The largest city in North Central Florida, Gainesville is famous for its historic buildings and beautiful landscapes. But the city has an accident problem. Gainesville reported over 4,000 accidents in the year 2020, indicating a need for immediate measures.
Car accidents happen for many reasons, negligence being the most common. The following are some additional reasons for car accidents:
- Distracted driving
- Sleep-deprived driving
- Driving under the influence
- Speeding
- Violating traffic laws
A car accident can cause a huge financial loss to the victim. Most of the loss comes from the victim’s need to treat the serious injuries caused by the car accident. The victim has the option of claiming compensation from the at-fault party for their losses with the help of a Gainesville car accident lawyer. Doing this is important because it can help the victim recover from the losses and punish the at-fault party for their negligence.
One of the important things a person needs to do following an accident is seek medical attention. It is important because you may have injuries that don’t show immediate symptoms.
Yes, there are injuries that don’t show symptoms immediately.
Some of them are major ones too.
The following are some of the injuries that don’t show immediate symptoms:
- Whiplash
- Concussion
- Internal bleeding
- PTSD
- Blood clots
Whiplash
Whiplash is a serious injury that happens because of a sudden motion of the neck. It usually doesn’t show any symptoms for a long time. The following are some of the symptoms of whiplash:
- Headache
- Neck pain
- Neck stiffness
- Pain in the lower back
Whiplash can have permanent consequences.
Concussion
A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury that occurs due to a sudden jolt to the head. Some of the symptoms of concussion include:
- Nausea
- Difficulty in focusing
- Vomiting
- Balance problems
Concussions are pretty common in sports. Car accidents too cause sudden jolts to the head, so it is present in car accidents too.
Internal Bleeding
A major trauma to the body can cause internal bleeding. Internal bleeding is a pretty serious condition that usually occurs in the chest and stomach areas. Basically, it is bleeding within your body. The following are some of the common symptoms of internal bleeding:
- Dizziness
- Low blood pressure
- Loss of consciousness
- Diarrhea
You cannot diagnose internal bleeding on your own just because you know the symptoms. Seek the help of a doctor and let them check for internal bleeding.
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Emotional trauma is very hard to identify in the initial stages. If diagnosed in the initial stage, you can work on it and get better. It will be very hard to treat PTSD in the later stages.
PTSD is common in people who have gone through a traumatic event, such as a car accident. The following are the symptoms of PTSD:
- Flashbacks of the event
- Seizures
- Easily frightened
- Trouble sleeping and concentrating
Blood Clots
Blood clots are formed due to blunt-force trauma. It is a serious condition that mostly goes unnoticed until it reaches the severe stage. Blood clots can lead to heart attacks too. The following are some of the symptoms of blood clots:
- Trouble breathing
- Pain or discomfort
- Cramps
- Sharp pain in the chest
Problems with Delayed Symptoms
There is a rule called the statute of limitations, which sets a deadline for filing a personal injury claim. In most states, the statute of limitations for car accidents is three years. When you have delayed symptoms, the statute of limitations might be passed.
Another problem is that if you don’t take any treatment because you don’t have symptoms, the insurance company may argue that you intentionally made the injuries worse.
Final Thoughts
Hope this blog post helped you understand the importance of getting medical attention immediately after an accident. If you are injured in a car accident, seek medical attention and hire a lawyer to recover your losses.
