Some drivers feel like they aren’t injured after a vehicle accident. However, responses to trauma vary, and injury symptoms can lie dormant because of the adrenaline. There are several delayed symptoms and injuries that drivers in Maryland should know.
Headaches and dizziness
Headaches and dizziness after car accidents could indicate whiplash, which occurs from the neck jerking back and forth. A more serious cause of headaches and dizziness after a crash is a traumatic brain injury from hitting a hard surface.
A concussion is commonly a mild TBI, which may or may not cause the driver to lose consciousness. A more serious TBI can cause loss of awareness for several hours and require ongoing medical treatment.
Stomach pain
Stomach pain after a vehicle accident is often called “seat belt syndrome” and a common sign of infernal injury. The extreme impact of the accident causes the seat belt to put pressure on the internal organs, which could tear soft tissues.
Indicators of internal bleeding include bruises on the abdomen, low blood pressure, dizziness and shortness of breath. Internal bleeding may also cause changes in bowel habits, coughing up blood, and damage to the spleen and liver.
Shoulder and back pain
Back, shoulder and neck pain after an auto accident could indicate whiplash, a herniated disc or a spinal cord injury. Shoulder pain can also indicate a damaged rotator cuff, a fractured humerus or clavicle, or shoulder strains.
A herniated disc occurs when the soft structure between vertebrae gets damaged, often protruding into the spine. It may cause tingling, numbness, muscle weakness, neck stiffness, lower back pain, and leg or arm pain.
Drivers should seek immediate medical attention regardless of how they feel. If they then decide to file a claim for compensation, medical treatment is needed for proof of injury.