What Injuries Should You Look for After a Car Accident?

Nearly 4,000 Mississippi residents sustain serious car accident injuries each year, and the numbers have been steadily rising over that past five years. In this article, we will look at the answers to the question: What injuries should you look for after a car accident?

If you find that you have more questions after reading, please get in touch with the office of Corban Gunn, Attorney at Law. Your questions will be answered by an experienced car accident lawyer who practices in Gulfport, MS and the surrounding areas.

Common Injuries After a Car Accident

Your car has just collided with another vehicle. Your heart is racing, but you look around and find that no one seems to be seriously injured. You do a quick sweep of your own body to see if you’ve been hurt. What injuries should you look for immediately after a crash?

If you were involved in a minor car crash, the injuries you sustained will likely be relatively minimal. But these cuts and bruises can still cause pain and complications and require urgent treatment. The most common minor injuries in a car crash include:

• Cuts and scrapes
• Bruises
• Lacerations (deeper cuts) from sharp objects
• Broken bones or fractures
• Loose teeth
• Broken nose (especially when airbags deploy) or other facial injuries
• Road rash (abrasions, or scrapes, on the skin’s surface)
• Burns

Vehicle speed can impact the severity of injuries sustained in a car accident. These above-listed minor injuries may be sustained in one-car or two-car collisions at lower speeds, in parking lot accidents, or in sliding collisions in poor weather conditions. But there are more severe complications that can arise from high-speed crashes, multi-vehicle accidents, and accidents caused by drunk drivers or reckless behind-the-wheel behavior.

Delayed Symptoms and Serious Injuries

Even if you were cleared by an emergency medical technician at the scene of the accident, it’s always wise to schedule an appointment with your personal physician. Your doctor can give you a more thorough examination to make sure there are no hidden injuries. An experienced healthcare professional can also tell you what to expect physically after a car accident, and whether your soreness is normal or not after a car accident. Some car crash victims experience chronic pain after an accident, and a doctor and possibly a specialist will need to help you create a care plan to manage your injuries.

How long symptoms take to appear after a car accident will depend on what kind of injury you sustained. Some symptoms will present immediately after the crash, but others may take longer to develop. The added complication of shock and adrenaline affecting your body in the immediate aftermath of a crash can also mask symptoms.

The conditions listed below are common car accident injuries. Make sure you receive a full physical check-up by a doctor as soon as possible following a vehicle crash. Your physician will be able to eliminate the possibility you suffered the injury or begin treatment immediately to address it.

• Head, neck, and back injuries
• Concussions
• Traumatic brain injury (TBI) or mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI)
• Sprains, strains, tears, or other soft tissue damage
• Whiplash
• Severe bruising and contusions
• Car accident-related PTSD and other psychological trauma
• Broken ribs and other chest injuries
• Internal organ damage
• Neurological damage
• Arm and leg injuries
• Injuries to the spinal cord, including paralysis
• Herniated discs
• Knee injuries

In the days and weeks following an accident, be aware that symptoms can change, new complications can arise, and conditions can worsen. Reach out to your treating physician if you notice that there are any new developments in your health condition.

Signs You Should Seek Treatment After a Car Accident

There are some delayed car accident injuries that can cause serious damage and even death when left untreated. Internal organ damage, nerve damage, head trauma, and emotional anguish are critical conditions that need to be addressed immediately. The following list of conditions and associated symptoms can help you know when to seek emergency treatment after a car accident. You may need to be seen by a specialist like a neurologist or mental health professional depending on the type of injury you sustained.

Internal Organ Damage

Internal organ damage is an especially critical condition. Urgent action must be taken to prevent death. Please call 911 immediately if you or a loved one experience any of the following symptoms after a car accident.

• Abdominal pain
• Chest pain
• Vision problems
• Dizziness, nausea, and vomiting
• Low blood pressure
• Shortness of breath
• Blood in vomit, urine, or stool
• Extreme weakness or loss of consciousness

Nerve Damage

Neurological damage following a motor vehicle crash is not uncommon. Nerve injuries need special treatment in order to heal properly. Surgery may be required in some cases. The following signs can indicate nerve damage:

• Tingling, numbness, burning, or electric shock sensations in the body
• Loss of feeling in arms, legs, hands, or feet
• Loss of motor function
• Inability to control bowels or bladder
• Foot drop (dragging foot due to weakness)
• Limping
• Falling and loss of balance
• Rapid heartbeat or excessive sweating

Head or Brain Trauma

Physical damage to the neck, spine, skull, and brain can cause long-term, debilitating injuries in car accident victims. It’s important to watch for any of the following symptoms if you suffered whiplash, a concussion, or any blunt-force trauma to your head or neck in a car accident.

• Migraines or chronic headaches
• Vertigo, dizziness, weakness, or loss of consciousness
• Inability to focus and confusion
• Forgetfulness and memory loss
• Mood and behavioral changes
• Slurred speech
• Constant feeling of drowsiness
• Nausea and vomiting
• Seizures

Emotional Trauma

The psychological injuries car accident victims can suffer are just as serious as the physical ones. After experiencing trauma, car accident victims sometimes experience:

• Ongoing feelings of guilt
• Fear of driving or riding in cars
• Flashbacks of the accident
• Nightmares or insomnia
• Unshakable worry and anxiety
• Panic attacks
• Loss of appetite
• Feelings of constant exhaustion
• Withdrawal from social activities
• Nervousness when leaving the house

Post-traumatic stress disorder is a common car accident injury that affects thousands of people a year. There are counselors and therapists who specialize in treating individuals who are suffering emotional injuries after a traumatic experience like a car accident. Reach out to a mental health care professional if you are experiencing these or other psychological symptoms after a car crash.

When to Contact a Gulfport Car Accident Lawyer After an Accident

At the law office of attorney Corban Gunn, we handle many types of vehicle accidents that result in a wide range of injuries and damages to victims. We know that the financial, emotional, and physical toll a car accident takes on a person’s life is extremely difficult to bear. That’s why we devote our time, effort, and legal experience to making sure victims of another party’s carelessness or wrongdoing are never left to bear that burden alone. There should always be accountability for people whose actions hurt others.

A car accident attorney works to both protect injured victims and prevent future occurrences of the wrongful action that led to injury. Contact an experienced Gulfport personal injury lawyer if you were injured in a car accident caused by another driver’s negligence. At our law firm, our policy is to first schedule a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss your case and see how we may be able to help you.