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Posted in Our Blog on July 31, 2018
If you were in a vehicle that was involved in a car accident, a medical assessment is essential, even if you seem to be uninjured. Not all injuries are immediately evident, and those that develop over the days or weeks after an accident could cause long-term health problems. Having records of medical examinations, treatments and associated costs might form significant evidence if you should decide to pursue financial relief through the Louisiana civil justice system.
Each crash is unique, and your position inside the car, whether you wore your seat belt, the position of the impact, the speed of the vehicles and many other aspects can cause different types of internal injuries. If you become aware of any aches or pains in the weeks following a crash, you must report it to a physician.
Musculoskeletal injuries
Long-term damage can follow if any musculoskeletal injuries are not treated in a timely manner. Moreover, stretched, bent or compressed muscles, tendons, ligaments or nerves anywhere in your body will cause pain. If the damage is severe enough, the pain could equal that of broken bones, and you might be unable to perform simple tasks. Any activity could worsen symptoms to exacerbate pain and cause redness, swelling and inflammation of soft tissues.
Bone fractures
Blunt force trauma of a crash or compression can cause any bone to break. Car accident-related fractures can affect the extremities like arms, hands, wrists, legs, feet and ankles.
If you were the driver of a rear-ended car, the position of your hands, wrists and arms holding the steering wheel can also cause serious fractures. Fractures can cause bruising, redness, swelling, pain and loss of function.
Whiplash
This common crash injury often goes untreated. If you develop pain and stiffness in your neck days after the accident, you need to have it evaluated immediately. Whiplash occurs when the neck moves rapidly back and forth upon the sudden stop or turn of the vehicle. Therapy, in time, can prevent loss of motion or range and pain whenever you move your neck.
Concussion
The whiplash motion can cause a concussion. The throwing of your head – either back and forth or from side to side – can cause your brain to smash against the walls inside your skull, even if your head does not strike a hard surface. Immediate signs include:
More severe symptoms that indicate long-term problems can leave you struggling to concentrate or focus, and you could have memory problems. You will need a neurological evaluation to determine the damage and treatment.
Emotional injuries
Last but not least are the invisible injuries that could affect your quality of life. They might even impact on your relationships with family and friends. Upon the impact of an accident, your body releases adrenaline and withdraws it just as suddenly. That can cause emotional reactions like depression or anxiety, which might disappear within a short period.
If you experience continued anxiety, nightmares or flashbacks, you could be suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The psychological damage may be more permanent, and this is more common if a loved one died in the accident.
Getting help to recover from physical and psychological trauma
Car accidents cause more than medical bills and lost income. Pain and suffering, sleepless nights and anxiety caused by financial strains all form part of the trauma that insurance might not cover. Fortunately, an experienced personal injury attorney can provide the guidance and support throughout the legal proceedings when you decide to pursue financial relief by filing a lawsuit in a Louisiana civil court.