Each year, many motor vehicle accidents happen in New Jersey. In some of those crashes, people who have suffered injuries may not realize they have for several hours or days afterwards. This is because the accident may have caused enough excitement for them that they did not recognize symptoms of injuries that are not readily visible.
Some symptoms may not show up for up to several days after an accident. Such things as stiffness and pain in the shoulders and neck may indicate the person suffered whiplash, as can numbness in the hands. A doctor can diagnose this by running an MRI on the area.
Back pain may mean that the person suffered injuries to the vertebrae, nerves or muscles. Severe headaches may indicate that the person suffered from a head injury or even a blood clot on the brain. If victims notice their abdomen is swelling or they have sharp pains in the area after an accident, immediate medical attention should be sought. This could be due to internal bleeding, which could potentially be life-threatening. Changes in the person’s personality or physical functioning should also prompt medical attention, as they can indicate that the person suffered a traumatic brain injury.
While all of the delayed symptoms may indicate injuries and thus prompt a medical visit, it is best for people who are involved in an accident to get a medical check up afterwards, even if they do not initially believe they were injured. In some cases, early treatment of hidden injuries can improve the person’s long-term prognosis. A person whose injuries resulted from another driver’s negligence may also want to seek help from a personal injury attorney in seeking damages for the losses that have been sustained.
