3 Types of Late-Appearing Injuries After a Car Accident

Accidents happen all the time throughout the state of Pennsylvania. In fact, statistics from 2016 show that nearly 15 accidents occurred every hour in the state. Out of those crashes, approximately nine injuries would take place every hour as well.

People need to protect themselves after a crash, which means seeing a doctor after experiencing a vehicle collision. Many forego this because they feel fine. Unfortunately, not all injuries manifest immediately. Going to a doctor appointment now will help greatly with three specific types of late-appearing injuries if the accident ends up requiring legal assistance.

1. Head, shoulder or neck pain

Whiplash commonly occurs during an accident. Some people will feel this pain right away. For others, the pain will come later. The latter most often occurs when the damage affects soft tissue. A doctor will determine if damage occurred to the soft tissue. Something may have gone wrong, even though you feel good and healthy.

2. Concussion

People may not feel the full effects of a concussion right away. It may present itself later in a number of symptoms, including:

  • Confusion
  • Loss of balance
  • Tinnitus
  • Mood changes, such as irritability, anxiety, or depression
  • Amnesia
  • Constant vomiting
  • Double or blurred vision
  • Altered sleep cycles

3. Emotional Damage

Occasionally, the harm caused by a car accident is not physical. Instead, it can be emotional, and some victims experience post-traumatic stress disorder following a collision. This may not present itself until months later. Some of the symptoms of PTSD include depression and anxiety, and if a perfectly healthy person suddenly develops these attributes, then it could be related to the car accident.

If a person does not see a doctor after an accident, then it will be much more difficult to prove any late-appearing injuries occurred as a result of the collision. The other party could argue in court those symptoms arose from something else. It helps a case greatly if victims simply see a doctor right away.