No one prays for car crashes or accidents. No one ever wants to be involved in an accident as the physical, psychological and financial consequences are always very expensive. Unfortunately, these events are a general occurrence and can happen even when one is super careful.
Table of Contents
You can be super careful but some other crazy road user isn’t and might just force you into an accident situation that is out of your control.
When accidents and vehicular crashes occur, injuries are some of the most obvious consequences of this kind of event. Depending on the severity and complexity of the crash, injuries sustained by the crash victims might be severe and very visible, while in other cases the injuries are hidden.
There are accident cases when survivors give testimonies of coming out of a serious car accident with just a few scratches. Unfortunately, this is not always the case as some injuries might not be very obvious or even noticed but will begin to manifest much later and if left untreated, they can become life-threatening.
In this article, we try to highlight some of these hidden car accident injuries that are not always easily seen but can be very serious if not noticed and managed accordingly.
4 Common Hidden Car Accident Injuries You Should Never Ignore
Here are the four common hidden car accident injuries no one should ever ignore.
- Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
This is one of the most hidden and unnoticed post-accident “injuries” a victim may suffer. Unfortunately, this is one of the most ignored and untreated consequences of an accident, be it a minor or major one.
The truth remains that people react differently to traumatic events they were involved in or witnessed. Some are wired in a way that allows them to easily get over such events within a short time limit while for others, it becomes more of a serious struggle to get over such events.
That is why some persons may continually experience unexpected highs and lows in their mood, post-accident. Others may in some instances develop a complete phobia for driving altogether, while others may show behaviours that highlight deep psychological injuries.
As much as our society does not really acknowledge the severity of this kind of injury, it does not eliminate the fact that it is a common hidden injury that most persons suffer after a crash.
If you begin to notice those unexpected mood swings and funny phobias, then it’s time you visit a hospital for a check-up. You may just be suffering from a hidden car accident injury that could completely alter the quality of life you live if left unhandled.
- Bulging or Swollen Abdomen
Unfortunately, this is a very common injury that doesn’t really announce itself immediately at the accident scene. Sometimes, it takes days to show up. The truth is, that the lower body is one area of the body that is prone to serious internal injuries in the event of a serious crash. That is one area of our body with a lot of vital organs and an injury to either of these may result in an internal haemorrhage or what we call internal bleeding.
Unfortunately, the evidence of internal bleeding may not become initially obvious for days after an accident depending on the severity of the internal trauma. So when you begin to notice swellings in your abdominal area, this could be evidence of internal bleeding and it is advised that you visit the hospital immediately if you notice this. This condition can be very life-threatening if ignored and left unmanaged.
When you bleed internally, you are losing blood your system needs to function optimally. If this situation continues without being arrested, it will get to a point where your body just shuts down with a very obvious result. So when you notice a continuously growing bulge or swelling, please consult your doctor immediately.
- Pain and Numbness
Some injuries may go unnoticed after an accident and only become obvious much later. These internal injuries usually become evident from the pain and numbness felt by the victims. These hidden injuries could be related to a herniated disc, or a damaged vertebra, ligament or muscle. This kind of hidden injury may affect some parts of the body and result in pain.
So accident victims might notice a growing pain in the neck and shoulder area or gradually increasing pain in the lower back area as well as a growing numbness or weakness of the hands and legs a few days or weeks after an accident.
So when you notice this kind of pain, especially after you were involved in an accident, please visit a hospital or consult your doctor immediately to ascertain the true situation and proffer a possible solution. Please do not ignore it as it might degenerate into a severe and non-manageable situation or one that will severely hamper the quality of life you live.
- Regular and Persistent Headaches
This is one of the most common hidden car accident injuries that can be very serious and may even be life-threatening. A headache can be an indicator of a possible Brain Trauma. The medical people call this condition Traumatic Brain Injuries TBI.
This kind of injury might occur when the brain crashes into the walls of the skull. This can result in an injury to some part of the brain depending on the severity of the trauma. In mild cases, no trauma may result. However, in extreme cases, severe trauma may occur, resulting in a brain haemorrhage.
A brain haemorrhage can result in a stroke or death in the long run if not properly managed. So, if you notice headaches after being involved in an accident even if it shows up days later, please do not ignore them and just take paracetamol or panadol. It will be in your best interest to visit a hospital or be checked out by your doctor for Traumatic Brain Injuries TBI.
Conclusion
The above-listed are some of the most common and highly dangerous internal injuries that could develop after a car crash or accident. Whether you’ve sustained physical injuries or not, it’s important to run tests after a car accident or crash for safety.
