5 Hidden Injuries to Look for Following a Car Accident

Car accidents are an unfortunate reality of our time. In 2017, close to 6.5M car crashes were reported by the National Highway Traffic Safety Association, a figure that is both shocking and saddening at the same time. Closer home, Georgia’s I-285 has been labeled the ‘Most deadly highway in the US’ with the highest number of accidents per mile in a report by Vox.

Being in an auto accident is a harrowing experience, irrespective of who was at fault or the severity of the accident. While your priority is to make sure everyone is alive and well, there is an exhaustive list of tasks that follow; informing and dealing with the police, exchanging insurance details and numbers, getting your car towed and planning for the repair work. It is therefore only natural after an accident that you perform a fleeting check-in yourself as well as your loved ones and shift your focus on the formalities expected of you.

But a fleeting check is only enough to rule out cuts, lacerations, fractures and bleeding, etc. as these injuries project visible symptoms. Many times, a car accident could leave you with injuries that aren’t visible and only manifest in a couple of days.

More often, the adrenaline rush that your body experiences after a frightening or a dangerous event blocks the sensation of pain and can make you feel as though you’re all fine. But this rush wears off and that’s when your body might start showing signs of fatigue or damage.

Here are 5 hidden injuries to look for after a car accident;

1. Neck and Shoulder Injuries

Neck and shoulders are most likely to suffer from a jerk in an accident. While you are most likely to feel some pain in your neck and shoulder, do not pass it off on bad sitting or sleeping posture. A high-force tug on the seatbelt wrapped around you during an accident is likely to cause –

• Tension and stress

• Nerve damage

• Muscle, tendon, and joint injury

• Tissue damage

While these may just be temporary injuries, they can also be a consequence of whiplash or a concussion, both of which can lead to long term damage.

2. Herniated Discs

While whiplash is comparatively minor, in some cases, the force of a collision can cause the tissue in between the vertebrae of the spine to balloon out or rupture. This is called a ‘herniated disc’. A herniated disc can put pressure on and inflame nerves coming out of the spine. It is wise to reach out to a physical therapist or a chiropractor to assess the gravity of the injury and suggest recovery steps right away.

3. Abdominal Pain or Nausea

Stomach pain of any kind should never be ignored, no matter how serious or seemingly minor. Consistent abdominal pain could be a sign of internal bleeding or damage to an internal organ.

4. Knee Injuries

Irrespective of the type of car or the height of the person, knees are some of the most common joints impacted in a car accident. Drivers and passengers are often thrown forward in car accidents, causing their knees to strike the dashboard, which can lead to damage ranging from muscle or cartilage tear to a straight-out shattered knee-bone.

The crucial thing about knee injuries is how you treat the knee after the injury. Lack of immediate attention could aggravate the damage and you might end up needing surgery or be left with a permanently damaged knee.

5. Numbness or Tingling

Numbness or tingling in the neck, shoulder, extremities or back is associated with nerve or tissue damage. A pinched nerve can be very painful and can escalate into a long-term complication, if not addressed right away. A combination of physical7 therapy and nerve-blocking medications can be recommended if the issue is diagnosed early on.

Contact a Personal Injury Attorney for Help

To be able to give yourself and your loved one the time to heal and recover from the trauma of a car accident, it is recommended that you appoint an experienced personal injury lawyer with a history of helping injury victims obtain their rightful dues. If you have recently been in a car accident in and around Greater Atlanta, contact attorney Riah Greathouse and schedule a free consultation right away! With your case in such safe hands, you are free to recover and rebuild your life at your will.