It is important to understand your injuries after a car accident. Some injuries are immediately felt, while others gradually increase in intensity over time.
There is no bright line rule that determines when a person is injured by an automobile collision. Some collisions are high-impact and some collisions are low-impact. The speed and direction of the vehicles are factors. The location and position of the occupants are factors. Even the age and activity level of the occupants may be factors.
The important thing to remember after being injured in a car accident is that the extent of the vehicle damage and personal injuries cannot be determined on the spot. Some damages and injures take time to develop. According to the injury lawyers with Althauser Rayan Abbarno, one of the most common injuries following an automobile collision is a sore neck, often called whiplash, which can take days to develop.
What is Whiplash?
Whiplash is caused when a person experiences trauma with an acceleration-deceleration mechanism of energy transfer of the neck. In plain terms, it is caused by the snapping back and forth of the neck. This is a common injure in automobile collisions and car accidents.
Symptoms can include neck pain, loss of range of motion, headaches, tingling or numbness in the arms or hands, blurred vision and dizziness. If you are suffering from any of these symptoms after a traffic collision, you may be suffering from whiplash.
There can be both acute and chronic symptoms of whiplash. Some studies indicate that 14 to 42 percent of whiplash patients are at risk of developing chronic complaints (longer than 6 months) and that 10 percent of those have constant severe pain. If a victim of a car collision has symptoms 3 months after the incident they are likely to remain symptomatic for at least two years, and possibly for much longer.
Why are some symptoms of whiplash delayed?
If you are involved in a traffic collision, your body will release adrenaline. This is your body’s response to a life-threatening situation. It increases the blood flow to your muscles as part of the fight-or-flight response. It means you are more capable of running away from danger, or standing and fighting.
With so many chemical changes happening in your body, the pain from the whiplash, as well as other injuries, may go unnoticed for several hours, or even days.
In addition, some of the symptoms may be caused by swelling of the tissues of the neck after they have been damaged. This swelling may take some time to occur, making the whiplash symptoms delayed.
You may also experience difficulty in concentrating which stops you from noticing all of the symptoms that you are suffering.
What should you do?
If you are experiencing any of the symptoms of whiplash, delayed or otherwise, the first thing you should do is seek medical attention.
First, you will be able to get the proper and necessary treatment for any injuries that you may have sustained. Second, if you have suffered from whiplash you will also have a confirmation of the diagnosis, even if some of your symptoms may not yet be showing. This will allow you receive the correct treatment for your injuries. Finally, you should think about making a claim for the injury you have suffered.
Treatment for injuries, even minor injuries, is costly and time consuming. You should not have to bear the entire burden because of the negligence of another driver.
Where can I get help?
The personal injury attorneys with Althauser Rayan Abbarno offer free injury consultations 
in Centralia and Olympia. Althauser Rayan Abbarno attorneys help injury victims navigate the legal, medical, and financial system. There are many factors to be to be considered in a personal injury case, including the extent of injuries, treatment recommendations, loss of the use of a vehicle, loss of income, and just compensation.
Questions at a consultation might include:
- Who is the at-fault driver and is there a claim for contributory negligence?
- Were you insured?
- Was the other driver insured and what are the limits?
- Do you have private medical insurance?
- Do you have Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and Un/Under-insured (UIM) insurance?
- Is the insurance company trying to settle before treatment is completed?
- Are you being asked to participate in an “independent medical exam”?
- Is there diminished value of the vehicle?
- Will the medical providers have liens?
To be fairly compensated, our attorneys will explore all possibilities for you and your family. If you or someone you know was injured in an automobile collision, call the injury attorneys with Althauser Rayan Abbarno for a FREE injury consultation in Centralia or Olympia. Personal injury cases are complicated. Be sure you understand your rights and benefits. Call (360) 736-1301 for a FREE consultation in Centralia or Olympia.
*This article does not represent medical opinions. Please seek a licensed medical provider if you are experiencing any symptoms related to a car accident or other injury.
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