Whether minor or not, vehicular accidents can be a stressful experience, especially if it’s your first time. While each person handles a collision differently, it can be hard to determine whether you have life-threatening injuries or not.
If you overlook a potential injury after a car crash, it can result in severe pain after several days or weeks. Most don’t feel any symptoms after the accident right away, but it’s best to consult a doctor for proper assessment. If you’re in a vehicular collision, here are some potential injuries and symptoms to watch out for:
1. Neck Stiffness
One of the usual conditions typically manifesting after vehicular accidents is whiplash. The condition is a term doctors use to describe any form of shoulder or neck pain after a vehicular crash.
In most cases, it’s likely to occur after a rear-end car accident. If these symptoms don’t seem to subside after the ordeal, you should set an appointment with a doctor to carry out diagnostic tests such as MRI, X-ray, or CT scan to figure out the cause of the discomfort. Also, knowing about neck injury worth is important for legal settlements.
2. Headache
Although headaches are likely to manifest several days after a vehicular accident, they can be an initial sign of a severe condition. When headaches occur, it might indicate a head or neck injury, blood clots, or a concussive injury.
3. Back Pain
The majority of vehicular collisions generally result in chronic back pain. The discomfort you feel might be due to pinched nerves, muscle injury, or worn-out ligaments. In some instances, there might be damage to the spinal bones. Since most impact collisions typically result in some form of low back pain, it’s best to see a doctor if the discomfort lingers for a long time.
4. Burns
When the vehicle catches fire and hot oil is present during the car accident, the person is at risk for burn injuries. Generally, burns can cause intense pain, scarring, and even disfigurement. In severe cases, it might require extensive treatment and psychological counselling, especially if the face sustains injuries.
5. Soft Tissue Injuries
In most vehicular accidents, soft tissue injuries are likely to occur. These often involve the muscles, ligaments, and tendons. Here are some specifications:
- Sprains involving damage to the ligaments, which are tissue bands that link bones together
- Strains in tendons and muscles
- Contusions or bruises manifesting once there’s damage to the muscle fibres
When soft tissue damage occurs, it can trigger pain or discomfort that varies for each person. In some cases, it might also cause stiffness, swelling, and discolouration. It usually takes time for these injuries to form. Both strains and sprains typically affect the knees, ankles, wrists, and shoulders.
A common form of soft tissue injury involving torn or inflamed muscles or herniated discs can trigger back pain.
6. Concussion
Once the brain strikes against the skull’s interior, a person is likely to end up with a concussion. It may develop from a direct blow to the head or when the head violently jerks forward and backward from the force of the crash.
Don’t overlook the possibility of a concussion since a mild case might affect the person’s quality of life and continue to worsen over time. The indications of trauma typically manifest within a few days or weeks. Consult a healthcare professional right away if any of these symptoms are present:
- Headache
- Confusion
- Dizziness
- Changes in the sleeping pattern
- Delayed response
- Migraines
- Nausea
- Light or sound sensitivity
- Memory loss
7. Organ Damage
Delayed abdominal pain is a severe symptom to watch out for after a car crash. It might indicate internal damage to the organs or the ribcage. If you delay treatment, the damage can be dangerous. Some of the indications of internal organ damage might include the following:
- Fainting
- Dizziness
- Fever
- Deep purplish bruising
- Diarrhoea
- Constipation
- Stomach pain
- Lower abdominal pain
Internal bleeding is possible if a person experiences abdominal pain or swelling. In most cases, these symptoms may manifest hours or days after the accident. Once you suspect internal damage to the liver, kidneys, lungs, or other bodily organs, see a doctor right away. Neglecting to seek medical treatment might result in sepsis, comatose, or even death.
ConclusionIn any vehicular collision, it’s vital to seek immediate medical attention. Aside from the injuries right after the injury, there’s a likelihood that you’ll end up with others a few days or weeks after. Once you experience any unusual symptoms days or weeks after the accident, always consult a doctor to get the proper diagnosis and treatment.