Not every car accident results in visible injuries. It is possible for a person who is involved in a car accident to leave the scene of the accident feeling no pain and experiencing no symptoms, only to feel the effects of the accident hours or even days later. While in some cases the delay in getting treatment may not have serious effects, in other cases, it can cause permanent damage or be fatal.
Injuries that are characterized by pain in the head neck, back, and abdomen may sometimes be easily dismissed as minor consequences of having been in the accident. However, pain in these areas can mean that the person is suffering from whiplash, a traumatic brain injury, or even internal bleeding.
Whiplash is an injury that is caused by the back and forth motion of the neck when a person is in a collision. Whiplash can be extremely painful, and if untreated can lead to chronic pain in the neck and back. This pain can be severe enough to interfere with a person’s daily life.
Even more serious is the risk of a traumatic brain injury. A traumatic brain injury can be characterized as mild or severe. However, even a mild traumatic brain injury is extremely serious. The symptoms of a mild traumatic brain injury can include headaches, nausea, dizziness, difficulty thinking, memory problems, and changes in a person’s behavior. These symptoms may take time to manifest, and are easily missed immediately following an accident.
Some symptoms of a severe traumatic brain injury are similar to those of a mild injury. However, a severe traumatic brain injury can present more serious symptoms, as well. A person with a severe traumatic brain injury may also experience seizures, loss of hearing and vision, and extreme changes in personality. A person suffering from a severe traumatic brain injury may also end up in a coma.
Other injuries that are easily overlooked after an accident are psychological injuries. It is possible for a person to experience post traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and depression after an accident. These kinds of injuries may be more likely if someone dies in the accident or if the person experiencing the psychological injuries also suffered serious physical injuries and is in recovery for a long period of time.
No matter how minor you think your injuries are, it is always important to get checked out after a car accident. Waiting to see how an injury feels the next day, or ignoring pain and other symptoms is dangerous and can make the problem worse. Waiting to seek treatment can also affect your claim for compensation.
Contact Us for Legal Assistance
In Florida, drivers involved in car accidents are generally required to make claims to their own insurance companies in order to get compensated. However, when a person suffers a serious injury in a car accident, he may be able to seek compensation from the at fault driver. For a free consultation to learn more about how you can seek compensation for serious injuries sustained in a car accident, contact an experienced car accident injury lawyer at Vocelle & Berg, LLP, in Vero Beach, Florida.
Resource:
ptsd.va.gov/professional/trauma/other/traumatic-stress-vehicle-accidents.asp