The few minutes after an auto accident can leave you shocked, dazed, and even confused. After the initial adrenaline rush, there’s a possibility of feeling anxious and unsure what to expect physically after a car accident. While some injuries are immediately visible, others are not.
The brutal force experienced in high-impact collisions can be too much for the human body to absorb. In a car accident, irrespective of your car’s safety features and how minor the accident is, you’re bound to experience one form of injury or the other.
Frequently, car accidents lead to different injuries and pains that have varying recovery times. Some take weeks, months, or even years to make a full recovery. Also, different people react to accidents in different ways. While some walk away from car accidents nearly unscathed with just minor pains and injuries, others suffer more debilitating injuries.
Therefore, you must know what to expect physically after an accident and the best steps to take. Also, if your accident was a result of negligence from another road user, you can seek the services of a car accident attorney.
WHAT TO EXPECT AFTER A CAR ACCIDENT
A car accident can be jarring and traumatic at the same time. Often, the moment of impact feels like everything is happening in slow motion. But in reality, there’s a violent crash that happens almost instantly.
The damaging implications and collision can result in the following:
- You can get violently thrown forward and backward.
- You can get thrown suddenly and violently against the dashboard.
- The impact can jerk you sideways against your windshield.
- You can get hit by objects or debris inside the vehicle or from the force of the collision.
If any of these happens, there’s bound to be some injury and pain. Immediately after an accident, you have to examine yourself for injuries. Some injuries get easily noticed, like fractures or broken bones. However, others do not get seen except you get examined by a medical professional.
Here are things to expect physically after an accident:
- BROKEN BONES
If you have a broken bone after an accident, you’d most likely notice right away. Typically, fractures and broken bones cause extreme pains that do not go unnoticed. Most times, broken bones are accompanied by swelling and bruising that is visible. Open fractures come with bleeding, and bones stick out of the skin as well. If you suspect that you might have a fracture, seek medical help immediately.
- SPINAL CORD INJURIES
Spinal cord injuries often result from severe accidents with multiple impacts. They can also occur from minor accidents but not so much. However, spinal cord injuries are a result of traumatic impact to the neck or back. They can lead to paralysis.
There are about 17,500 new cases of spinal cord injuries annually. About 38% of those injuries are from auto accidents, according to the Shepherd Center. If you ever get into a rear-end accident, there’s a possibility that you’ll get hit on your back or neck. It’s essential to get examined medically.
- TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURIES
A traumatic brain injury can come from hitting your head against something during an auto accident. It is caused by an outside trauma or getting hit on the head. If you suspect that you’ve hit your head after an auto accident, go to the emergency room immediately.
- SOFT TISSUE INJURIES
The human body cannot withstand or absorb forceful impact without injuries. Sometimes those injuries are to the soft tissues. Ligaments, tendons, and muscles support the bones. The force from a collision can cause strain and tears to the ligaments and tendons, resulting in a soft tissue injury. The most typical indication of a soft tissue injury is pain. The pain can be isolated or radiate down the arms or legs. If it’s the latter, it could be an indication of disc damage or whiplash.
DO I NEED A CAR ACCIDENT LAWYER EVEN IF I WAS UNINJURED?
The simple answer is yes. There are so many legal bottlenecks to walk through after an auto accident, even when you think there was no injury. Sometimes, specific injuries are discovered weeks or months after an accident.
A car accident lawyer is the best person to advise you on how to get the proper compensation. You also need to get compensated for other damages that are not bodily injuries. Talk to an experienced car accident lawyer if you or your loved one was in a car accident.
CONTACT MIKE BELL INJURY LAW FIRM TODAY!
Mike Bell injury Law Firm has recovered millions of dollars for auto accident victims, and we can do the same for you. Schedule a free consultation with our auto accident attorneys today.
