When you are injured in a car accident, you may experience pain right away. There are some situations in which your injuries may be obvious. If you have broken bones, or you are unconscious, you will be taken to the hospital.
If you do not have broken bones and you feel okay, you may be tempted to simply not go to the doctor. Even if you feel fine, you should still seek medical attention. There are some injuries that manifest themselves over time. There are a few types of injuries that are especially traumatic if they go untreated.
Whiplash
Whiplash occurs when your head jerks back and forth. It is considered to be a soft tissue injury because it damages the skin around your neck. This can cause pain around the shoulders and stiffness in the neck.
Even if you do not feel any pain right away you will want to see a doctor, because whiplash can lead to chronic pain. Joints and ligaments in the neck may become damaged and you may have to manage the pain for a very long time. An untreated soft tissue injury can cause back pain as well.
Back Injuries
Car accidents often result in back injuries. One of the most common kinds of car accidents a person can have is a rear-end collision. When you are hit from behind, it can be very damaging to the back, especially if you are in the rear passenger seat.
There are several different types of back injuries a person can experience as a result of a car accident. If your seatbelt does not hold you properly, you may suffer a spinal fracture. A spinal fracture occurs when the lower half of the body is still and the upper half of the body and the head is jolted.
If a spinal fracture is compressed, it can result in a crack or fissure along the vertebrae. Your movement may be limited due to such an injury. If you do not seek treatment right away it will only exacerbate the problem.
Somtimes stress fractures cause the vertebrae in your back to become dislocated. This causes the nerves on the spinal cord to become compressed. When this happens it is called spondylolisthesis. It can cause weakness and pain in the back. You may eventually need surgery, especially if you wait too long for treatment.
Brain Injuries
You do not always know when you have experienced a brain injury especially not if it is a mild one such as a concussion. Symptoms of a concussion may not emerge for several weeks after an accident. Once you do experience the effects they may last weeks. Symptoms include ringing in the ears, vomiting, and headaches.
If you do not treat a concussion, you may have more serious symptoms including memory loss, irritability, weakness in the limbs, or vision problems.
Getting Insurance Compensation
Some people don’t go to the doctor immediately after an accident because they do not want to have to deal with multiple medical treatments and a lot of bills. However, your injuries will only get worse and more expensive if you wait for treatment.
You should never put off treatment because of money. Your insurance should pay for it, and if they try to deny your claim, you can always call personal injury attorney Harrison for advice. The legal professionals at this firm are well versed in insurance law and will fight hard to get you the money you deserve.