The latest data shows that car accident-related deaths continue to rise. Those who are fortunate enough to make it out alive can still face serious issues.
Pain is a common issue that car accident victims can expect to experience. In most cases, the effects of car accidents go beyond pain. Car accident injuries can arise. These can affect your physical and mental health.
You need to know about the potential health issues that can arise after an accident. You also need to know what to do to recover after an auto accident.
Read on to learn everything you need to know.
Physical Health Issues
After a car accident, you may experience physical health issues. One of the most common physical issues one can experience is pain. The pain can vary in severity and location.
Pain can affect the part of the body that was involved in the accident. In a head-on collision, chest, arm, and head pain are common. The pain can start right after the crash or might take days or even weeks to arise.
Pain can arise due to other issues. Swelling and injury to the joints, tendons, or muscles can cause pain. These car accident injuries can make it feel like your body is breaking down.
Cuts are common during car crashes, especially if there’s broken glass. This type of injury can occur after coming in contact with the glass of windows or shards of metal. Debris can also cause cuts.
If there’s a fire, burns can become an issue. A person can experience minor burns after touching hot car parts. If a burn is left untreated, it can progress into a skin infection.
Broken bones can be diagnosed after going to the hospital. Major pain and discomfort can be a concern as these signs can signal fractures.
You may have bruises on your body. The bruises might end up being tissue damage. This can be a long-term health issue for many.
Back and spinal injuries are also common. About 869,000 cervical spine injuries are diagnosed each year as a result of car accidents. These can range from a simple sprain to severe nerve damage.
Head Trauma and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
Many people may experience headaches right after a car accident. Some people might not experience one until the following morning. A person may end up experiencing a splitting headache even days after the accident.
Keep in mind that headaches can be caused by several aftereffects. It can arise due to neck or shoulder tension. This happens when these body parts contract or become tense.
Whiplash is a neck injury that can occur after an auto crash. It can cause the neck to bend forcibly forward and then backward or vice versa. It’s an issue that’s most common in rear-end car collisions.
Car accident victims who suffer whiplash can experience various symptoms. These can include dizziness, ringing in the ears, and blurred vision.
A sudden impact from a car crash can cause a concussion. This is a type of traumatic brain injury (TBI) that causes the head and brain to move rapidly back and forth. It’ll affect the function of the brain.
The effects of a concussion may be temporary. The effects can include headaches and issues with memory as well as issues with balance.
It’s important to note that concussion symptoms can be subtle. In some cases, the symptoms might not show up right after the car accident.
Mental Health Issues
A car accident can also cause various types of mental health issues, which range in severity. It isn’t uncommon for people to become depressed after a car accident. This can lead to feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and weight loss.
Depression can also lead to other issues. It can cause people to experience sleep disturbances. It can also cause them to have feelings of guilt even if the accident wasn’t their fault.
After a car accident, people can experience anxiety. Symptoms of anxiety can include excessive sweating, rapid breathing, and nervousness.
The onset of the anxiety can be due to the after-effects of the car accident. For example, if a person is unable to work due to injuries, the person might become anxious because he or she can’t work. The person may worry about the bills that can’t be paid.
Phobias can arise as well, as is the case with vehophobia. This is a type of phobia that causes one to fear driving. It often follows a serious car accident.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a serious condition that’s triggered by a terrifying event. People with PTSD may feel frightened even when they aren’t in real danger.
PTSD symptoms can include flashbacks and nightmares. It can be normal for a person with PTSD to relieve a car accident over and over again. This can happen months or even years after the accident.
This disorder can also cause a person to want to stay away from the scene of the car accident. A victim may do whatever it takes to not be in the vicinity of the crash site to avoid reexperiencing the event.
A severe auto accident can also cause a person to develop suicidal thoughts. This can happen to a person who’s injured and doesn’t want to live anymore.
Recovering From an Accident
A fender bender might not result in any injuries. Those who are involved in a minor accident should thank their lucky stars if there were no injuries.
Sadly, not everyone who’s involved in a car accident will make it out without injuries. Every year, between 20–50 million people suffer non-fatal injuries.
There’s no clear timeline regarding the amount of time one should spend recovering. Recovery time depends on the severity of the injury as well as other factors.
Car accident victims should listen to their healthcare providers. It’s important that one seeks medical care after an accident. Even if there aren’t any visible injuries, it’s still ideal to see a doctor.
One might not feel any pain right after the accident. Shock can block the pain or any other forms of discomfort.
If you experience serious injuries in a car crash, you shouldn’t move. If possible, you should call 911 right away. You’ll get an ambulance to take you to the emergency room right away to undergo treatment.
You’ll undergo all necessary testing to help identify issues. A healthcare provider might order x-rays if it’s believed that you have broken bones. It might also be necessary to order a CT scan to look for a brain injury.
Your injuries will dictate the type of treatment you’ll need to undergo. A big part of accident recovery is rehab. You might need to undergo months of rehab if you suffer a neck or back injury.
You might need to undergo treatment with a chiropractor. You might also need to work with a physical therapist.
Recovering from accident trauma might not be easy. This is a psychological issue that may require you to undergo therapy. A mental health therapist can help with this issue.
What to Do After a Car Accident?
There’ll be several things you must do right after a car accident. You should let the shock go down. Take a deep breath and collect your thoughts.
You know you have to contact the police so you can get an accident report. You’ll have to take pictures of the accident scene and document important information.
What many people fail to do is call an attorney. If you suffer car accident injuries, you’ll need to call one right away.
You’ll need an advocate on your side to help you get fair compensation. Remember that your insurance company might try to lowball you by offering you a low settlement. Don’t fall for it, as they aren’t on your side.
Having an accident attorney by your side is ideal. Your accident attorney will help you find relief from pain and suffering. You’ll want to get money so you can pay for all those bills as you try to recover from your injuries.
Not all accident attorneys are equal. You’ll need one who has experience in this field. Find an accident attorney here.
Suffering Car Accident Injuries
As much of a safe driver as you can be, there’s always the chance that you can be involved in a car accident. Car accident injuries can be serious enough to put you on the shelf for months or even years.
Don’t let any car accident injuries get the best of you. After you’re involved in a car accident, make sure to call an accident attorney. Let an accident attorney take on your case.
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