Don’t ignore these signs after a work-related car crash

Car crashes can happen in a split second. Afterward, the emotional and financial distress often overpower the worry of physical injury. However, victims should monitor their physical well-being after a collision, especially if driving is part of their occupation.

Signs of physical injury don’t always present themselves right away. But delaying treatment can be risky, even deadly in some cases.

7 delayed injury red flags to watch for

Not everyone will display these in order or all at once. But if the victim or a loved one notice these signs, they may want to seek medical care quickly:

1. Neck pain: Neck pain can occur from whiplash, which causes the victim’s head to whip back and forth amid a crash.
2. Back pain: Back pain is also common. In many cases, people can suffer from lower back pain in rear-end collisions and side crashes, depending on the speed and acceleration of the vehicles.
3. Headaches: If a person has a headache that lasts several days or longer, they may want to see a doctor. A headache can be an early indicator of a traumatic brain injury (TBI). Depending on the severity of the crash, an intense headache may be a sign of a concussion or blood clot.
4. Swelling or abdominal bruises: Any bruise received after a car crash should get checked out immediately. In some cases, swelling, bruising or severe abdominal pain may be a sign of internal bleeding.
5. Loss of feeling in limbs: If people feel numbness in their arms or legs, this may be a sign of neck or spinal cord damage. Such damage can stem from whiplash-associated disorder.
6. Impaired cognitive ability: If the victim has trouble remembering things in their everyday life, they may have endured permanent or temporary brain damage from the crash.
7. Frequent disturbing memories of the crash: Car crashes can leave a lasting impact on anyone who endures them. If the victim has repeated memories of the crash that impacts their ability to function, it may be a sign of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Occupational crashes can leave victims unable to work

On-the-job car crashes can leave anyone in a tight spot. If the injuries are bad enough, it could leave them out of work for the foreseeable future, which may require them to seek out workers’ compensation benefits. An on-the-job car crash often results in two separate legal claims—a workers’ compensation claim filed against the employer, and a “third party claim” for negligence filed against the at-fault driver. Here at the Bollinger Law Firm, we can help you with both claims.