Automobile accidents account for 30,000 to 40,000 deaths each year in the United States. In addition, it is estimated that more than 3 million people are injured each year in car accidents; with close to 2 million of those injuries being of a permanent nature. On one hand, for some people injured in an automobile accident, their injuries are immediately noticeable. For example, a broken bone or a deep laceration. For others, no initial injury is evident. Does that mean they were not injured? Let’s look at why you may not initially notice serious injuries right after a crash.

What is Whiplash?

Most people recognize the term “whiplash,” but not everyone understands what it means. Whiplash is a type of neck injury that results from the neck rapidly snapping back and then forward. Whiplash is an injury that commonly occurs after a rear-end car accident. The most common symptoms experienced are neck pain, shoulder pain, and a headache, sometimes a severe headache, this may require a physical therapist such as Luna, to do a consultation to see how severe the injury is. As with any other injury, whiplash can vary greatly in both the degree of injury and how long the injury will impact the functioning and pain of the victim. Even a whiplash injury that will be temporary in nature can cause significant localized pain accompanied by nerve pain that radiates throughout the body and results in significant short-term, functional limitations.

Common Car Crash Injury Symptoms

It often takes a day or two before injuries suffered from an automobile accident become evident to the injured party. This is not unusual and results from something called soft tissue injuries. Muscles, tendons, and ligaments are called soft tissues (as opposed to a bone, which is hard). When whiplash occurs, the soft tissues are injured. The injuries cause swelling in the area, which occurs over a period of days. That swelling is what causes loss of function, like stiffness, and increased pain when trying to move the area, usually the neck, shoulder, or arm. Basically, you suffered an injury when the car accident occurred but sometimes do not realize it until you feel the symptoms a couple of days later. This is what we mean by “delayed injuries after crash.”

Serious Car Crash Injuries

Serious injuries right after a car crash can result from automobile accidents that may, at first, appear to be minor fender benders. Head and brain injuries can result in a concussion or internal bleeding, while neck or back injuries could lead to sprains, strains, or herniated discs. Spinal cord injuries can result in paralysis, either temporary or permanent. Trauma to the neck, known as the cervical spine area, can result in the most severe level of spinal injury. Such trauma can, in certain cases, lead to quadriplegia, leaving the victim unable to move the arms or legs. Severe spinal injuries in the mid to lower back, the thoracic or lumbar regions, can result in paraplegia, leaving the victim wheelchair bound and unable to walk.

Make Sure to Have an Experienced Attorney on Your Side

If you or a loved one have car crash injury symptoms after a motor vehicle accident due to negligence, contact the Rossetti and DeVoto law firm. At Rossetti and DeVoto, we know that spinal cord injuries are serious business. You deserve full compensation for all your damages. Our expert lawyers are creative and aggressive and will assist you through the entire legal process. They have the experience and expertise and are relentless in getting clients the large settlements and verdicts they deserve. Call us today at 844-263-6260.