A car accident is a physically and emotionally traumatic event. Whether it’s a major high-speed collision or a fender-bender, the impact of a vehicle striking another or when it hits another object is significant. Often times, when a person is involved in an auto accident he or she may not notice any symptoms of injury immediately afterward. This may be happening for a number of reasons.
And it is precisely why it is important to see your doctor after an accident even if you don’t “feel anything” right away. Here are a few tips from our car accident lawyers on how to understand and deal with injuries that don’t surface soon after a crash or collision.
Adrenalin After a Crash
There is no question that a car accident is a traumatic and shocking event. Even though we know that car accidents are a daily occurrence in New York City, it is startling when it happens to us. It shakes you up. So, when you are involved in a car accident, your adrenalin begins to flow, charging your body and possibly blocking pain. Many athletes have a similar experience when they become injured during a game, but continue to play without feeling the injury or pain until the game is over. So, just because you feel fine immediately after a car accident, it doesn’t necessarily mean you haven’t suffered an injury. Once the release of the adrenaline subsides, the pain from the crash may start to surface.
Understanding Soft Tissue Injuries
Soft tissue injuries involve damage to parts of the body such as muscles, tendons and ligaments. The force generated by a car accident causes vehicles to come to a sudden stop. In some cases, vehicle occupants may get thrown around in the passenger area placing significant stress on joints and ligaments. One of the most common injuries people sustain in car accidents is “whiplash,” which is an injury to the neck muscles when the head is suddenly thrown forward and back (a whipping motion).
The symptoms of these types of soft issue injuries may take days or even weeks to appear and victims with such injuries typically need a long time to recover. Also, these injuries are not visible on an X-ray, which makes them more difficult to diagnose. Seeing your doctor soon after the accident is an important first step to getting on the road to recovery.
The Danger of Concussions
Another type of injury that individuals may not recognize the symptoms of right away is concussions. Even though concussions used to be referred to as “mild” brain injuries, recent research has shown that all concussions may cause long-term or even permanent damage to brain cells and must be taken seriously. Some of the common symptoms of concussions, which might be dismissed or misread, include inability to focus or concentrate, appearing dazed or confused, headaches, blurry vision, nausea, dizziness, fatigue, abnormal sleep patterns (sleeping less or more than usual). It is very important to see a doctor right away if you suspect you suffered a concussion.
What Actions Should You Take?
If you have been involved in a car accident, it is important that you see a doctor even if you don’t feel a significant amount of pain or discomfort. Your physician will be in the best position to diagnose your injuries and make the determination as to whether you suffered any injuries that require treatment. In addition, your doctor will be able to advise you about monitoring symptoms of potential injuries including red flags for which you need to watch out. It is also crucial that you do not enter into or agree to any legal settlements right away, based on your initial medical treatments. Your attorney can help you determine the complete extent of your injuries and damages before recommending a course of action for compensation. Settling a claim prematurely may prevent you from seeking or obtaining full compensation for your losses.
Contacting an Experienced Lawyer
If you or a loved one has been injured by a distracted driver, or if you have lost a loved one in an auto accident caused by a negligent driver, the experienced New York personal injury attorneys at the Law Offices of Kenneth A. Wilhelm can help you better understand your legal rights and options, and also fight hard to recover just compensation for you.
For over 46 years, our skilled accident attorneys have established a proven track record of helping injured victims get fair compensation for their losses. Our law firm recently recovered $5,600,000 for a bicyclist who was hit by a van, and $2,550,000 for another victim of a truck accident, and $3,000,000 for a pedestrian who was hit by a car, and the full $1,000,000 insurance policy for a pedestrian who was hit by a truck, and $4,625,000 for a driver who was in a car and was hit by a van, and $2,500,000 for a man who fell through an improperly secured hole.
Please contact us TOLL FREE 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-WORK-4-YOU (1-800-967-5496). WE CAN EVEN COME TO YOU. There is no attorneys’ fee unless we recover money for you. We can also help with personal injury and medical malpractice cases in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, or Florida. If you have been seriously injured in any of the 50 U.S. states, please call us and we will try to help you with your case.
Other TOLL FREE phone numbers for us are:
1-800-RADIO-LAW, 1-888-WYPADEK, OR 1-800-LAS-LEYES
Please visit us at: www.WORK4YOULAW.com