There are certain steps that people usually need to take immediately after a car crash. Most people understand that the law requires them to report a collision that results in injury or significant property damage to local law enforcement authorities. They may also ask for medical assistance at the scene of the crash when there are obvious injuries to any of the parties involved in the incident.
It is common practice for people to check themselves and the occupants of their vehicles for clear signs of injury immediately after a collision. People often fail to understand how easy it is to overlook traumatic injuries after a car crash.
What makes it so likely for injured people to miss the early warning signs of traumatic injuries?
The chemical response to a crash
The way the human body responds to a stressful incident can help people survive in an emergency. The intense chemical response to a trauma like a car crash gives people the energy and strength they need to flee a predator or fight back to save their lives. Unfortunately, the chemicals that allow people the strength to flee a dangerous situation also cover up the warning signs of a traumatic injury. People involved in car crashes may not feel any pain that can serve as the first warning sign of crash injuries until hours later when the fight-or-flight response fades.
The delayed onset of symptoms
Many of the worst crash injuries have the potential to generate delayed symptoms. For example, traumatic brain injuries often have few symptoms initially. However, as the pressure on the brain increases over time, the symptoms they present worsen as well. The same is true of internal bleeding in the torso or chest. It may only be when blood loss reaches a dangerous level or pressure on the organs produces secondary symptoms that people realize they need medical treatment.
It is surprisingly easy for those with life-threatening or life-altering injuries to overlook early warning signs. They may then face a worse medical prognosis and an uphill battle when seeking compensation for their injuries. Seeing a physician can help people diagnose and treat internal injuries following a motor vehicle collision. Those who receive a timely diagnosis may have a better chance of recovering from their injuries and they may find it easier to seek compensation from at-fault parties as well.