Motor vehicle collisions can cause many different severe injuries. People can break bones or experience traumatic amputations. They may be at risk of a spinal cord injury that leaves them dependent on mobility technology for the rest of their lives. Collisions are a leading cause of severe traumatic injury and premature mortality in Illinois and the St. Louis, Missouri area.
Most people are aware of that risk and check themselves for injuries immediately after a collision. They can then inform local authorities about their concerns as they call to report the crash and seek emergency assistance. Some people involved in collisions may assume that they are unhurt or have only sustained minor injuries, only to discover serious injuries later.
People involved in crashes generally need to be aware of their risk of overlooking serious injuries.
Not all injuries are instantly obvious
There are two main reasons why people fail to notice their medical issues immediately after car crashes. The first relates to how the body reacts to the trauma of a crash. A flood of adrenaline and other chemicals produced by the brain in an emergency situation can give people a boost of energy.
This chemical response to trauma also hides pain symptoms, allowing them to overlook injuries that become obvious later. A person with devastatingly painful whiplash, for example, might not have any major symptoms until the day after the collision.
The second reason people overlook their collision injuries is the delayed onset of symptoms. Particularly when conditions relate to inflammation or internal bleeding, it could be days before the injured person recognizes that they need medical care.
People involved in a rollover collision could potentially develop traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) because of violent vehicle motions. However, it could be days or even weeks before the pressure inside their skull reaches a point where it produces noticeable symptoms.
Internal bleeding in the chest or abdomen could also escape notice until days after the collision when the bruising, inflammation or blood loss from the injury becomes impossible to ignore. When there is a gap between the collision and the injured person’s diagnosis, they may have a more complicated process ahead when seeking compensation.
Seeing a doctor shortly after a crash occurs in St. Louis, Missouri or Illinois can help rule out or identify serious injuries. People who see doctors the day of a motor vehicle collision may have a better long-term prognosis and an easier time requesting compensation for their injury-related losses.