Not all car accidents result in immediate symptoms. In some crashes, especially minor ones, symptoms may take a day or more to appear.
Although it may be tempting to ignore these symptoms, some of them can lead to chronic issues if not treated. Others may indicate a more serious problem, so you should always seek medical care.
Common delayed symptoms
According to KTAR News, whiplash is a common injury sustained from car crashes, especially rear-ended accidents. Typical symptoms related to whiplash include neck stiffness and pain, shoulder tension, tingling in the hands and headaches. Whiplash results in injury to the muscles, ligaments and nerves of the neck, so leaving it untreated often leads to chronic neck issues and can also make one more susceptible to future neck injuries.
Low back pain is another common symptom after car accidents. This may indicate injury to the muscles and ligaments, but it may also signify vertebrae damage, such as a fracture.
Symptoms that require immediate medical care
Although headaches are common whiplash symptoms, they can also indicate a more serious issue such as a severe concussion, brain injury or blood clot in the brain. If you have a headache that does not go away or gets worse, you should seek medical care right away.
Internal bleeding is another symptom that can take hours or days to appear. According to Medical News Today, typical symptoms include bruising, swelling and pain in the abdomen. However, additional symptoms may include dizziness, weakness, confusion, chest pain, blood in the urine and shallow breathing. These symptoms indicate a life-threatening condition and require emergency attention.
