Do not discount the potential for injury after minor car accidents. Not everyone reacts the same during and after a crash, which can make it difficult to determine whether you are as fine as you may feel.
KTAR News outlines several delayed car accident injury symptoms. Know for sure whether your recent auto accident left you unscathed.
Shoulder and neck pain and stiffness
If your accident was a rear-end collision, you may experience whiplash, identified by stiffness and pain in the neck and shoulders. Even if the impact was minor, one with a speed of less than 14 mph, you could still suffer from whiplash.
Headaches
In the days following your accident, you may experience headaches. It is vital that you not ignore even a minor headache, as it could indicate a more serious health complication such as a concussion or a blood clot.
Back pain
Nerves, muscles and ligaments could sustain damage during the accident, which could trigger back pain. Much like whiplash, back pain, especially lower back pain, often results from a rear-end collision. The same is true of side impacts.
Numbness
Have you experienced numbness or tingling in your hands or arms? This is another indication of a potential whiplash injury. Maybe your spinal or neck column sustained damage in the incident.
PTSD
Rather than damage to your body, you may experience mental symptoms after your motor vehicle accident. Constantly replaying the events of the accident in your mind, having nightmares and odd shifts in your personality or mood are all symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder.
Seek medical treatment if you experience any of the above symptoms after a car accident. Depending on medical test results, you could have a legal case.
