Minor car accidents usually don’t make headlines. However, they can still cause major pain – literally and figuratively – for those involved. The key is that with a rear-end collision or other minor car accident, that physical pain might not show up right away.
Six signs that you might have whiplash
Whiplash is a classic delayed injury following a low-impact crash. The symptoms of a whiplash injury can take days or even weeks to show up, though, so many people delay seeking medical treatment until symptoms persist long enough. They may even write them off as related to something other than their car accident.
Here are some common signs of whiplash:
- Frequent unexplained headaches or migraines
- Persistent neck pain or stiffness in the neck
- Localized back pain
- Pain or numbness in shoulders, arms or hands
- Chronic fatigue or dizziness
- Blurred vision
If you experience any of these symptoms after a minor car crash, seek medical attention right away. Getting medical help not only means you’ll hopefully start feeling better, but also begins building a paper trail of how this crash impacted you.
Once you’re on the road to recovery, consider calling an experienced personal injury attorney. He or she can help you determine whether you have a legitimate injury claim against the person who hit your car.
Other effects of a minor car crash
Whiplash isn’t the only thing someone might suffer in a rear-end collision or other minor crash. Any car accident, no matter how large or small, is a traumatic event. You could experience periodic flashbacks, lose sleep, become depressed or irritable, or have difficulty concentrating on anything.
While these are all normal symptoms of emotional trauma, they should not be ignored or minimized. You could be suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which is actually fairly common for accident survivors – even of minor accidents. Seeking professional help from a qualified therapist or medical professional shouldn’t be out of the question.
The good news here is that you can seek compensation for the costs of therapy and other damages from the at-fault party. An attorney can help you manage this process and take the stress off your shoulders so you can focus on recovery.