A car accident can leave you shaken, confused and (depending on the severity of the wreck) hurt. However, it is not uncommon for accident victims to feel they are just fine after the accident. In fact, you may not notice some of your injuries several hours or even days after the accident.
The importance of visiting the hospital immediately following the car wreck cannot be overstated. Besides ensuring that you obtain the doctor’s report that is crucial for filing your claims, seeking treatment ASAP also ensures that the following hidden injuries are detected and treated in time.
Soft-tissue injuries
A car accident can leave you with hard as well as soft-tissue injuries. While hard-tissue injuries like broken bones are easily noticeable, soft-tissue injuries like tendon injuries, muscle strains and sprains and dislocations may take longer to diagnose.
Common symptoms of soft-tissue injuries you need to look out for include muscle stiffness, soreness, pain and difficulty moving. Left untreated, soft-tissue injuries can lead to chronic pain that may hinder your ability to work.
Brain injuries
When the head is subjected to a violent impact during an accident, the brain tissue can be damaged. This is known as a traumatic brain injury.
While some brain injuries like concussions may be discovered almost immediately, other forms of traumatic brain injuries tend to take a long time before manifesting. For instance, you may not notice bleeding to the brain until the injury is worsened enough to cause more damage.
If you are involved in an accident that was not your fault, you deserve justice. In Washington, you have three years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury claim.