Car Accident Law
In the hustle and bustle of today’s busy world, it can be easy to brush off a small accident as nothing more than a little fender bender hardly worth fretting over. Yet even that minor impact or sudden stop could have caused bodily injury, and in the adrenaline of the moment you haven’t noticed it. It’s not uncommon for symptoms of injuries sustained in crashes to appear up to several days after the accident. Here’s the most common delayed injuries, and what you can do about the pain from minor ones.
Most Common Delayed Injuries
While there is potential for serious immediate harm in a crash, these are injuries that might appear until long after the danger seems averted:
- Neck and shoulder pain (whiplash)
- Headaches and concussions
- Back pain
- Abdominal pain
- Numbness
- PTSD and other emotional trauma
If you begin to show symptoms of any of these, seek medical attention, as some of them could indicate more severe injuries like internal bleeding or a herniated disc in the spinal cord.
How to Handle Your Pain
In less severe cases like whiplash, sometimes the only solution is waiting for your body to mend on its own without adding any excess exertion on the recovering muscle and tissue. Here are some suggestions on how to treat certain painful injuries:
- Back pain: strained muscles, tendons and ligaments can contribute to back pain, so taking painkillers, applying ice and heat to the stressed area and resting can increase the recovery time and reduce additional strain on your body
- Concussion: persistent headaches can be the primary indicator that you have a concussion, along with dizziness, nausea, foggy thinking, and neck pain; always see a doctor to ensure there are no medical emergencies, but generally rest is the best way to ease your bumped brain back into your busy lifestyle
- Neck pain: a usual sign of whiplash, you’ll have to take painkillers to lessen your discomfort as your muscles gradually return to their usual strength
- Lower extremity pain: minor injuries may be sprained ligaments or strained muscles that require icing, compressing and elevating the affected limb, along with plenty of rest and any needed painkillers
Again, always consult with your doctor following a car accident or if new symptoms emerge before deciding how to proceed, as more severe injuries could be hidden beneath seemingly minor ones.
If someone else’s careless driving ends in an accident where you are injured, contact a car accident lawyer to discuss your situation. You may find you’re entitled to compensation for your unexpected medical expenses and suffering.
Source: Car Accident Law Firm Woodland Hills, CA, Barry P. Goldberg