Some car accidents may result in noticeable and severe trauma to the body. However, even in low-impact crashes, you may want to watch for more subtle signals of damage to one or more areas.
Delayed onset injuries may not appear dangerous at first, which makes them even more so. Letting an internal traumatic injury go unaddressed for too long may leave you with permanent and irreversible damage or death. Find out more about some of the subtle and not-so-subtle signs that you have an underlying injury.
Do you have a deepening bruise?
Bruising is an obvious sign that something is wrong, but is it serious? The answer to this depends on the location and appearance of the bruise. While it is likely you will have some bumps and bruises, others may signal a deeper issue. If your bruise is in the abdominal area, spreading or deepening in appearance, it may point to an internal bleed, a condition requiring immediate medical intervention.
Are your senses misfiring?
Should you start experiencing trouble with your vision or hearing, you may want to consider the possibility that you have a head injury lurking underneath. A brain injury can occur with or without head trauma. The brain moving about may hit the bone of the skull, causing swelling and bleeding. While this may resolve on its own, it may also begin to affect other areas of your body. Other than a change in senses, signs of a brain injury include:
- Intense headaches
- Nausea
- Insomnia or extreme exhaustion
- Speech problems
- Memory lapses or loss
After any car accident, you should go through a medical exam, even if you do not believe you have an injury.