7 Common Symptoms You May Experience after a Car Accident in Texas
Just because you feel fine after a car accident doesn’t mean that you’re in the clear. It’s possible to experience delayed symptoms for certain catastrophic car accident injuries.
In some cases, car accident injuries begin to show days or weeks later. Let’s go through common symptoms to look out for after getting into a car accident.
Headaches
When you’re injured in a car accident, head injuries are the most common. In fact, the impact of the collision may cause brain injury. This type of pain is one of the first indicators that you have suffered whiplash or a concussion.
Neck Pain
The momentum caused by a car accident can cause sudden movements in your neck. It’s common for the head to move from side to side upon impact. This can create significant strain on the muscles and tissues in your neck and back.
It may take a while for you to notice tenderness and pain in these areas. Over time, your neck may stiffen or become more difficult to move. These delayed symptoms could be indicators of:
- Whiplash
- Soft tissue injury
- Spinal cord damage
- Back injury
Abdominal Pain
Abdominal pain or swelling in this area is a red flag if you’ve recently been in a car accident in Texas. This is an indicator of internal bleeding that requires immediate medical attention.
Don’t hesitate to consult a doctor or go to the emergency room if you’re experiencing these symptoms in addition to abdominal pain:
- Bruising
- Dizziness
- Fainting
- Headaches
Remember: internal bleeding and other injuries can be life threatening if left untreated.
Back Pain
Back pain, especially the lower back, is a common car accident injury. In fact, if not addressed as soon as it’s detected, this pain can progress and worsen rapidly.
Some types of car accident back injuries include:
- Spinal cord damage
- Slipped or herniated disc
- Compression fractures
- Spinal cord injuries
Numbness and Tingling
Numbness or tingling in the arms, hands or fingers is another common symptom after a car accident in Texas. These injuries involve the spinal cord and can be a precursor to loss of sensation or even paralysis.
Behavioral or Emotional Changes
Those involved in a car crash may also experience symptoms that aren’t physical. Sometimes injuries can cause changes in behavior or emotional well-being, as a result of a brain injury. When your brain is damaged in an accident, it can alter the way you act, feel or perceive things.
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can develop after getting in a car accident or seeing a loved one seriously injured in a crash.
If you suffer from flashbacks, panic attacks, anxiety or depression while trying to get over the incident, you should take these symptoms seriously and seek help from a mental health professional. Many crash victims eventually overcome PTSD through a combination of therapy, group counseling and sometimes medication.
Why You May Experience Delayed Symptoms after a Car Accident
As mentioned, whiplash, back pain and headaches are the most common symptoms of car accident injuries.
Often these injuries aren’t obvious immediately after the crash. It’s normal for you to experience delayed symptoms, as the adrenaline of the moment may prevent you from perceiving your injuries.
When you’re in a car accident, your body releases a sudden surge of adrenaline, causing several things to happen at once in your body, including:
- Having more energy
- Not perceiving pain
- Dilation of blood vessels
- Airways increasing the flow of oxygen
Is It Possible to Get Compensation If You’re Not Immediately Aware of Your Injuries?
Some car crash injuries may be asymptomatic, and delaying care can negatively affect your ability to get compensation. However, it’s possible with the help of an experienced car accident attorney.
In Texas, under the state’s comparative negligence rules, you can claim damages as long as you share no more than 50% of the fault. Bills may accrue as long as you’re physically unable to work. If you didn’t cause the accident, you shouldn’t have to pay these damages out of pocket.
Overall, there are three ways to get compensation for your car accident injuries in Texas.
- File a claim with your own insurance company.
- File a complaint with the at-fault driver’s insurance company – called a “third party” claim.
- File an injury claim against the at-fault driver.
Get an Experienced Car Accident Attorney
After a car accident, we recommend calling an experienced car accident attorney in order to negotiate with the other party’s insurance company.
At the same time, a professional car accident attorney will advise you on what to do in your specific situation, so you can maximize potential compensation. If you’ve been injured in a car accident, you shouldn’t have to pay for your medical bills and car repairs.
At the George Salinas Injury Lawyers, we’ll help you build your car accident claim to negotiate the best settlement for compensation. Legal expenses can be costly, so you won’t pay us unless we win your case.
Get in touch with us and request a consultation for free!
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