Late-Appearing Wisconsin Car Accident Injuries You Should Never Shrug Off
It’s not unusual for those who have been in a car accident to decline medical attention at the scene or even shortly afterward. While this may seem like stubborn pride, there’s actually a scientific explanation for this behavior. When we are involved in a shocking situation like that, adrenaline kicks into overdrive. While this helps us respond to the emergency situation and its’ aftermath, it can also mask the signs and symptoms of Wisconsin car accident injuries, making us feel okay, even when we are injured.
The effects of adrenaline can last for quite a long time, not wearing off until hours or days have passed. That’s one reason why we hear so much about delayed diagnoses of car accident injuries or stories about people who don’t discover an injury until well after the accident has occurred. In this post, we’ll take a look at five of the most common delayed Wisconsin car accident injuries.
Common Delayed Car Accident Injuries
- Whiplash is one of the most common of car accident injuries and it’s one that is not often discovered until after the fact. Whiplash happens when the head is suddenly jerked back and forth. This results in injuries to the soft tissues of the neck, shoulders, and spine, which can be difficult to diagnose right away. In fact, it’s often not until a person notices worsening pain, loss of mobility, and stiffness that they are diagnosed with whiplash. Treatment may require physical therapy and/or prescription medication.
- Another extremely common car accident injury is concussion. Like whiplash, concussion occurs due to the extreme forces involved in a car accident. Unlike whiplash, concussions happen in the brain, when the brain is bounced around in the skull. Brain injuries are notorious for not displaying symptoms right away, making concussions difficult to identify in the immediate aftermath of an accident. Once symptoms appear they may include headaches, nausea, blurred vision, trouble concentrating, or fatigue.
- Back Pain. Back pain is often brushed off as simply bruising or a strain after a car accident, but it can be indicative of a more serious injury. Late appearing back pain in particular may indicate injury to the vertebrae, muscles, and/or nerves. Pain, stiffness, and poor range of motion are indications that there is an underlying injury and, as with many Wisconsin car accident injuries, ignoring it will only make the problem worse.
- Abdominal Pain. This is a serious, but overlooked, car accident injury because it is practically invisible immediately after a car accident. However, later-appearing abdominal pain and swelling can indicate internal bleeding, which can be life-threatening. Deep bruises, skin that appears purple in color, dizziness, lightheadedness, and fainting, and headaches are all symptoms of an undiagnosed abdominal injury.
- Numbness, tingling, and weakness in the limbs can indicate a pinched nerve or herniated disk. Herniated disks and nerve injuries are particularly confusing because they can cause symptoms far from the point of actual injury. Herniated disks so not improve on their own, but continue to get worse leading to more pain and discomfort in the back and along the nerve pathways of the body.
Get Help For Wisconsin Car Accident Injuries At Eisenberg Law
It is always a good idea to see a doctor if you have been in a car accident. Even if you feel fine, a medical exam can uncover these delayed injuries while also providing documentation of your medical history and treatment. This documentation can be important if you are involved in a lawsuit related to the accident or need to provide proof of the injury for an insurance settlement.
If you have been involved in a Wisconsin car accident, it can be helpful to speak with a car accident attorney at Eisenberg Law Offices. Our Madison law firm can help you negotiate an insurance settlement or bring forth a lawsuit against the other driver to help pay for your injuries. Contact Eisenberg Law Offices at 608-200-3698 or email Info@eisenberglaw.org to arrange a free consultation.