Following Missouri car crashes, victims do not always immediately notice their injuries. For this reason, it is important to receive medical attention as soon as possible after a car accident, even if you do not believe that you incurred any injuries. While car accidents cannot be anticipated, some resulting injuries are just as unpredictable, and may not manifest until days or even weeks after the crash. The following will explore four common car accident injuries that may not show up right away. If you have been injured in a car accident in Missouri, contact a personal injury lawyer for help pursuing the compensation you deserve.
Whiplash
A common injury in rear-end collisions, whiplash occurs when a person’s head suddenly jolts forward and backward. Sudden movements like these place great strain on a person’s neck. When accident victims do not have sufficient time to brace for the impact, muscles are jerked and any defensive mechanisms fail. Whiplash is a common injury, yet many whiplash symptoms do not appear until days or weeks after an accident, often because a person’s adrenaline is very high following a crash. In the high-intensity moments immediately following a crash, a victim may not notice a dull neck ache, which can grow to become debilitating in a matter of hours, days, or weeks. A doctor can diagnose whiplash, though, so it is important to get checked out as soon as possible after a car crash.
Knee and Shoulder Injuries
During a car accident, body parts, such as knees and shoulders, may often strike parts of a car’s interior. The bones in the knees and shoulders are fragile and can easily fracture when a substantial degree of force is involved. Unfortunately, damage to this area is not always felt immediately; it tends to worsen as time passes until it reaches a degree of noticeable pain. When the pain reaches its full extent, it is often debilitating.
Traumatic Brain Injuries
A frequently late-to-appear injury incurred in car crashes is a traumatic brain injury (TBI). TBIs occur when a person’s brain collides with the inside of the skull. Striking your head against an airbag or steering wheel has a great likelihood of leading to a TBI, although no actual head strike or loss of consciousness is necessary for a traumatic brain in jury to occur. While some people immediately notice the impact of traumatic brain injuries, others have reported that the condition takes years to fully manifest. This is in part because a person’s risk of developing dementia or another neurodegenerative disease following a traumatic brain injury (a/k/a a “mild concussion”) is more than double that of the general population. During the weeks following a car accident, if you are feeling disoriented, or are suffering from headaches, mood swings, changes in vision, or lack of balance, it is vital to see a doctor right away.
Psychological Injuries
Perhaps the most commonly underestimated injury, psychological harm is a common result of motor vehicle crashes. Car crash victims are often forced to confront the fragile nature of human lives in the aftermath of serious car accidents. Often, as time passes, people begin to experience emotional responses to the traumatic memories of the crash. In the most extreme cases, these painful memories can lead to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.
While it is easy to dismiss psychological injuries because you cannot see evidence of them on the outside, they can leave car crash victims unable to return to work or function normally in their daily lives.
Contact an Experienced Missouri Car Accident Attorney Today
If you have been injured in a car crash caused by the negligence of another person, you need the assistance of an experienced car crash attorney who can help you fight for the compensation you deserve. A compassionate lawyer will make all the difference in your case. Contact House Law LLC today to schedule your free case evaluation.
Tags: car accident, personal injury, traumatic brain injury
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