There are more than five million car accidents in the U.S. every year. Many of those involved suffer serious injuries, sometimes so severe that they do not survive. According to our friends at Therman Law Offices, LTD, when someone has been injured in a crash caused by another party or parties, they may be entitled to financial compensation with the help of an Elk Grove, IL personal injury lawyer to gain reparations for the losses their injuries have caused.
Minor Accidents Can Result in Major Injuries
One of the most common issues that arise from car accidents, particularly minor ones, is that victims don’t realize they have been injured. This can happen for a few reasons. One common reason a person may not realize they have been hurt is that the adrenaline rush that many accident victims feel after the crash can mask any feelings of pain for several hours. Other victims may be emotionally traumatized after the crash and may not immediately feel or recognize those symptoms.
Another reason why a victim might be unaware they have been injured is that there are certain types of injuries that have delayed symptoms. It can take hours or days – sometimes even weeks – for symptoms of these types of injuries to show up. This is why it is so critical, even in what may seem like a minor fender bender, to go see a doctor to make sure you have not been injured.
Some of the more common types of delayed symptom injuries include:
- Back pain: Any type of back pain could indicate that there has been damage to discs, muscles, nerves, or vertebrae. Some back injuries can result in a permanent disability for the victim.
- Headaches: Headaches in the days following a car accident could indicate the victim has sustained a brain injury. This could include a concussion, brain bruising, blood clots, or hemorrhaging. Another symptom of a brain injury is any kind of changes in the victim’s behavior, such as concentration difficulties, depression, hearing or vision problems, impaired memory, or personality changes.
- Numbness: If a victim has numbness or loss of feeling in their limbs, this could be another indication of whiplash. Injury to their spinal column or neck could also cause numbness.
- Pain or swelling in the abdominal area: If a car accident victim begins complaining about swelling or pain in the abdominal area, they could be suffering from internal bleeding, which can be a fatal condition. Other signs of internal bleeding include dizziness, fainting, or deep bruising.
- Stiffness or pain in the neck or shoulder: Whiplash injuries are one of the most common delayed car accident injuries. Symptoms of pain or stiffness in the shoulder or neck areas could indicate whiplash. Although many people think of this as a minor injury, in some cases, a whiplash injury can be severe enough to cause the death of the victim.
Contact a Personal Injury Law Firm Today
If you have sustained injury in a crash caused by another driver, you may be entitled to compensation from the at-fault party. To learn more, call an experienced attorney.