Watch Out for These Delayed Symptoms After a Truck Accident

Truck accidents have a high mortality rate, due primarily to the sheer size difference between a truck and the other vehicle involved. Survivors of truck accidents often have catastrophic injuries that affect the remainder of their lives. However, sometimes the injuries survivors experience are not apparent initially. The adrenaline and other chemical reactions work quickly to help mitigate the feelings of injury. Many signs and symptoms present themselves later. Consider the following delayed injury symptoms to keep in mind.

Pain or swelling of the abdomen immediately following an accident is typically normal due to any pressure and impact from the seat belt or another surface of the vehicle. If the pain and swelling persist beyond a few days, consider consulting with a physician as swelling is also a symptom of potential internal bleeding. Other signs of internal bleeding include:

• Bruising;
• Headaches;
• Dizziness;
• Lightheadedness; or
• Fainting.

A headache for one or two days after a severe accident is common. Although stress does lead to head pain, there are many reasons why you should not assume it is stress related. If you are experiencing prolonged headaches, a trip to the doctor is in order. Even if your head did not hit anything within your vehicle, your brain may still have ricocheted around, thus resulting in potentially life-threatening injuries. Headaches following an accident can indicate:

• Concussion;
• Whiplash;
• Neck injury;
• Head or brain Injury; or
• Blood Clots.

If you have pain in your lower back lasting longer than a few days, your doctor will begin doing further testing to rule out the following possibilities: whiplash, sprains, strains, disk herniations, and bulging disks. Some patients also experience numbness, tingling, or weakness in the lower back or with an extremity such as an arm or a leg. Doctors perform x-rays, CT scans, and MRIs to find the cause of the numbness. Sometimes, an injury to the spine can pinch nerves, which restricts touch-sensitivity and mobility to the limb to which the nerve leads. One common diagnosis is Sciatica, which occurs when the Sciatic nerve in the lower back becomes pinched, resulting in numbness, pain, or weakness in the leg.

If you suffer from any of the mentioned symptoms, it is essential that you speak with a physician as soon as possible to reduce potential life-altering effects. If your pain began as the result of a truck accident, a San Jose truck accident attorney can also help. At Cerri, Boskovich & Allard we help victims of negligent truck driving accidents recover full compensation for their injuries. Find out how our skilled attorneys can help you by calling (408) 289-1417 to schedule a free initial consultation.

• Internal Bleeding Due to Trauma
• Car Accident Sciatica Origin