They come in many different degrees—a fender bender, a crash, a serious accident—call them what you want, they all can be traumatizing. Because of the force involved with one of these collisions, a lot of varying injuries can happen. Most of these injuries can be seen and felt right away, but in certain situations, injuries may take time to be felt. The effects of a collision can be a long-term ordeal that needs time to heal.
The car accident attorneys at Colucci Colucci & Marcus, P.C. in Boston represent those with sustained injuries as a result of an accident, regardless of when they appear.
What To Look Out For After An Accident?
Often, during an accident, the natural release of adrenalin can mask the pain of a sustained injury. Later, after the adrenalin subsides, the pain rises.
First things first: it is always important to seek medical attention as soon as you can after an accident. The chances of your complete recovery will improve with prompt and precise medical treatment.
It is also really important to keep all the medical records concerning both your immediate and delayed injuries when it comes time to make a claim for compensation with the responsible party’s insurance companies.
Two of the most common delayed injuries are:
- Soft tissue injuries
- Concussions
Soft Tissue Injuries
A soft tissue injury occurs when damage is done to tendons, ligaments, and muscles. Whiplash is a common form of soft tissue injury and may not appear immediately. Some of the symptoms of soft tissue injuries include:
- Pain
- Swelling
- Bruising
According to John Hopkins Medicine, other types of these injuries can be classified as:
- Contusions – bruises resulting in pain, swelling, and discoloration
- Sprains – painful, partial tears to a ligament, often to the ankles, knees, or wrists
- Stress fracture – a small crack in a bone, often occurs in the legs, hips, and feet
- Strains – injuries to muscles or tendons
- Tendonitis – an inflammation of the tendon, the tissue connecting muscle to bones, and usually affects the elbow, hand, wrist, shoulder, hip, knee, ankle, or foot
- Bursitis – the inflammation of the bursa, a sac that provides a cushion between bones and muscles or tendons. It commonly affects the shoulder, elbow, knee, hip, ankle, and foot
Concussions
Symptoms from a concussion may be immediately apparent, but there are other instances when the symptoms do not appear or are not noticed right away.
According to John Hopkins Medicine, the common symptoms of a concussion may include:
- Raised or swollen areas of the head from a bump or a bruise
- Small or shallow cut in the scalp
- Headaches
- Confusion
- Irritability
- Nausea
- Fatigue
- Blurred vision
- “Tired” eyes
- Ears ringing
- Alteration in taste
- Sensitivity to noise and light
- Lightheadedness and/or dizziness
- Memory issues and/or concentration
- Disrupted sleep patterns
Do Not Delay In Getting Help
If you have recently been in an accident and experience any of these symptoms, you should seek medical attention as soon as possible. If you are in the Boston area do not delay in contacting Colucci Colucci & Marcus, P.C. personal injury attorneys for a free consultation or by calling (617) 698-6000.
