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Car Accident Injury. Back Pain While Driving

Delayed Symptoms After a Car Crash: 6 Signs to Discuss

Some car crash injuries do not show up right away. Delayed symptoms after a car crash can include headaches, blurry vision, back pain, numbness or tingling, confusion or personality changes, and abdominal pain or tenderness. Any of these is a reason to see a doctor, even if you felt fine at the scene.

While sometimes injuries are immediately obvious at the scene of the crash, other injuries can show up in a delayed fashion, making you think you are OK at the time of the crash when, in truth, you may have suffered injuries that just don’t show up right away. Below are listed 6 delayed symptoms of car crash injury that you should not ignore:

Headaches

If you develop persistent headaches after a car crash, you should seek medical attention. Headaches can be a sign of concussion, whiplash, or other brain or spine injury. There could even be bleeding or a blood clot in the brain due to the impact of the crash. These injuries can cause both short and long-term disability, or even death, and should be attended to by your doctor. Learn more about concussion from MedlinePlus, a service of the National Library of Medicine.

Blurry Vision

Again, common car crash injuries such as concussions, whiplash, and spine or spinal cord injuries can have blurry vision as a delayed symptom. Any sudden change in your vision points to a change in the way the brain is processing information or a disruption in the eye, itself. Either way, this is a symptom that requires immediate medical attention.

Back Pain

Back pain is a common symptom after a car crash. Due to the adrenaline coursing through your body at the time of the crash, you may not notice the pain right away. Sometimes, too, the pain takes awhile to develop as swelling and inflammation increase over time. Back pain can indicate many different injuries, including herniated disks, spinal injury, pinched nerves, soft tissue damage, muscle tears or sprains, and a host of other problems.

Numbness or Tingling

Numbness or tingling can indicate some kind of nerve damage caused by your crash, and should not be ignored. A pinched nerve, whiplash, or a vertebral misalignment can all lead to numbness or tingling in various parts of the body. We all have that pins-and-needles feeling sometimes if we sleep in a certain position or sit too long in one spot, but if it occurs in a new way or with new frequency after a car crash, even if it didn’t show up right away, it can be the result of injuries sustained in the crash. You need to consult a medical professional to be sure.

Confusion, Brain Fog, or Changes in Personality

Head injuries are a very common result of car crashes. Often, the symptoms don’t appear until the brain has swelled, a blood clot has formed, or other factors kick in over time. If you or a loved one seem confused or “like a different person” after a car crash, a brain injury could be the cause. Seek medical attention without delay, as the condition could worsen quickly. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke has more on traumatic brain injury.

Abdominal Pain or Tenderness

It is common in car crashes to suffer internal bleeding, and this is not likely to cause symptoms right away. Therefore, if you have any abdominal pain or tenderness after a car crash, it is imperative to get it checked out by a doctor, even if it seems like the car crash was too long ago to be related. How fast the symptoms show up can be related to the size of the bleed, but any internal bleeding is cause for concern and should be treated ASAP.

Documenting When Symptoms Began

Keeping simple records can help your doctor and your claim. This list is for record-keeping, not for diagnosing yourself. Only a medical professional can tell you what is causing a symptom.

  • The date and time you first noticed each symptom
  • When you saw a doctor and what care you received
  • Medical records, bills and prescriptions you already have
  • Notes on how your symptoms affect your work and daily life

Talk to Greer Law Group About Your Injuries

If you are dealing with serious or permanent injuries after a crash in Colorado, get medical care first, then talk to a lawyer about your options. Contact Greer Law Group online or call 303-331-6460.