Common Car Accident Injury Symptoms
A serious car accident can lead to a variety of injuries. While some common injuries are easy to detect–broken bones, cuts and scrapes, painful torn muscles, etc.–others are just as common but might be harder to detect at first. If you have been involved in a car crash, look out for these signs that you may have suffered a latent injury. See a doctor, and call a dedicated Arcadia car accident lawyer for help after a car crash in Los Angeles or the Inland Empire.
Signs of Head Injury
A sudden blow to the head, such as on a dashboard or airbag, can cause traumatic brain injury (TBI). TBI is a very dangerous injury, often hard to detect at first but with the potential for severe, even fatal consequences. If you hit your head in an accident, it is vital to get medical attention as soon as possible to determine if you are suffering from any form of TBI. Symptoms of TBI include:
● Loss of consciousness
● Headache
● Nausea and vomiting
● Unusual sleep patterns, either difficulty sleeping or sleeping too much
● Problems speaking
● Drowsiness
Signs of Neck, Back, and Spine Injuries
Car accidents often involve impact to the neck and back, as well as twisting and pulling motions that can injure the spine and other upper extremities. Sometimes, these injuries are difficult to detect, but they can manifest over time into chronically painful conditions and functional limitations. A severe spine injury can lead to partial or full paralysis.
Whiplash, in particular, is one of the most common injuries suffered in traffic accidents, especially rear-end collisions. Whiplash occurs when the head and neck are overextended, whipping back and forth, straining muscles, ligaments, and tendons without breaking bones. Signs of whiplash include stiffness or pain in the neck, loss of range of neck motion, headaches, tenderness or pain in the shoulder, upper back and arms, fatigue, and dizziness. Whiplash can cause pain for weeks or months after an accident.
Other symptoms of neck, back, or spine injuries include the following:
● Loss of movement or feeling in the arms, legs, toes, or fingers
● Loss or altered ability to feel sensations such as heat and cold
● Muscle spasms
● Difficulty breathing, coughing or clearing the throat
● Numbness or paralysis
● Loss of bladder and bowel control
● Difficulty balancing or walking
● Extreme pain or pressure in the neck, head, or back
Signs of Internal Injuries and Internal Bleeding
Car crashes can also put extreme pressure on the internal organs, leading to organ damage or internal bleeding. Broken ribs, ruptured spleen, damage to the kidney or lungs, brain bleeds, and other organ damage can occur. After a severe car crash, watch out for signs of organ damage and internal bleeding, including:
● Cold feeling
● Unusual thirst
● Pale complexion
● Abdominal pain
● Difficulty breathing
● Blood in urine
● Fatigue
● Other unidentified pain
Legal Help After an Arcadia Car Accident
If you’ve been hurt by a negligent driver in Southern California and need help recovering the money damages you deserve for your injuries, contact the talented and compassionate Arcadia car accident lawyers at the Law Offices of Dulio R. Chavez II and Associates for a free consultation at 626-357-3303.
