Car Accident Lawyer
Injuries from a car accident can be either physical or psychological in nature. Symptoms often do not show up right away, which may lead you to believe that you are less seriously hurt than you really are. In the interest of keeping yourself safe and healthy, you should see a doctor as soon as possible after your accident and keep an eye out for the following symptoms that are often delayed following a car crash.
Psychological Symptoms
A car accident is a trauma, even if it is relatively minor. People who walk away from a collision seemingly without a scratch can suffer symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. Sometimes these show up almost immediately after the accident and sometimes they may not emerge for months or even years afterward. However, it is most common for PTSD symptoms to emerge within the first three months following the traumatic event. PTSD symptoms include flashbacks and anxiety. The condition can be unpredictable but is most likely to affect children.
Following a car accident in which you suffer a blow to the head, you may experience symptoms of other psychological disorders, such as depression. You may exhibit changes to your personality, memory, or thinking ability. Though these symptoms are psychological in nature, they may have a physical cause. Damage to the brain can result in symptoms such as these.
Physical Symptoms
When it comes to traumatic brain injury, there may be some overlap between physical and psychological symptoms. Another physical sign of TBI is severe, persistent headaches. These can have multiple causes, such as a serious concussion or a blood clot or hematoma in the brain. Sometimes an injury to the neck can cause pain to radiate to the head.
Traumatic brain injuries are among the most severe that can occur from a car accident, but they are by no means the only physical injury that can result. A blow to the abdomen can cause internal bleeding, but the characteristic pain, bruising, and swelling may take a while to develop. Numbness or tingling of the extremities can indicate an injury to the spinal cord. Low back pain is common after collisions involving impact to the side or rear of your vehicle. The cause may be damage to the vertebrae of the spine or the soft tissues that surround it, e.g., ligaments, muscles, or nerves.
Be careful not to accept a settlement from the other driver’s insurance company until you have received a medical evaluation and are certain that you are free from any serious injury. One of our attorneys can assist you in dealing with insurance adjusters. Contact a car accident attorney, like Polsky, Shouldice & Rosen, P.C. for a consultation.