Being involved in a major motor vehicle accident can be a scary and harrowing experience. Even if you walk away from the crash feeling relatively unscathed, your plans for the rest of your day may require substantial adjustments, and repairing the damage to your vehicle could prove financially demanding.
Although avoiding a trip to the hospital for medical care may appear a positive outcome, it might be advisable to give it some time before admitting your safety remains intact. Some injuries that stem from car accidents can carry symptoms that might not develop for hours, or even days, after the crash occurs.
Injuries with delayed symptoms
Following an accident, seeking medical attention is advisable, as even injuries that take time to manifest can be severe. Some accident injuries that might not always exhibit immediate symptoms may include the following:
- Head injuries: Symptoms of a head injury might not always appear immediately, and if you begin to experience headaches or dizziness after the crash, you could be suffering from a concussion or traumatic brain injury.
- Whiplash injuries: Injuries to the neck and shoulders can take time to develop, and whiplash injuries could create a variety of health concerns, such as long-term or permanent nerve damage.
- Back injuries: Back pain can manifest hours or days after a crash, and similar injuries could indicate long-term issues, such as a herniated disc or spinal cord damage.
- Numbness in extremities: After your accident, you could also begin to experience symptoms of numbness or tingling in your extremities, which could also be indicating signs of nerve damage.
- Abdominal pain: Abdominal pain is another type of injury that might take time to develop, and injuries to the stomach could indicate deeper medical concerns, such as internal bleeding.
If another driver’s negligent behavior causes a collision to occur as you travel Pennsylvania roads, the incident could leave you with serious injuries and wondering about the next steps to take to seek accountability.
What comes next
Suffering severe injuries in a serious collision can be a devastating experience. With the extensive financial ramifications that can accompany a trip to the hospital and a lengthy period of recovery, your accident could leave you in search of restitution. If the other driver is at fault, you could choose to consult with someone with experience in such matters for advice on your available legal avenues. Seeking advice early on could prove essential to preparing to pursue the full amount of compensation you deserve through a personal injury claim.