Even a small accident can cause considerable pain to drivers and passengers. It’s normal to be sore after a car accident in Maryland. However, the extent of pain and discomfort depends on the circumstances of the collision.
At Rice, Murtha & Psoras, we treat our clients as individuals. We know no accident or set of symptoms is the same. the people we help range from those who suffer soreness for a couple of weeks to those who are left permanently disabled and paralyzed.
Unless you only suffer property damage in a fender bender you are likely to experience soreness after a car accident in Maryland. Even slow velocity accidents such as crashes at intersections and parking lots can cause injuries and soreness to those involved. Although it’s normal to be sore after a car accident in Maryland, some people sustain injuries without the soreness, at least initially. Car accident victims often suffer delayed symptoms after a car accident. Baltimore car accident lawyer Randolph Rice explains.
Suing for Delayed Symptoms After a Car Accident in Maryland
Car accidents are often emotional experiences. the body produces adrenalin. This excitement from a wreck can mask the pain associated with an injury. People who suffer low-grade injuries in car crashes often feel more pain the next day and acute pain on the third day. If you did not see a doctor immediately after the wreck, make sure to see one as soon as the pain sets in. Never delay seeking treatment. Don’t discount pain because the accident appears to be minor. Often rear-end collisions that cause little damage to your vehicle can cause injuries like whiplash.
Delayed symptoms after a Maryland car wreck include:
- Neck and shoulder pain – a possible symptom of whiplash;
- Abdominal pain;
- Back pain that may be a sign of a herniated disk or ligament damage;
- Numbness, weakness, or tingling in your limbs;
- Emotional symptoms and PTSD.
How Long Should You Be Sore After a Car Accident in Maryland?
As a rule of thumb, the more serious your injury, the longer you will be sore. This is an oversimplification. Some traumatic brain injuries cause little pain but you may suffer cognitive difficulties and mood swings. Psychological anguish like Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) may occur in people who suffer little physical pain.
Typically, soreness related to soft tissue injuries after a Maryland car accident clears up in a matter of weeks. Six weeks is the average recovery time after a car crash. However, the pain from an injury like whiplash can linger for months. the soreness from a herniated disk injury may last for over a year. Although most car accident victims make a good recovery, a few suffer symptoms for the rest of their lives. Injuries like burns can cause agony and ongoing soreness for months.
Is Soreness Linked to the Speed of a Collision?
Usually, high-speed wrecks cause greater damage to cars and the bodies of those involved than wrecks at low speeds. When two cars collide, the forces of both cars may be combined. This is the case in head-on wrecks which are statistically more deadly than most other kinds of accidents.
The higher the speeds of the cars involved in an accident in Maryland, the greater the dangers of serious injuries and long-lasting soreness. Nevertheless, low-speed T-bone accidents can cause grave injuries because cars offer less side protection to their occupants.
Is There a Relationship Between the Wearing of Seatbelts and Soreness After a Maryland Crash?
Seatbelts often protect motorists from the most serious effects of car wrecks. Accidents involving the ejection of drivers and passengers have the highest fatality rate. Although a seatbelt will typically keep you in the car, the belt can cause bruising, respiratory issues, organ damage, and whiplash. If a seatbelt partially fails and only holds the lower half of the car’s occupant in place he or she may suffer a spinal fracture.
Any bruising or other damage you suffer from a seatbelt is better than the alternative. According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 23,714 drivers and passengers in passenger vehicles lost their lives in accidents in 2016. More than half of them were not buckled up at the time of the crash. It’s a stark figure given that as many as 90 percent of drivers in Maryland wear seatbelts, according to Toward Zero Deaths Maryland. Young people aged 18-24 are less likely to wear safety belts than other age groups.
Should I Wait for Soreness to Subside Before Making an Accident Claim?
Some people wait until their treatment is over and the soreness has subsided before claiming for their injuries. This can make sense because you will have a better idea of the extent of your injuries and your Maryland personal injury lawyer can submit a claim. Although you can file a claim with the insurance company of the liable drier before the soreness goes away, you should never accept a settlement before you know the full extent of your injuries. Your Baltimore personal injury lawyer will calculate both your past and future medical costs. Once you have finished medical treatment we will have a better idea of whether you will need future procedures.
Talk to a Baltimore Car Accident Injury Lawyer About Soreness After a Collision
If you or a family member suffered an injury because of the actions of a reckless, distracted, negligent, or drunk driver in Maryland, you have a right to compensation from the driver who caused your pain. It’s important to tell a Maryland car accident attorney, as well as a doctor about all your symptoms and how many days you are sore for. Soreness forms part of the pain and suffering element of any personal injury lawsuit. Ideally, keep a diary and describe your discomfort and pain every day. This could prove vital in a future lawsuit or a court hearing. Document all of the symptoms you suffer from the time of your accident. Please contact our Maryland car wreck attorneys online or call us today at 410-694-7291.