One of the biggest mistakes people make after being in a minor car accident is to assume they escaped without injury. If you are able to walk away from a fender-bender or a simple rear-end accident you may just feel like it’s your lucky day. But this is a mistake. Unfortunately, even the most minor of car accidents can produce long term injuries. To make matters worse, the symptoms for many of these injuries often won’t manifest for days or even weeks following an accident. Below are the top 5 car accident injuries with delayed symptoms: Whiplash Easily one of the most common injuries produced by car accidents is whiplash. Whiplash injuries occur in accidents that are slower than 14 miles per hour. Most victims of whiplash don’t experience symptoms or pain until long after they’ve left the scene of the accident. Headaches While it’s common to experience headaches after a car accident, chronic headaches could point the way to more serious problems like a severe concussion, a blood clot in the brain, or possibly a fracture in the neck. If you have headaches that persist no matter what you do to alleviate them after your accident, you should consider consulting with a medical professional. Stomach Pains Abdominal pains or excessive swelling after a car accident might suggest you are bleeding internally. Internal bleeding is an especially serious injury and might not show signs for hours or days after a car accident. Dizziness, fainting, or deep, purple bruises are also indications of internal bleeding. If you believe you might be bleeding internally do not hesitate to visit your doctor or even go to the emergency room for treatment. Back Pain Lower back pain is one of the most reported types of back injuries from victims of rear-end and side crashes. These injuries are caused by muscles and ligaments that are torn and distended. Some victims even suffer damage to their nerves and vertebrae. These injuries are best treated by a skilled chiropractor or, if serious enough, may require painful surgery. PTSD Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is the most overlooked and pernicious injury victims suffer after their car accidents. It is common for victims to have recurring memories of the car accident or to experience the same fear and panic from the event. A percentage of victims even reported having flashbacks of the accident and deep fear of even riding in a car. The symptoms of PTSD may seem invisible and be solely in your head, but they are as real as any other car accident injury and should not be taken lightly. If you are exhibiting any of the above symptoms after your car accident, you may be suffering a delayed injury. The best advice is to seek out medical attention as soon as you are able. Injuries caused by car accidents only get worse with time. So, do yourself and your body a favor and get checked out by a doctor.
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