Suffering any kind of injury in an incident on the roads is painful and potentially life-changing, yet what many people don’t realize is that some ailments don’t materialize until further down the line.
So-called late appearing injuries are a challenge both from a healthcare perspective and from the point of view of making a claim for compensation.
To help you out if you find yourself in this scenario, here are some common post-accident complications that might arise and what you can do to tackle them effectively.
Concussion
Head injuries are often the result of an auto accident, and the symptoms can include everything from mild nausea and a migraine to dizziness, tiredness and uncharacteristic behavior.
Most importantly, these symptoms are not always obvious in the immediate aftermath of the event, and might crop up days or even weeks into the future.
If you live in the Tampa area, then getting the support of experts in compensation like those at Boohoff personal injury attorneys is a good move, even if you feel fine immediately after an accident. You should also aim to document every symptom of concussion as it starts to develop, so that you have a record of what you have suffered which can be used as part of any compensation claim process.
Concussions are mercifully a temporary problem, but you should always seek professional medical attention if you are involved in an accident that results in an injury to your head. Also be aware that some post-concussion symptoms can persist, so you might have to live with this in the long term.
Whiplash
When you think of auto accidents, you probably think of whiplash as the most widely experienced side effect.
As the name suggests, whiplash occurs when your head is moved backwards and forwards unnaturally quickly as a result of the force of an impact.
The problem with whiplash is that its effects are not always present for some time, and the severity of the symptoms is difficult to predict.
You might just feel a minor amount of pain in your neck and around your shoulders, or you could be rendered almost immobile by the amount of stiffness that eventually sets in.
Once again, jotting down the things you are experiencing physically after an accident is wise. Without notes on what you are going through, it will be harder to back up any subsequent claims you make about the extent of your injuries.
In terms of the delay between being involved in an accident and feeling the effects of whiplash, this will typically occur within the first day. However, it is not unusual for pain and stiffness to arise up to a week later, and it can linger for months.
Moderate whiplash may be treated simply with pain medication to alleviate the worst effects until they have faded, but with more extreme cases you may need physical therapy to restore normality to your neck and shoulders.
Back pain
Plenty of people suffer back pain woes even without being in accidents, and yet this is definitely another late appearing injury that it pays to keep in mind.
Back pain is a fairly generic term, and if you suffer from it then a number of different problems may be at the root of it. From nerve damage to muscle rips and tears, this is a potentially complex condition which again needs the attention of specialists.
Anyone who has been in an accident deserves to be compensated if they were not at fault, and with late-appearing injuries like these you can still make a claim; you just need to be thorough with your note-taking.