Car accidents are an unfortunate likely event that all of us will experience at least once in our lifetime. There are some car accident myths that many believe or are told to believe that may have hidden consequences.
While some minor aches and pains may subside with rest and time, it is not advisable to assume that all pain after a car accident will go away on its own.
Car accidents can cause a wide range of injuries, some of which may not be immediately apparent or noticeable. These injuries can lead to ongoing pain and discomfort if not properly diagnosed and treated. For example, soft tissue injuries such as whiplash or muscle strains can cause pain that may not fully manifest until several hours or even days after the accident.
In some cases, delaying treatment for car accident injuries can make the recovery process more difficult and prolonged.
While it is true that some people may experience pain or symptoms immediately following a car accident, it is also possible for symptoms to appear hours, days, or even weeks after the accident.
In some cases, the body’s natural response to trauma can mask pain and other symptoms for a period of time, making it difficult to identify injuries immediately after an accident. Additionally, some injuries, such as whiplash or soft tissue injuries, may take time to develop and may not show symptoms until several days after the accident.
This is why it is important to seek medical attention after any car accident, even if you do not immediately feel pain or other symptoms. A chiropractor can thoroughly evaluate your injuries and create a personalized treatment plan to help you recover and manage any pain or discomfort you may be experiencing, even if symptoms do not appear right away.
Even if you were involved in a low-speed car accident, you could still sustain injuries that will impact your life. Some of the most common injuries sustained in car accidents, such as whiplash and soft tissue injuries, can occur even in low-impact collisions. These types of injuries can be severe and may cause pain, discomfort, and other symptoms affecting your daily activities and quality of life.
Low-speed car accidents are those in which there are no skid marks, and the vehicles are minimally damaged. Most of the safety devices in our modern cars are built for higher-speed accidents, so they may not engage or deploy (we’re looking at you, airbags and seatbelts) in your low-speed accident, leading to more injuries.
Additionally, as mentioned earlier, some injuries may not show symptoms immediately after a car accident but may develop over time. This is why it is important to seek medical attention after any car accident, regardless of the severity of the accident or the amount of damage to the vehicles involved.
Be sure to read our other blog to avoid making mistakes when managing your Oregon car insurance after an auto accident.
While seatbelts and airbags are important safety features that can reduce the risk of injury in a car accident, they do not entirely eliminate the risk of injury.
Seatbelts are designed to keep occupants from being ejected from the vehicle in the event of a crash. They can also help distribute the force of a collision across the body, reducing the risk of serious injury. However, even with a seatbelt, occupants can still sustain injuries such as whiplash or soft tissue injuries, particularly in high-impact collisions. Seatbelts can actually cause some injuries like bruises, abrasions, internal organ damage, and vertebral fracture. These injuries are called “seatbelt syndrome.”
Airbags are designed to deploy in the event of a crash to provide an additional layer of protection for occupants, but they also have limitations. For example, airbags are not designed to prevent occupants from hitting their heads or other parts of their body against the inside of the vehicle during a crash, which can result in serious injuries. Airbags can possibly cause injury while they do their job of cushioning you. Some airbag injuries include burns, chest injuries, or fractured wrists, skull, or ribs.
Ultimately, while seatbelts and airbags can help to reduce the risk of injury in a car accident, they are not foolproof and cannot completely eliminate the risk of injury. In the event of a car accident, it is important to seek medical attention as soon as possible, even if you are wearing a seatbelt and the airbags have been deployed.
Sometimes, you get in a car accident, and you have younger passengers. Beyond using child restraint devices (booster seats and car seats) that are appropriate for their age and weight, throwing your arm across the passenger seat and asking, “Are you okay, buddy?” might not be enough. Younger children won’t necessarily tell you that they’re not feeling themselves. Pay attention to what they’re not saying, as whiplash, muscle strains, and brain injuries can still occur, even when they’re properly strapped into their special seats. 1 in 4 children in a car accident may develop acute traumatic stress symptoms, which can vary by age.
If your child is under 5, look out for these symptoms after a car accident:
Sleep problems
Increased clinginess or neediness
Regression (thumbsucking, bedwetting, fear of the dark)
If your child is school-age, look out for these symptoms after a car accident:
Ultimately, you know your child best, but paying attention to these changes can help your child get help sooner to avoid suffering through these symptoms alone. Not all of these symptoms happen immediately–it could be weeks or months after the car accident that these trauma-related symptoms appear. The physical injuries are more obvious, but a visit to the pediatrician or chiropractor can help your child get the help they need, whether it’s a conversation with the pediatrician or a referral for speaking to a therapist.
While it is true that visible damage to a car can indicate the severity of a car accident, it is not always a reliable indicator of whether or not someone has been injured.
In fact, some of the most common car accident injuries, such as whiplash and soft tissue injuries, can occur even in low-impact collisions where there is little to no visible damage to the vehicle. Additionally, the force of a car accident can be absorbed by various parts of the vehicle, such as the seatbelt or airbag, which can cause injuries to the body without causing visible damage to the car.
It is also important to note that pain and other symptoms may not fully manifest until hours or even days after the accident due to the body’s natural response to trauma. This can make it challenging to identify all of the injuries you may have sustained during the initial evaluation, even if there is no visible damage to the car.
It is important to understand that just because you were released from the ER or urgent care does not necessarily mean that you are not injured.
ER and urgent care facilities are primarily focused on identifying and treating life-threatening injuries and stabilizing patients in acute care situations. They may not always identify or treat less severe injuries, such as soft tissue injuries or whiplash, which can take time to develop and may not show up on initial imaging or evaluation.
Additionally, pain and other symptoms may not fully manifest until hours or even days after the accident, due to the body’s natural response to trauma. This can make it difficult for healthcare providers to identify all of the injuries you may have sustained during the initial evaluation.
It is also important to note that some injuries, such as whiplash, may not show up on imaging studies such as X-rays or CT scans. This is why a chiropractor may perform other diagnostic tests, such as range of motion and neurological testing, to identify these types of injuries and provide appropriate treatment.
This is a common belief among drivers. While it may seem logical to assume that a larger vehicle would provide more protection in the event of a car accident, this is not always the case.
The size and weight of a vehicle can certainly play a role in how it performs in a crash, but there are other factors to consider as well. For example, a larger vehicle may be more difficult to maneuver and may have a longer stopping distance than a smaller vehicle, which can increase the risk of an accident.
Additionally, safety features such as airbags, seat belts, and advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) can play a significant role in protecting drivers and passengers in the event of a crash. These safety features are often available on smaller vehicles as well as larger ones.
Ultimately, the safety of a vehicle depends on a combination of factors, including its size, weight, safety features, and the skill of the driver. It is important for drivers to prioritize safety when selecting a vehicle, but size alone is not a guarantee of safety.
Some people may believe that because they had pre-existing pain or injuries in certain areas, they cannot seek care for those areas after a car accident.
However, this is not true. Even if you had pre-existing pain or injuries in certain areas, a car accident can still exacerbate those conditions or cause new injuries in the same areas. Seeking medical care, including chiropractic care, after a car accident is important to identify and treat any new or worsened injuries, regardless of whether or not you had pre-existing conditions.
A chiropractor can evaluate your pre-existing conditions and any new injuries you may have sustained in the car accident, and create a treatment plan tailored to your specific needs. They can also help you manage any pain or discomfort you may be experiencing as a result of the accident and work with you to improve your overall health and wellness.
Seeking medical attention as soon as possible after a car accident is important to identify any injuries and begin treatment promptly. A chiropractor can perform a thorough evaluation of your injuries and create a personalized treatment plan to help you recover and manage any pain or discomfort you may be experiencing.
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