What to expect physically after a car accident depends on the severity of your crash and the type of injuries you sustained. Crash victims can suffer harm ranging from minor cuts and bruises to serious and fatal injuries.
Factors such as the speed of your accident, your position in the car, and your age and physical condition can affect your injury symptoms. It is important to keep in mind that every accident and every person is unique.
Common Car Accident Injury Symptoms
According to the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute, more than 46,000 people suffered non-fatal crash injuries in Indiana in 2019. If you were injured in an accident, you may have received medical treatment at the scene or immediately after your collision.
However, some accident injuries are not apparent right away and can take days or weeks to develop symptoms. After an accident, you may experience the following physical signs and symptoms:
Headaches, Vomiting, and Nausea
Headaches and nausea are common signs of a concussion or head injury. According to the Mayo Clinic, car accident victims who suffer a blow to the head or violent shaking of the head and shoulders may have other symptoms, as well, including:
- Fatigue
- Blurry vision or ringing in the ears
- Confusion
- Dizziness
- Sensitivity to light and sound
- Problems with concentration and memory
- Sleep disturbances
Neck or Shoulder Pain
Car accidents can cause damage to the muscles, nerves, joints, tendons, bones, and ligaments in your neck. Whiplash is a common neck injury often associated with vehicle accidents.
Whiplash occurs when the head and neck are suddenly and forcefully jerked back and forth. Whiplash causes neck and shoulder pain and stiffness that can limit mobility while the injury heals. A full recovery can take weeks or months for some individuals, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine.
Back Pain
Car accidents can cause a range of back injuries, including sprains and strains, herniated discs, and fractured vertebrae. Healing from a back injury may require medications and rest or even physical therapy and surgery.
Numbness or Tingling
Numbness and tingling in the hands, feet, limbs, neck, back, or shoulders can indicate a spinal injury or nerve damage. You may also experience muscle weakness or a “pins and needles” feeling. If you develop these symptoms, seek medical treatment as soon as possible.
Abdominal or Chest Pain
Abdominal and chest pain can result from bruising caused by seat belts or your body hitting a part of the vehicle. Severe chest or stomach pain could indicate a more serious problem, such as a broken rib, internal bleeding, or organ damage.
Bruising, Swelling, or Soreness
After a car accident, you can expect soft tissue injuries, including sprains, strains, swelling, and bruising. You may also have minor to severe cuts and scrapes. You should have these injuries checked to ensure you do not have more significant physical damage, like a stress fracture, bursitis, or a torn ligament.
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See a Doctor as Soon as Symptoms Develop
If you notice any of the symptoms discussed above, or any other signs of injury after a car accident, see a doctor as soon as possible. Your physician can diagnose your injuries, prevent your condition from worsening, and start you on a treatment plan.
If your car accident was not your fault, you may be able to pursue damages from the at-fault party. Seeking medical care creates a record of your injuries for future insurance claims or legal action. It also helps you understand the scope of your injuries, recovery period, and necessary treatment before you agree to a settlement.
You Can Seek Compensation for Your Medical Treatment and More
An attorney with our firm can help you recover the cost of your medical bills and other accident-related losses with an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit. We will help you pursue compensation for your past and future medical treatment, including:
- Doctor bills
- Hospitalizations
- Physical therapy
- Medications
- Surgeries
- Mobility aids
- Follow-up care
- Medical travel expenses
You may qualify for other damages, as well. For example, if your injuries prevent you from working, we can seek your lost wages, earnings, and benefits. We can also help you secure awards to repair or replace your damaged vehicle.
Finally, accident injuries can take a toll on your physical, emotional, and mental health. We can help you seek awards for your pain and suffering, which may include compensation for chronic pain, loss of mobility, depression, stress, and loss of enjoyment of life.
Proving Your Case
To secure a settlement or verdict in your favor, you must prove a driver or other negligent party caused your accident. Negligent driving includes speeding, drunk driving, texting and driving, and disobeying traffic laws. We can help you file your claims or lawsuit and prove liability. We will:
- Obtain and review your medical bills and records
- Consult with medical experts to show your injuries resulted from your crash
- Enlist help from crash reconstruction experts
- Locate and interview eyewitnesses
- Obtain official accident reports
- Gather any available photographic evidence or video footage
Indiana’s Statute of Limitations
We will make every effort to settle your case outside of court as quickly and efficiently as possible. However, if necessary, we can represent you in a lawsuit against the at-fault party or their insurance company. Once you know you suffered injuries, do not wait too long to get started. According to IC § 34-11-2-4, you have two years to file a personal injury case.
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Call Sevenish Law Firm, P.C. for Help with Your Car Accident Case
At Sevenish Law Firm, P.C., we focus exclusively on seeking justice and recovering compensation for clients injured by negligence and wrongdoing. Serving personal injury victims is all we do, and we have a successful case record that includes six- and seven-figure car accident case settlements and verdicts.
To learn more about how our attorneys can take your case at no up-front cost to you, call our offices at (317) 720-3229. A member of our team can answer your questions and get you started with a free case review.
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