More than six million auto accidents occur in the United States alone, every single year. While the use of seat belts has grown over the last few decades, especially since fines have been increased for not doing so, it is still possible to be seriously injured during a wreck. Even so, people involved in these accidents will walk away and not take advantage of immediate medical treatment, simply because they do not think they are injured.
Perhaps spreading the word about the potential for hidden auto accident injuries will help get the point across that medical examination is crucial, and could prevent you from dealing with lifelong consequences later on.
Violating the Laws of Physics Has Its Consequences
Whenever you are involved in a motor vehicle accident, your body will be put through some extraordinary stress as a result. Regardless of how fast the vehicles were traveling at the time of impact, the only thing halted in its flight is the car. A body in motion will stay in motion, a simple rule of physics and even with the help of seat belts and air bags; you are still likely to experience some auto accident injuries.
Your injuries may not always be apparent on the scene. Not all injuries will have obvious signs, like bleeding on the outside, so if you are offered medical care, take advantage of it. Your insurance company will want a record in any case, and by going to an emergency care center, you can get X-rays and other treatments to make certain that you are really fine and not affected by something like a concussion.
Symptoms of Hidden Injuries
As we said, not all injuries are immediately apparent, and it may take time before you show any signs of injury at all. The extreme stress and force that hits your body during the accident will work on it from the outside in, and the internal shocks to your overall body will not end in an instant. Bruising, outside or inside, takes time to fully develop, and there are no obvious signs of internal bleeding until the blood loss takes its toll.
Symptoms to watch out for after an auto accident include the following:
* Headache
* Dizziness
* Confusion
* Feeling light-headed
* Blurry vision
* Feeling extremely tired or fatigued
* Lack of concentration
* Trouble comprehending or an inability to remember events
* Insomnia
* Behavior changes and mood swings
* Back pain
* Nausea
* Slurred speech
* Feeling weak in your arms and legs
* Loss of coordination
If you begin to feel any of these symptoms, get to an urgent care center as soon as possible. You may have a concussion or some other damage that is causing your normal body functions to be interrupted. Hidden damage is dangerous, and medical treatment is essential, especially when dealing with auto accident injuries.