Injuries caused by car crashes can put people in the hospital and keep them from working. Sometimes, people require emergency transportation to a hospital and immediate intervention to stabilize their condition after a collision.
People hurt in car crashes often rely on insurance to pay for their medical treatment and replace lost income. They may call for medical assistance right from the scene of the wreck. Although checking for signs of injuries is a common step to take after a motor vehicle collision, some people don’t notice their injuries until the next day or even later.
What types of injuries do people frequently overlook after car crashes?
Injuries involving internal bleeding
Two main types of internal bleeding may develop after a significant motor vehicle collision. Some people hit their heads and develop traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). It can take several days before bruising or swelling inside the skull leads to major symptoms. Other times, people may have internal bleeding in their abdomens or chests due to striking parts of the vehicle or their safety restraints. Internal bleeding can slowly worsen if someone does not seek a medical evaluation after a crash.
Broken bones that can still bear weight
People sometimes assume that a broken bone should be so painful that they won’t be able to use the affected body part at all after the injury. However, stable fractures and other minor broken bones can bear weight and may not always generate noticeable pain symptoms at the scene of a crash. People could have a stable fracture that becomes painful or limits their function later when they reinjure themselves or worse than the initial fracture. It is even possible for someone to have an incomplete and stable spinal cord injury that could worsen without proper treatment.
Soft tissue injuries
Whiplash and other injuries to the musculature or connective tissue may not be painful right after a crash occurs. It may take some time for the inflammation to develop. Also, people have strong chemical reactions to collisions that might minimize how much pain they experience. Sometimes, people don’t have any soft tissue injury symptoms until the day after a collision.
Especially if a crash is serious enough to leave a vehicle unsafe to drive or put other people in the hospital, those involved in the wreck may need to see a doctor to check for potentially overlooked injury symptoms. Going too long without a diagnosis after a car crash might make it harder for someone to heal and/or obtain insurance coverage or personal injury damages for their injuries later. Those who know how to protect themselves after a motor vehicle collision may have an easier time getting the compensation that they deserve.