Car crash victims do not always experience or realize the symptoms of their injuries immediately following an accident. Sometimes it takes hours, days, or weeks for the signs to appear. These symptoms can be hidden by the adrenaline rush that happens at the scene of a crash, but after it wears off, the full extent of your injuries can be more apparent. Don’t just assume you are fine after being involved in a crash.
These delayed symptoms can create issues when pursuing full compensation for crash-related injuries. Delayed injuries are pretty common after a crash, and you shouldn’t let them stop you from getting the full compensation you deserve. Our Salt Lake City auto accident attorneys are here to diligently fight to help you recover from your damages, including medical costs, lost income, and pain and suffering. You shouldn’t be left to pay for the damages of an accident that is the responsibility of another driver. Protect your legal rights by partnering with Siegfried & Jensen after a Utah area car accident.
Our team of legal professionals has gathered information about some more typical delayed injuries involved in vehicle accidents. We want to help you stay informed and protect your rights after sustaining injuries in an accident due to the negligent actions of another person.
Whiplash
Whiplash is a commonly experienced neck injury typical in car crashes, particularly rear-end collisions. Whiplash happens when the victim is thrown forward abruptly while the head and neck are brought to a sudden stop. This action is not natural and results in significant injuries for the victim.
Whiplash can seriously affect a victim’s nerves, joints, and muscles. The usual symptoms victims experience include:
- Sharp pain in the neck, upper back, shoulders or head
- Dizziness
- Headaches
- Disturbed sleep
- Blurred vision
- Tinnitus (ringing of the ears)
Many times, the symptoms of whiplash are delayed. They usually don’t appear until 12 hours to five days after the crash. This leaves victims unaware of their injuries at the scene of the accident.
Minor cases of whiplash only take about a month to heal. However, more severe cases take much longer to heal fully and can possibly cause permanent damage. Physical therapy can help treat the condition by exercising and stretching the neck and affected areas.
Soft Tissue Injuries
Soft tissue injuries can include damage to any muscle, tendons, or ligaments in the body. Whiplash is a type of soft tissue injury, along with bruises, strains, and sprains.
Soft tissue injuries can take one day to a week to appear after a crash. Some common symptoms of soft tissue injuries are:
- Inflammation
- Discoloration
- Stiffness
- Difficulty bearing weight
After an accident, if you feel there are experiencing symptoms of unknown injuries resulting from an accident, partner with a qualified Salt Lake City area car crash attorney. They can help you gather evidence to strengthen your claim and prevent delayed injuries from affecting your case.
Concussion
A concussion is a kind of traumatic brain injury. It can cause victims to display various medical, behavioral, or psychological conditions. Concussions occur when the victim is injured by a blow to the head. This causes the brain to bounce within the skull.
However, concussions can happen even when the victim did not suffer a direct hit to the head in a car crash. A possible case is when the motion of the car abruptly causes the victim’s head and neck to jerk, forcing his or her brain to crash against the skull. This can damage the brain without the head being struck directly during the impact.
The symptoms of concussions range. They include:
- Disorientation
- Loss of equilibrium
- Headaches
- Irritation
- Mood swings
- Changes in sleeping or eating patterns
- Decreased responsiveness
- Sensitivity to light and sound
Thankfully, victims of concussions are able to fully recover in just a few days. There is a possibility for long-term complications. Because of this reality, it is crucial that you seek medical help directly following a car crash to find out if you have sustained a concussion. You do not want a major health concern to go unnoticed after an accident.
Psychological Trauma
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychological condition that can develop after a person has been involved in a traumatic event, like a car crash. PTSD can cause accident victims to have significant side effects that can even cause long-lasting changes in their life.
PTSD symptoms are not seen physically, making the condition difficult to diagnose and treat. Symptoms are often mental and psychological. They include:
- Flashbacks of the collision
- Mood swings
- Change in eating and sleeping patterns
- Anxiety
- Feelings of hopelessness
- Negativity
- Reckless behavior
Sadly, a majority of victims involved in car crashes dismiss symptoms of PTSD. They often do not acknowledge the severity of the condition and its impact on their mental health. It is important that crash victims pursue help from medical professionals if they notice any notable emotional or behavioral changes. These could be signs that you are suffering from an unknown disorder, and your health after a car crash should be a priority.
Fatal Car Wrecks in Utah
Every 36 hours, someone dies from a car crash in the state of Utah. Car accidents vary, and some are more serious than others. But, they all have the potential to affect someone’s life for the worse. There are limitless dangerous distractions on the road, like cellphones, passengers, and alcohol. If you are injured in a car crash, you need to partner up with an experienced attorney who can help you recover compensation for your damages.
At Siegfried & Jensen, our team of experienced car accident lawyers in Utah has been helping the residents of Utah for over thirty years. We are committed to helping you after you or a loved one is injured due to the reckless actions of another person, and we have helped thousands of families recover the compensation they deserve after an accident. If you have any questions, you can contact us today at (801) 845-9000 for a free, no-obligation consultation with an experienced legal professional.
Content checked by personal injury attorney Todd Bradford. I worked for a small law firm in Utah County, where I handled various types of cases. My main focus was personal injury and I decided that is what I enjoyed doing the most. I rejoined Siegfried and Jensen in 2012 where my focus is solely on helping personal injury clients. I take pride in helping personal injury clients and enjoy serving them. If you need an attorney for auto accidents or injuries of any kind in Salt Lake City, UT, Ogden, UT, Spokane, WA, or Boise, ID, contact us.
