Not every car accident injury is apparent. You may have felt fine after the accident. In some cases, the adrenaline from being involved in a sudden crash has not worn off, and it is hiding the pain. However, that does not automatically mean that you are fine. You need to be vigilant about your health in the days and weeks after a car accident because you may be suffering from an unseen injury. Here are some examples of common hidden injuries after a car accident.
Internal Bleeding
Your blood vessels may have sustained damage in the car accident. They can be crushed or torn from the trauma of the accident. However, if the skin is not broken, you may not be able to see it. In serious cases, internal bleeding can even lead to death.
Whiplash
Whiplash is a common car accident injury, especially in rear-end crashes. You could suffer whiplash when your head suddenly and violently snaps forward in the accident, and the rest of your body remains still. You may suffer neck and back injuries because of the sudden motion. In severe cases of whiplash, you may sustain a concussion because your brain may hit the base of your skull when your head moves forward. Whiplash symptoms may not manifest themselves until days or weeks after the accident, but it does not mean that you are uninjured.
Brain Injuries
If you sustain a concussion or some other type of brain trauma from the accident, you could suffer serious injury. Each part of the brain controls a different function you may lose if damaged. Brain injuries can grow worse over time if they are left untreated. Further, swelling in the brain can lead to permanent damage or even death.
Soft Tissue Injuries
Soft tissue refers to many other parts of your body that are not bone. This category can include ligaments and tendons. Soft tissues are not hardened and can suffer damage from an unnatural motion or sudden trauma. The symptoms of these injuries may not be apparent at first, but soreness after the car accident may be a sign that something is wrong.
Back and Spinal Cord Injuries
A car accident’s wrenching motion or trauma may have injured your back. You could have suffered a disc injury or a strain on your lower back. In serious cases, you could have sustained a spinal cord injury. It may not be until days afterward that you begin to feel soreness in your back or begin to experience numbness. Your injury could have worsened by the time you start to feel symptoms.
You should be cautious with your health after a car accident. Even if you think you are not hurt, seeing a doctor is essential. You should visit a doctor immediately if you feel any symptoms of the injuries above. Ignoring the signs of car accident injuries can harm your health and your legal case.
Contact a Monmouth County Car Accident Lawyer at the Law Offices of Michael S. Williams if You Have Been Injured in a Crash
If you have been injured in a car accident, speak with our experienced New Jersey car accident lawyers at the Law Offices of Michael S. Williams. Call us today at 732-351-2800 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation. With offices conveniently located in Tinton Falls and New Brunswick, New Jersey we serve clients in Monmouth and Middlesex County and throughout the state.