In the immediate aftermath of a car accident, your body is flooded with adrenaline. This rush of hormones helps mask pain and injuries in order to get you through the initial shock and stress of the collision.
However, once the adrenaline wears off over the next 24-48 hours, pain and symptoms from more serious injuries can begin to appear. That's why it's crucial to seek prompt medical treatment following any auto accident, even if you feel fine initially. Even your New Hampshire car accident lawyer would recommend you do it.
Whiplash
One of the most common delayed onset injuries is whiplash. Whiplash refers to neck pain and injuries caused by the sudden back and forth motion that occurs during accidents, especially rear-end collisions. In the first day or two after the crash, you may just feel general muscle soreness and stiffness in your neck.
But over the next few days, significant pain, reduced range of motion, headaches, and other debilitating symptoms can develop. Without proper treatment, whiplash can cause long-term complications.
Concussions
Many concussion symptoms like confusion, memory loss, and nausea may not show up for hours or even days after a car accident. The jarring impacts can cause your brain to literally bounce around inside your skull, stretching and damaging brain cells. But the inflammation and effects of these brain injuries builds slowly.
Seeking prompt evaluation for possible concussion is vital since repeated head injuries before full recovery can lead to lasting cognitive and neurological consequences.
Internal Injuries
Not all car accident injuries are easily visible on the surface. Serious internal damage to organs and soft tissues can be obscured initially thanks to adrenaline and the lack of bruising or lacerations.
For example, spleen rupture, liver laceration, bowel perforation, and pancreatic injuries may not cause noticeable pain or symptoms for 24 hours or more after an accident. However, internal bleeding, infection, and other life-threatening complications can arise if these hidden traumas go untreated.
Herniated Discs
It’s not uncommon for intervertebral discs in the spine to get injured during auto collisions as the body gets jolted violently. You may walk away from the crash site with minimal back discomfort. But over the next few days, inflammation can build up around damaged discs, putting pressure on surrounding nerves and eventually causing sharp pain, numbness in the arms/legs, and mobility issues. Early physical therapy and treatment can often help prevent acute disc herniations from becoming chronic problems.
Psychological Distress
While not technically a physical injury, emotional and psychological issues that arise after traumatic accidents still require medical care. The stress of a crash can initially stimulate an adrenaline response that provides temporary courage and clarity of thought.
However, as the dust settles, feelings of anxiety, depression, panic, PTSD, and sleep disturbances can creep in. Don't dismiss these psychological impacts of car accidents as they can impede overall recovery. Counseling and other interventions tailored to accident victims can help address delayed emotional trauma.
Why Prompt Treatment Matters
No matter what injuries eventually surface, early examination and treatment always improves prognosis following automobile collisions. Here’s why:
- Helps Diagnose Internal Damage: X-rays, CT scans, MRI’s, and other imaging tests can uncover less visible trauma that leads to life-threatening complications if left untreated.
- Identify All Injuries: A thorough initial medical workup spots concurrent issues that may have been masked initially by adrenaline or overshadowed by more obvious injuries.
- Earlier Rehab & Recovery: Beginning physical therapy and rest protocols sooner optimizes healing, reduces recovery time, and lowers risks for permanent impairments.
- Limit Chronic Pain/Problems: Quick interventions can help relieve inflammation and mechanical dysfunction before acute damage transitions into chronic, debilitating pain.
- Improve Outcomes From Legal Action: Documentation of accident-related injuries from early on aids in linking complications to the crash, which is crucial for successful personal injury claims.
While waiting a day or two to address discomfort from small fender benders may not seem like a big deal, significant injuries that arise later ultimately trace back to the traumatic forces sustained in the collision. That’s why it’s wise consult a doctor promptly even minimal damage occurred. Don’t gamble on your long-term health and instead take advantage of life-saving advances in diagnostic tools and evidence-based treatments.
