Car accidents account for a significant number of injuries every year.

The Association for Safe International Road Travel estimates that more than two million people get injured or disabled annually because of car accidents.

Physical injuries to expect after a car accident

There are several types of physical injuries that car accident victims usually suffer. Some of them may not manifest easily while others can be visibly seen. It is always important to seek immediate medical attention after an accident to prevent pain and infections.

Read also: Following a Car Accident, Should You Wait to See a Doctor?

Here are the common physical injuries you can expect

1. Neck Pain or Stiffness

One of the most associated conditions with vehicle accidents is whiplash. This happens when a passenger’s head is suddenly moved forward and backward.

This type of injury normally occurs during a rear-end vehicle collision. Sometimes it may take hours or days before you start feeling the stiffness or pain in your neck after an accident.

Although painkillers can help in relieving the pain, they can’t solve the real problem.
Neck pain is usually accompanied by migraines or backaches.

The shoulder and neck muscles feel hard and tense from time to time. The stiffness can make it hard to move the neck to either position until the problem is addressed.

One of the first things that should be done after a car accident is to conduct a thorough assessment. A medical professional will seek to find out your medical history as well as the symptoms you are experiencing prior to carrying out a physical test.

2. Headaches

While headaches are not unusual several days after a car accident, they can still be the first signal of a more serious issue. Some people may start to experience headaches right after an accident while others will start to experience several hours later.

Although it might be difficult to determine the cause of a headache after an injury, the most common causes include a strike or blow on the head or whiplash. The severity of the headache will depend on the force and impact of the accident.

A headache after an accident is not something to be taken lightly. It is important to see a doctor as soon as possible to be assessed and get appropriate medication and treatment.

3. Changes in Function or Personality

When a person undergoes a traumatic event like a car accident, he or she is not only affected physically, but also his or her personality or functionality can also be significantly affected.

For example, someone can develop a condition known as phobia – meaning they will always fear to drive or even being driven in a car.

Phobia should not be ignored because it can worsen if not addressed early. It is important to see a psychologist to help the affected person to overcome the phobia.

It is also important to note that changes in personality may not be easily manifested after an accident. Sometimes it takes a professional to know how much the victim has been affected by the accident.

4. Back pain

Car accidents are a common cause of back pains because the back often acts as the body’s shock absorber. It is good to seek immediate medical attention after an accident to prevent the situation from worsening. Common signs and symptoms of back pain include the following:

• Stiffness
• Pain
• Muscle spasms
• Difficulty in walking or standing
• Tingling in hands, legs, and buttocks

Types of back injuries caused by cars accidents

• Soft tissue injuries
• Whiplash
• Herniated disc
• Fractures
• Spinal cord injuries

5. Numbness

After a car accident, it is a common thing to experience delayed pain, aches, and discomfort. It is not easy to feel numbness and tingling immediately after a car accident. The irony of it all is that the victim might not even realize that anything has happened.

The only way this condition can be detected and addressed is through a medical assessment immediately after a car crash. A medical doctor will be able to tell how much the victim has been affected and what steps to take.

Causes and symptoms of numbness

Tingling and numbness may happen when the nerves are impacted within the spinal cord column after a serious car accident, fall, or sports injury.

Spinal discs can be dislocated from their normal positions because of injuries such as:

• Disk herniation
• Whiplash injury
• Muscle spasms
• Pinched nerves

Read also: Common Car Accident Injuries

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Bottom line

It is always difficult to prevent accidents from happening, but we can reduce the impact of injuries by taking quick action. You should also take legal action by hiring a competent lawyer to represent you.

If you have been injured a car accident and need to consult a lawyer about your rights, we are here to help! At Sandoval Law Firm, PLLC we treat every client with the care and attention that they deserve. We are available to help you in your car wreck person injury case.

Contact Sandoval Law Firm, PLLC at (346) 347-7777 to request an initial consultation to discuss your case.