In the case of car accidents, it is quite common for injuries to develop days later. Those involved in auto accidents often think they are fine in the moment, but as time progresses, so do their symptoms of injury. Much like injured athletes who continue on during a game, a person may experience increased chemical levels of adrenaline and endorphins following a car collision. This can sometimes influence a person’s capacity to feel or notice pain.
The inherent risk of this natural phenomenon is that people do not realize they are injured until the excitement from their accident resides and the symptoms of pain begin to appear. The amount of time an onset of injuries takes varies from person to person. It can take anywhere from a few hours to a few days, depending on factors like the current health of the driver, the force of impact, the severity of the accident, and much more. Continue reading to learn more important information about onset of injury following a motor vehicle accident.
Soft Tissue Injuries
The most common type of injury experienced after a car collision is soft tissue damage, which affects he muscles, ligaments, and tendons. This type of injury is notorious for appearing days, even weeks, later, and lasting for a prolonged period of time. It can begin as slight stiffness, develop into minor or moderate soreness, and eventually result as a serious soft tissue injury.
One of the most common soft tissue injury is whiplash. This occurs when the head is abruptly jerked forward and backward as a result of the force produced from the collision. Often times, people do not even realize their neck jerked in this way because it happens so fast. Pain, swelling, and reduced mobility are all common signs of a whiplash injury, but are also indicative of all other types of soft tissue injuries.
Proving Soft Tissue Damage
Soft tissue injuries are complicated to prove since they cannot be seen on any medical photographing device. Neither an x-ray nor MRI will show soft tissue damage, however, they may be able to show muscle tears and ruptures. If you were injured in a motor vehicle accident and have started to develop signs of injury, it is important to talk to a personal injury lawyer before contacting your insurance company to file a claim. They will instruct you to get immediate medical attention and treatment to document your injury, and then begin to learn your case and negotiate a fair settlement to cover your damages and losses.
Concussions and Head Injuries
Just like soft tissue damage, head injuries are also known to show up much later. Concussions and other types of head or brain injuries can include a long list of symptoms. If you show more than one or two of these symptoms, you could have a concussion. For this reason, you must seek medical treatment immediately.
Here are some of the most common signs of a head or brain injury:
- Headaches
- Confusion or Clouded Thinking
- Dizziness
- Blurred Vision
- Memory Loss
- Fainting
- Loss of Appetite
- Nausea
- Malaise
- Energy Loss
- Fatigue
- Excessive Sleeping
- Difficulty Sleeping
