Are You Suffering from an Invisible Injury?

An invisible injury is any injury that isn’t immediately obvious, such as a concussion, internal bleeding, or whiplash. Although not visible to the naked eye, these injuries can still have devastating and sometimes fatal consequences. Read on to learn more about the most common invisible injuries sustained in car accidents.

Whiplash 

Whiplash is one of the most commonly reported car accident injuries, occurring when the force of an impact causes the head to snap backwards and forwards, damaging the bones, muscles, and discs in and around the spine. Unfortunately, these injuries often don’t have any visible signs, although an injured party will typically begin experiencing pain, tingling, and limited mobility within a few hours of the crash. Treating whiplash injuries usually requires a combination of physical therapy and medications.

Concussions 

Concussions are another injury that many car accident victims suffer from, but that don’t always show visible signs. These injuries are caused by a blow to the head, which causes the brain to collide with the inside of the skull, causing damage to the brain’s tissue and blood vessels. While they may not manifest outwardly, concussions do result in other symptoms, like headaches, dizziness, and nausea. More serious head injuries can cause bleeding in the brain, which if left untreated, can cause permanent disability or even death.

Bone Fractures 

Some of the most commonly missed injuries suffered by car accident victims are broken bones.  This happens because our bodies respond to the shock of a car accident by producing adrenaline, which in turn can mask pain immediately following a crash. Unfortunately, pain at the site of the injury is one of the main symptoms of a fractured bone, which means that some injured parties could go hours or days without obtaining treatment. For this reason, car accident victims are strongly encouraged to seek medical attention after a crash, where an x-ray can quickly determine whether they are suffering from any broken bones.

Internal Bleeding 

Internal injuries are one of the most difficult injuries to diagnose, as the damage is on the inside of the body and so, often invisible to the rest of us. These injuries are more likely to affect those who are involved in high speed collisions with more significant impacts. This increased force can damage the organs and blood vessels in the chest and torso, causing them to rupture and bleed internally. Typical symptoms of an internal injury include chest and abdominal pain, shortness of breath, and nausea or vomiting.

The Importance of Seeking Medical Attention 

With the risk of suffering an invisible injury so high, seeking medical attention after an accident becomes even more important. Often, medical professionals will be able to identify, diagnose, and begin treating these injuries before a victim starts experiencing the worst symptoms or suffers permanent damage.

Contact a Tampa Car Accident Lawyer 

If you suffered an injury in a car accident, you may be facing mounting medical debt and confusion when it comes to your legal rights to compensation. For help navigating your own claim, please contact Anderson & Anderson and set up a meeting with one of our dedicated and compassionate Tampa car accident lawyers today.

Sources: 

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25643571/

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK431087/