More than 6 million auto accidents occur in the United States each year. In those crashes, over 3 million people are injured. Some injuries are minor, but others can have a significant impact on the life of the affected person. In fact, about 2 million people per year suffer permanent injuries in car crashes, and sadly, not all of these severely injured individuals will receive compensation. This is, in part, because far too many of them do not seek treatment until it is too late. If you experience an accident, it is important to know how to avoid the same troubling fate.
Adrenaline and Injury Symptoms
When a crash happens, those involved often experience a rush of adrenaline. This evolutionary response to trauma can mask the symptoms of an injury, leading the person to believe they are fine. Even more troubling is that, even when symptoms do start to manifest, people often fail to directly attribute them to the accident. If they continue to overlook the connection and never seek treatment, their risk for long-term complications and/or death can increase dramatically.
Symptoms That Could Indicate a Serious Injury
One of the biggest reasons that people may not immediately attribute their delayed symptoms to an accident is that, at first glance, the symptoms might not seem very serious. For example, a simple headache after a crash could be an indication of a traumatic brain injury (TBI), a blood clot, or brain hemorrhaging. Pain and stiffness in the neck or shoulder area—which might be written off as stress from the accident or simply being “shaken up”—could be an indication of whiplash. Back pain could indicate a herniated disc or damage to nerves or muscles.
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