Wrecks on Interstates 35 and 40 and other busy routes in and around Oklahoma City are familiar sights. Auto crashes are typically traumatic experiences that affect everyone differently. If you are a victim of a car accident, you might experience emotional disorientation and mental trauma. The shock and immediate distractions of a collision could hide serious physical issues.
Not all injuries are immediately evident, and hidden injuries could present signs several days or even weeks later. It is best to go for a medical evaluation immediately after an accident because untreated conditions can give rise to long-term health problems.
Typical delayed symptoms
Unlike damage to your car, a pain-masking euphoria immediately after the crash may hide harm to your body. When you become aware of pain later, a proper medical examination might indicate any of the following conditions:
- Whiplash: The impact of a collision, even at low speeds, can cause the rapid back and forth movement of the head. Damage could cause reduced motion range, slowed reflexes and more, and diagnostics like CT scans, MRIs and x-rays can determine the necessary treatment.
- Neck and shoulder pain: Whiplash can cause damage to neck vertebrae and the supporting muscles and ligaments. Pain, muscle spasms and stiffness are common symptoms.
- Headaches: Although muscle strain can cause headaches, it could be more serious. Headaches after a crash could indicate a concussion or even a blood clot on your brain.
- Back pain: Side or rear-end crashes often cause damage to the lower back, and you should not ignore back pain because the spine holds vital nerves.
- Numbness: Loss of feeling and numbness in your hands and arms could indicate whiplash damage to your neck or spine.
- Abdominal swelling and pain: This could be life-threatening because it might indicate internal bleeding. Deep purple bruising over large areas is another indication, and you might feel dizzy and faint — all signs of the need for emergency medical care.
- Post-traumatic stress disorder: If you have recurring flashbacks and nightmares, and if you relive the crash through vivid, disturbing memories, you might need treatment for PTSD.
- Traumatic brain injury: A severe concussion is a traumatic brain injury that can cause impaired memory, thinking, movement, hearing and vision. It can also cause depression and personality changes.
You need not deal with all this alone
Any of these injuries, along with lost workdays, lost wages and mounting medical bills can ruin your financial stability. If you add the challenges of dealing with insurance companies to all this, anxiety might bring about even more medical expenses. Fortunately, you do not need to shoulder such burdens on your own. Legal counsel is available to provide support and guidance to Oklahoma accident victims in pursuit of damage recovery.
