Whether you were in a minor fender bender or a serious collision, a car accident will strain your body. The sudden changes in motion jerk you around. You may hit your head on the window. If the airbag went off, you can face serious injuries.
However, some injuries don’t show up right away. You may not feel symptoms for days after the accident. Here are a few symptoms of an injury that may take time to show up:
- Headaches – In the weeks after an accident, watch for any serious headaches. This is a typical symptom of whiplash. But if you hit your head in the accident, a headache can indicate a serious injury like a brain injury or concussion.
- Neck or back pain – Neck and back pain are other signs of whiplash but could also mean a back injury.
- Tingling or numbness in the arms – A herniated disc in your back can make your arms tingle or numb. Whiplash can also cause numbness.
- Dizziness – Dizziness is another whiplash symptom that may take time to show up.
- PTSD – A car crash can be a serious traumatic event. You may develop symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, after the accident.
Delayed symptoms can be from serious injuries
You may feel lucky walking away from a car accident. But just because you didn’t feel injured at the scene, there is a good chance you have a delayed injury.
If you have any delayed symptoms in the weeks after an accident, speak with a medical professional right away. While the symptoms may just be from something simple like whiplash, they can also be from more serious back or brain injuries.
After you walk away from your accident, be sure to stay on the lookout for delayed injuries.
