Are Delayed Symptoms After An Auto Accident Less Serious?

If you are in a car accident and don’t leave the scene in an ambulance, you can consider yourself quite lucky. Think about it, it’s no surprise that injuries can be extensive given the speed and force that are often involved in car accidents.

But what if you don’t feel hurt after an accident or fender bender? Well, you could still be hurt, but the symptoms might be delayed. It’s true, some injuries don’t manifest symptoms right away, and pain could be delayed for hours, days, or even weeks following an accident.

Wondering how serious these delayed symptoms are? Our accident care team at Impact Medical Wesley Chapel explains.

What Delayed Symptoms Should You Look Out for After an Accident?

While it is difficult to predict what to expect physically after an accident, there are several physical and mental symptoms to look out for that may not manifest immediately.

These delayed symptoms should not be ignored:

Abdominal Pain

Any pain in the abdominal region could be a sign of damage to soft tissues and organs from the impact. This could be a sign of internal bleeding as well. Seek medical attention right away if you have stomach pain, dizziness, or develop large bruises.

Neck Pain

This pain often is a sure sign of whiplash and occurs frequently following rear-end collisions. Sprains and strains, herniated discs, and spinal cord injuries are common when the impact of an accident causes the head to whip forward and backward. It can take hours or days for these symptoms to show up and can last for days, or months, or can cause permanent pain if not addressed promptly.

Back Pain

Back pain following a car collision is often the result of soft-tissue damage, slipped or herniated discs, whiplash, or even spinal injuries.

Back pain can be debilitating and can plague car accident victims for months or years, so if you experience any back pain after an accident, seek treatment right away.

Tingling and Numbness

A sign of brain injury or problems with your nervous system can cause numbness or a feeling of pins and needles in your body. While sometimes caused by a pinched nerve or a herniated disc, tingling or numbness could be a sign of a much larger medical issue, so seek medical attention immediately.

Memory Loss & Lack of Concentration

Car accidents can lead to many psychological problems that can cause you to have trouble remembering things or struggle to concentrate. While the trauma of an accident can cause these cognitive problems, these issues could also be caused by a traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Headache & Nausea

Headaches and nausea are common symptoms after an accident, but they could also mean something more serious if they are delayed.

• Headaches can be caused by whiplash, neck injuries, or a blood clot.
• Nausea coupled with a headache could point to a concussion or severe TBI.

Remember, hitting your head during an accident could damage your brain or brainstem and can quickly become a medical emergency. Seek medical attention accordingly.

Excessive Sleep or Tiredness

Exhaustion is another common symptom that many people experience after the adrenaline of an accident wears off, but if you are sleeping a lot after an accident and deep exhaustion persists days or weeks later, you might be experiencing a larger problem.

You may have depression or PTSD, or you could have a serious TBI. These are all serious issues that should be monitored by a medical professional.

Are Delayed Symptoms Serious?

Yes, as you’ve read above, many delayed symptoms are quite serious and deserve attention from a doctor. Thinking that you are fine after an accident can spell disaster, especially if delayed symptoms manifest in the days or weeks following the collision.

We can’t stress this enough—seek medical attention as soon as possible after an accident even if you feel fine. This will ensure that you don’t have any underlying issues that need attention and allow you to use your PIP benefits for treatment.

Contact Impact Medical Wesley Chapel

If you’ve been in a car accident and are experiencing any of the above symptoms, don’t wait to seek treatment! Our team of medical professionals, physical therapists, pain management specialists, and chiropractors are here to help you recover from an accident and get back to living your life pain-free.

Contact Impact Medical Wesley Chapel at (813) 953-1002 to schedule a thorough medical examination today.