Accidents are frightening to endure and often lead to injuries. Most people don’t realize that certain injuries may not present themselves immediately following an accident but can develop over time. Injuries such as lacerations or broken bones can usually be recognized right away however injuries such as whiplash, concussion or injuries to the spine can take hours or even days to manifest.
Below is a list of four different injuries that are not immediately noticeable to the victim:
- Whiplash. Whiplash is caused by the swift jerking back and forth of your neck. It throws the neck out of alignment. It can take hours or even days for the symptoms of whiplash to present themselves. Those symptoms include persistent headaches, neck pain, dizziness, and even vision problems.
- Concussions. A concussion is a traumatic brain injury that is not visible to the naked eye. Suppose you are feeling pressure in your head, amnesia of the actual accident, dizziness or fogginess, blurred vision, ringing in your ears, or trouble keeping your balance. In that case, you may be suffering from a concussion. Concussions and whiplash often occur together.
- Spine injuries. Spinal injuries do not always present themselves right away, but if your spine continues to swell or bleed, it can lead to paralysis. It is vitally important to be evaluated for a spinal injury following an accident. The consequences of not catching it early can be dire.
- Internal bleeding. Any time your body experiences a significant force in a concentrated area, it can lead to internal bleeding. Bleeding in sensitive organs like your kidneys, lungs, and heart can be incredibly dangerous. If you experience abdominal pain, difficulty breathing, or blood in your urine or stool, you may be suffering from internal bleeding.
Because many injuries can have a delayed presentation of symptoms, we urge every accident victim to seek immediate medical treatment. Medical professionals are trained to detect and treat injuries that may not be immediately apparent and the sooner this is done the better it will be for your overall recovery.
With that said, it is important not to comment on your physical condition at the scene of an accident even if you don’t feel you were injured at the time because that may not be true. In fact, you may have suffered a significant injury but the symptoms have yet to manifest themselves, and telling someone you are feeling “fine” can make it more challenging to seek damages for slowly presenting injuries in the future. For help and guidance following an accident, contact Karns & Karns today.