What To Expect Physically After Car Accident Guide

After a crash, it’s common to experience a wide range of effects on the body—what you can expect physically after a car accident often depends on the severity of the impact. Even if you feel fine at first, adrenaline can mask pain and delay symptoms. That’s why it’s essential to seek medical attention right away, as some injuries may not become apparent until hours or even days later.

Knowing what to expect physically after a car accident is crucial. The awareness of what symptoms to be alert for and the need to seek medical attention immediately if and when they appear is one of the most important things you can do to increase your chances for making the best possible recovery and reducing the likelihood that your injuries will have permanent, life-altering effects.

Awareness is key. Prompt medical attention creates a clear temporal relationship that is important for insurance companies to know your injuries really are caused from your accident and prevents disputes down the road. More importantly, it can help when there are delays or when you seek treatment for injuries that did not appear to show up immediately after a crash. These delayed injuries and symptoms happen all the time, often because one injury, such as neck pain or a back injury, may cause radiation into an arm or a leg, or because the true significance of an injury is not fully appreciated because they are overshadowed by other more obvious injuries and symptoms. Many profoundly disabling injuries, such as a traumatic brain injury, can be “masked” by strong narcotic medications that people are taking for serious bodily injuries. People often won’t be truly aware of the impact of these masked injuries until they try to return to work months later.

To learn more, please check out our “Personal Injury” Resource page.

Common symptoms to expect physically after a car accident

Even if you feel fine immediately after a crash, signs of injury can develop hours—or even days—later. Here’s what to expect physically after a car accident, including common injuries and warning signs to watch for:

• Pain and stiffness – Generalized soreness, neck or back pain, and headaches are some of the most common symptoms. These can be signs of soft tissue injuries like whiplash or muscle strain.
• Numbness and tingling – A tingling or numb sensation in your arms, legs, hands, or feet may point to nerve damage or more serious issues such as a spinal injury.
• Chest pain or trouble breathing – Chest discomfort could be caused by seatbelt pressure, but it might also signal internal injuries or broken ribs. Always have chest pain evaluated by a doctor.
• Swelling and bruising – Bruising and inflammation are typical after a collision and may indicate deeper tissue damage, especially if the swelling is severe or doesn’t subside.
• Headaches and dizziness – These can be early signs of a concussion, whiplash, or another head injury—even if your head didn’t strike anything during the crash.
• Nausea and Vomiting – Feeling sick to your stomach may be related to a head injury or internal bleeding and should never be ignored.
• Delayed Symptoms – Some injuries—like whiplash, concussions, or spinal trauma—may not show up immediately. Be alert for symptoms that develop in the days following the crash.
• Signs of Shock – Rapid heartbeat, clammy skin, confusion, or weakness could indicate your body is in shock, which requires immediate medical attention.
• Possible Broken Bones – Sharp pain, visible swelling, or bruising near the site of an injury may suggest a fracture or broken bones.
• Risk of Blood Clots -In severe cases, blood clots can form and travel to critical areas like the lungs or brain, leading to potentially life-threatening conditions such as pulmonary embolism or stroke.

What to expect physically for a TBI after a car accident

Below are the symptoms on what you can expect physically after a car accident if you have suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI). If you are experiencing any of the following symptoms, then you should seek medical attention immediately:

• Loss of consciousness
• Loss of memory of events immediately before the accident
• Loss of memory of events immediately after the accident
• Feeling dazed, disoriented or confused
• Feeling drowsy and/or difficult to arouse
• Difficulty thinking clearly and reasoning
• Difficulty making decisions and solving problems
• Difficulty concentrating and paying attention
• Difficulty communicating
• Word-finding difficulty
• Mental trauma
• Problem-solving difficulty
• Poor judgment
• Depression
• Lack of insight
• Slurred speech
• Headaches
• Movement disorders
• Concussion
• Seizures
• Nausea or vomiting
• Dizziness
• Balance problems
• Blurred vision
• Sensitivity to noise and light
• Ringing in ears
• Sleeping a lot

What to expect physically for a disc or spine injury after a car accident

Disc injuries and spine injury symptoms are not the same for everyone, but there is a common range of symptoms spine injury survivors you can expect physically after a car accident. If you are experiencing any of the following symptoms, then you should seek medical attention immediately:

• Persistent pain along the spine
• Persistent aching or stiffness along the spine
• Muscle weakness
• Loss of movement/restricted movement
• Muscle spasms
• Numbness
• Loss of sense of temperature
• Loss of sense of touch
• Feeling a tingling sensation
• Difficulty breathing
• Sexual dysfunction
• Pinching sensation along your spine
• Painful stinging along your spine
• Problems with your digestion
• Loss of bowel or bladder control

What to expect physically for a shoulder injury after a car accident

Below are the symptoms on what you can expect physically after a car accident for a shoulder injury. If you are experiencing any of the following symptoms below, then you should seek immediate medical attention:

• Shoulder pain when lifting or lowering arm, reaching overhead or behind the back or pulling objects
• Shoulder weakness
• Loss of shoulder range of motion
• Limited range of motion
• Catching, locking, popping and grinding sensations
• Instability
• Shoulder weakness
• Tingling or numbness in the shoulder
• Swelling in the shoulder area
• Stiffness
• Inability to perform your normal daily activities

What to expect physically for depression after a car accident

Depression frequently goes undiagnosed and untreated by doctors because the symptoms are attributed to other injuries that a person has suffered in an accident. That’s why being aware of the symptoms is so important. Below are the symptoms that you can expect physically after a car accident if you have suffered from depression. If you are experiencing any of the following symptoms, then you should seek medical attention immediately:

• Sadness and unhappiness
• A feeling of emptiness
• Loss of interest in normal activities
• Changes in appetite
• Inability to sleep or sleeping too much
• Restlessness
• Irritability
• Fatigue and loss of energy
• Feeling worthless
• Feeling guilty
• Inability to concentrate and focus
• Frequent thoughts of death, dying or suicide
• Crying spells for no apparent reason

Thing to keep in mind after a crash

• Adrenaline Can Mask Pain – Right after a crash, your body may release adrenaline, which can temporarily hide pain or injury. Even if you feel okay, it’s important to get checked by a medical professional as soon as possible.
• Symptoms May Be Delayed – Injuries such as whiplash, concussions, or soft tissue damage may not show up right away. What to expect physically after a car accident can evolve over time, so it’s important to watch for new or worsening symptoms in the hours or days that follow.
• Minor Pain Can Signal Major Issues – Even small aches or stiffness shouldn’t be ignored. What seems minor at first may be a sign of something more serious, such as a spinal injury or internal damage.
• Don’t Delay Medical Treatment – Getting prompt medical care is essential for your health—and for protecting your legal rights. Documentation of your injuries is also a key part of any insurance or legal claim.

Can I sue the at-fault driver?

In Michigan, you can sue the at-fault driver to recover pain and suffering compensation (if you meet the serious impairment of bodily function threshold), excess wage loss benefits, excess medical benefits and for a mini tort recovery to pay for repairing damage to your vehicle.

Seriously injured in a crash? Call Michigan Auto Law now!

If you were injured in a crash in Michigan and are not sure what to expect physically and have questions about your legal rights to compensation, call now (800) 968-1001 for a free consultation with one of our experienced car accident lawyers. There is no cost or obligation. You can also visit our contact page or use the chat feature on our website.

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