What To Expect Physically After a Car Accident

April 15, 2024

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It can be difficult to know what to expect physically after a car accident. With so much up in the air, it can feel like you are facing a new world full of unknowns. When will the pain stop? When will you be able to get back to work? How are you going to pay for all of your medical treatment? What if you don’t heal as expected?

To be sure, this challenging experience is filled with frustration. Your recovery will depend on your specific car accident symptoms and should be discussed with your healthcare provider as soon as possible.

Knowing what to expect physically after a car accident gives you an advantage. You’ll also want to learn more about the legal unknowns you are facing. We encourage you not to wait to discuss your situation with an experienced Orlando car accident attorney. There are time limits that apply to car accident claims, and it is always better to ensure your rights are protected.

The lawyers at Colling Gilbert Wright can help inform and support you after a car accident. Call us at (407) 712-7300 today for a FREE case evaluation. We proudly represent our neighbors in Orlando and throughout Florida.

What Happens to Your Body When You Get in a Car Accident?

Car accidents can be incredibly violent collisions that affect the body in several ways, from bruises and cuts to broken bones and traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). The human body is simply not designed to face the amount of force suffered in car accidents. The bones and muscles that typically protect us cannot keep us safe at great impact. Blood vessels rupture, muscles tear, nerves are damaged, bones fracture, and tissue tears.

In response to this trauma, your body can release high amounts of adrenaline. While this can be helpful to get you through the pain, it can also be dangerous since you may not realize how serious your injuries are. Additionally, you could go into a state of shock following a serious car accident, especially if you lose a lot of blood. This can be life-threatening, requiring immediate medical attention.

Physical Symptoms To Expect After a Car Crash

After a car crash, it may be difficult to evaluate your injuries accurately. You may not be experiencing many car accident symptoms due to the adrenaline rushing through your body. That said, while you may be in a hazy mental state, there are a few physical things to look for, including:

Broken bones
Lacerations
Bleeding
Burns
Numbness or tingling
Localized pain

You should always seek medical attention following a car accident. If injuries are severe, call 911 or go to the emergency room. For less serious injuries, try urgent care or make an appointment with your medical provider.

Can It Take Time for Car Accident Symptoms To Appear?

In some cases, it can take time for car crash symptoms to appear after a car accident. This can especially be the case with internal injuries you are unable to see, such as TBIs or internal bleeding.

TBI symptoms, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), can take hours or days to appear.
Internal bleeding may not be obvious—or may not even begin—until hours or days after trauma, according to WebMD.
Whiplash symptoms, according to Mayo Clinic, can also take days to manifest.

These are just a few examples. There are many more injuries, including psychological ones, that may take time to lead to noticeable symptoms. For example, you may not recognize you are suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) until you attempt to drive again after an accident.

Long-Term Effects of Car Accidents

While we hope you recover quickly from your injuries, many car accident victims do suffer long-term effects, including physical and psychological symptoms:

TBIs: Brain injuries, including concussions, can result in long-term symptoms, including memory problems, headaches, dizziness, fatigue, seizures, and more, according to the University of Utah.
Spinal cord injuries: Back injuries can be some of the most challenging to recover from, sometimes resulting in chronic pain. In the worst cases, spinal cord injuries can lead to temporary or permanent paralysis.
Scarring/disfigurement: Accident victims can also suffer long-term from scarring or disfigurement caused by cuts or burns. This can be extremely difficult to deal with emotionally, often resulting in depression, social withdrawal, and more.
PTSD: Beyond the fear of being in a vehicle again after an accident, accident victims can suffer long-term additional PTSD symptoms, including difficulty sleeping, trouble concentrating, irritability, anger, and self-destructive behavior.

These long-term effects are not only painful to endure—they can also be very expensive to manage. This is why car accident victims should always explore their legal options for recovering compensation for their damages.

How Long After a Car Accident Should Your Body Still Hurt?

How long you continue to experience painful car accident symptoms depends on both the type and severity of your injuries. For example, soft tissue injuries—such as whiplash or strains—usually take a few days to a few weeks to heal, according to the Cleveland Clinic. However, severe whiplash can take months to heal, especially when it is combined with additional injuries or inflammation around your spine.

Broken bones can take as little as a few weeks to as long as a couple of years to fully heal, though generally, they take a few months, per the Cleveland Clinic. Unfortunately, the answer “it depends” applies to most injuries, from TBIs to spinal cord injuries.

Every injury and every individual is different. It can be difficult to predict just how long you will still be in pain following an accident. Ultimately, we recommend relying on the advice and input from your doctor and care team.

Tips to Speed Up Your Physical & Financial Recovery

Receiving medical treatment and following your treatment plan is the best way to speed up your physical recovery. If you fail to do so, it may extend your recovery time or even make your injuries worse. Always follow the guidance of your doctor. They will know better than anyone what to expect physically after a car accident.

Doing so may also speed up your financial recovery. If you fail to receive the medical treatment you need within 14 days of your accident, it may make it difficult or impossible to recover the compensation you deserve for your damages. Beyond timely medical treatment, reviewing your case with an attorney as soon as possible can also help expedite your financial recovery.

Colling Gilbert Wright’s Orlando Car Crash Lawyers Can Help

At Colling Gilbert Wright, we’re here to help. Suffering severe injuries after an accident is often very difficult to handle. When you layer in the legal and financial challenges, it can feel almost insurmountable.

The car accident lawyers at Colling Gilbert Wright are passionate advocates for injured victims. We will do everything we can to ensure your rights are protected and you recover the compensation you deserve.

Now that you know a little more about what to expect physically after a car accident, it’s time to discuss your claim. Contact us today for a FREE case evaluation. Our Orlando car accident attorneys are committed to doing the right thing for our clients. Let us ensure you are seeking the compensation you deserve for your injuries.