penetrated, causing discomfort and pain. Contrary to what many people think, these are not always immediately apparent. These are often delayed car accident injuries that do not present symptoms for days or weeks after a collision.
Other back injuries that are very common after a car accident are herniated discs. The spinal column is made up of fairly delicate discs that are protected by the vertebrae in the spinal cord. When these discs become herniated, they slip through the protective vertebrae and may even rupture. Herniated discs damage surrounding tissue and can create pain in the arms and legs. In more severe cases, the vertebrae can also become damaged and break apart, creating pain in the impacted area.
Joint Injuries
Some of the most commonly overlooked hidden injuries after a car accident are joint injuries. Like seatbelt injuries, these are often caused by the very features in a vehicle meant to keep occupants safe. As an airbag deploys, the force can apply pressure to the soft tissue in the joints, causing a great deal of damage. The soft tissues in the joints refer to the cartilage, ligaments, tendons, and muscles.
Damaged tissue in the joints is not visible, and it may also not represent symptoms right away. For this reason, these injuries are often unnoticed immediately after a crash. If the injury is not treated properly and promptly, though, it can result in permanent damage.
Internal Injuries
Internal injuries are also not easily visible after a car accident and may not be discovered right away.
Organs can become perforated during a crash, particularly if you break a bone, such as a rib, and the end punctures an organ. These injuries can be fatal if they are not treated right away.
Internal bleeding is another common car accident injury, and one that does not always present symptoms right away. Internal bleeding occurs when a blood vessel ruptures inside the body, but because the skin has not been punctured, the blood has nowhere to go. While a life-threatening injury, internal bleeding is not always discovered right away, but it requires immediate treatment.
Psychological Injuries
While it is common for many people to first think of physical injuries after a crash, psychological injuries are also very common after car accidents. One such injury is post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). According to the National Center for PTSD, this mental health issue occurs in some cases when a person has witnessed or experienced a traumatic event. Car accidents can be very traumatic, and so this injury is more common than many people think.
Mental health issues can take many weeks or even months to develop. As soon as signs of depression, anxiety, or another mental health problem start to show, it is critical to speak to a mental health professional as soon as possible.
Our Car Accident Lawyer in West Virginia Can Help After Injury
There are many injuries you may suffer from after a crash. At Kaufman & McPherson, PLLC, our West Virginia car accident lawyer can accurately value your claim and help you obtain the full compensation you need for your injuries. Call us now at 304-842-4300 or contact us online to schedule a case evaluation and to learn more about how we will fight for you.
