For many auto accident victims, symptoms begin immediately after impact. Broken bones, deep cuts, and other injuries appear right away, and you’ll know whether you need to seek medical attention. However, other injuries may be more subtle; it may take hours or days until symptoms emerge. Sometimes, the shock we experience resulting from the incident makes us unable to process our pain, delaying symptoms for a significant amount of time. Here are three common types of delayed injuries to look out for if you’ve been involved in a Riverside County auto accident.
1. Headaches
After the adrenaline subsides, you may notice that you’re experiencing headaches. Many auto accident victims report suffering from headaches at some point after the incident, and headaches often go away on their own. However, headaches can also signal the presence of a more severe injury, such as traumatic brain injury (TBI). In some cases, headaches indicate that your brain may be experiencing swelling, bruising, or bleeding, which are serious symptoms. If you develop a headache after an auto accident, schedule an appointment with your doctor to make sure it’s not a sign of a more severe condition.
2. Back Pain
While broken leg or arm bones may be immediately apparent, smaller ruptures may take longer to make themselves known. Back pain that emerges several days after the accident may be a sign of a herniated disc, soft tissue injury, sprain, whiplash, or spinal injury. Back injuries can become debilitating over time, interfering with your ability to perform basic daily functions with ease. If you develop back pain symptoms after a car accident in Murrieta or Temecula, have a medical professional check it out.
3. Numbness and Tingling
It may take some time for signs of nerve damage to emerge. If you begin to experience a lack of sensation or feeling in your hands, arms, or another extremity, one or more nerves along your spinal column may be pinched or damaged. You may also experience a tingling sensation that could indicate nerve injuries. Contact your doctor right away to check for nerve damage and to ensure you receive the care you need to recover. Then, reach out to a trusted auto accident attorney to discuss your options for recovering the compensation you deserve.
If you’ve been injured in an auto accident in Temecula or Murrieta and you need help collecting compensation, contact Hales & Associates, A Professional Law Corporation today at (951) 489-3320 to speak with a dedicated attorney.