4 Symptoms You Shouldn’t Ignore After a Car Accident

At some point, every driver will likely be involved in some kind of incident in their vehicle. This past winter in Calgary, there were countless incidents on the roads resulting from poor conditions, unsafe driving, or even just plain bad luck.

Thankfully, the vast majority of incidents are minor, ranging from parking lot scrapes to low-speed collisions. Even if you’re involved in a more serious accident, the odds are good that you’ll walk away unharmed.

No matter what kind of accident you’re involved in, it’s essential to pay attention to your body and look for less obvious signs of injury. Even seemingly “minor” ailments can develop into something more severe over time, even resulting in chronic conditions or permanent disability.

Below, you’ll find four top symptoms that accident victims shouldn’t ignore, as well as what to do to ensure you’re fairly compensated for your injuries, and how James H. Brown’s team of experienced injury lawyers can help.

1. Back, Neck, and Shoulder Pain

While it’s normal to be sore after a car accident, back, neck, and shoulder pain can point to a wide variety of injuries, including whiplash, ligament injuries, and spinal injuries. Depending on the type of injury, you may not even feel pain right away, with symptoms only appearing after days, weeks, or even months. No matter when you begin to experience pain, you should seek a complete medical diagnosis.

2. Headaches

Many things can cause a headache, but frequent, intense headaches after an accident can be a sign of a concussion, whiplash, blood clot, or other serious brain injuries. If these symptoms appear after an accident (even if you didn’t sustain a blow to the head), consult a medical professional immediately.

3. Numbness & Unexplained Bruising

Numbness and bruising can be outward symptoms of serious internal injuries. In particular, they can indicate a herniated or spinal cord injury that may go undetected without diagnostic tests like X-rays or MRIs.

4. Emotional Distress

Serious car accidents are traumatizing events. Like any trauma suffered in one’s life, your car accident could potentially give you nightmares, cause you anxiety and stress, or leave you feeling not quite like yourself.

These symptoms can also be an indicator of a traumatic brain injury, or other underlying conditions. Post-concussion syndrome, PTSD, or other brain injuries are common results of serious collisions, particularly (but not necessarily) those involving a blow to the head. If symptoms won’t go away or worsen over time, seek help from a medical and/or psychological professional.

What To Do If You Think You May Be Injured

If you think you may be injured due to a car accident, take the following steps to protect your help and secure fair compensation for your injuries:

Seek Medical Attention Immediately. Doctors and healthcare providers will be able to provide you with a full diagnosis of your injuries, as well as confirm if they were indeed caused by your accident. Their records will become a critical part of your case, so make sure to describe your injuries in detail.
Start Documenting Damages. Are you still sore months after your accident? Did it affect your ability to work or spend time with your family? Did your accident cause unexpected expenses? Write it down! Thoroughly documenting your damages is the best way to secure fair compensation for them; no detail is too minor!
Seek Legal Advice. Motor vehicle accident law is complicated in Alberta. After suffering injuries in a car accident, a team of experienced injury lawyers is your best bet for protecting your rights and securing the compensation you deserve.

Accident Injury Law with James H. Brown

For nearly thirty years, James H. Brown and Associates have proudly represented Albertans in auto accident claims, with a proven track record of attaining justice and fair compensation for our clients. During that time, we’ve helped countless individuals and their families, including many whose injuries weren’t initially apparent.

With over 200 years of combined injury law experience, we know that every accident is unique. That’s why we proudly offer a complete range of services and support for our clients, including:

An award-winning team of injury lawyers with an unrivalled record of success.
Investigation and evidence preservation services, including accident reconstruction.
Access to experts able to determine the full extent of injuries and provide important documentation for your case.
Strong relationships with organizations ready to assist with rehabilitation and recovery.

James H. Brown proudly serves Calgary, Edmonton, and other communities across Alberta.