A car accident lawyer knows that it is not uncommon for a victim of a vehicle accident to not realize that they have been injured in the crash. This often plays out in accidents which are considered minor ones, where the people involved do not exhibit any obvious symptoms, such as bleeding or limping, that would indicate an injury.
This is why anyone who has been injured in a crash should seek medical attention even if they do not believe they have been injured. A doctor can often recognize injuries that do not have apparent symptoms yet and begin treatment to avoid the injury getting worse.
Delayed symptoms and diagnosis of an injury can also pose an issue for a victim when it comes to pursuing a personal injury lawsuit against the party who is responsible for the accident that caused the injury. The longer it takes to have an injury diagnosed after the crash, the more likely it is that the insurance company for the other party will challenge the victim’s claim that the injury happened in the crash.
Each car accident lawyer in Fredericksburg VA from our firm have handled many accident cases where the victim didn’t realize immediately after the crash that they were injured. Some of the more common delayed symptoms a victim may suffer include:
- · Back pain: Any time a victim begins having back pain after a car accident, it could indicate that there may be a ligament, muscle, or nerve injury. It could also indicate that there has been damage done to the spine, such as a vertebra or disc.
- · Change in personality or physical capability: If a person exhibits any changes in personality or abilities, such as impaired movement, memory, hearing or vision issues, or any strong personality changes, this could be a sign of some type of brain injury.
- · Headaches: There are several reasons why a victim may begin to have headaches after a crash, however, headaches can indicate a potentially fatal condition, such as a blood clot.
- · Numbness: If a crash victim experiences any numbness in their hands or arms, they should immediately get medical help since this could mean there has been an injury to the spinal cord or neck.
- · Pain or swelling in the abdominal area: If the pain or swelling is also accompanied with dizziness, fainting, nausea, and dark purple bruising, this is a strong indicator that the victim could be suffering from internal bleeding. This type of injury can be fatal if it is not treated immediately.
- · Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): Victims do not only suffer physical injuries but can also suffer from emotional injuries from a crash, as well. One of the most common, especially in a bad crash, is PTSD. Flashbacks and recurring memories of the crash can interfere in the victim’s ability to function in their daily life. Children are particularly susceptible to PTSD.
- · Whiplash: This type of injury is most common in rear-end crashes, even in crashes where the vehicles were traveling less than 15 mph. The snapping back and forth of the neck and head when the impact occurs can cause the ligaments and muscles to become injured. Whiplash injuries are often quite painful for the victim and require extensive physical therapy for healing.
If you have suffered injuries in a crash, consider contacting a Fredericksburg VA car accident lawyer from MartinWren, P.C. today to set up free case evaluation.
Call 434-817-3100 or complete a Case Evaluation form
