Every year, millions of people are involved in car accidents – some serious, some not. However, many people walk away from their accidents believing they’re uninjured when they’re actually badly hurt. High adrenaline after a car accident can often mask the severity of injuries a person is experiencing.
Hidden injuries are dangerous because victims may experience health issues days or weeks after they were injured. Here are two of the most common “stealth” injuries that result from ordinary car accidents:
Traumatic head injuries
Traumatic brain injuries are not always obvious. A driver may hit their head on the steering wheel or suffer head injuries from an airbag deploying on impact. This kind of impact can lead to serious injuries, such as concussions or skull fractures.
People are often at risk of internal bleeding in their brains after suffering blunt force trauma in a car accident. Internal bleeding may not become apparent for several days. Brain bleeds can ultimately cause nerve damage, blindness, permanent disability and even death if not treated immediately.
Traumatic spine injuries
The impact from another vehicle can cause a victim to suffer traumatic spine injuries. For example, trauma to the spine can displace vertebrae and cause a hernia. A hernia can cause a victim to experience sharp pain, muscle weakness and numbness in their body.
Paralysis, too, is a significant possibility, and it does not always happen immediately. For example, cauda equina syndrome can develop over several days as inflammation and swelling take hold.
The hidden nature of these conditions makes it critically important to seek medical care immediately after a wreck, even if an accident victim thinks they are fine. Professional legal guidance, too, may be warranted and can help victims of car accidents recover the compensation they need and deserve for their losses.