Pains after a car crash are indicative that you have been injured in a way that requires physician care. Unfortunately, the place and type of your pain is not always helpful in determining the type of injury you have, and many times pain will not develop until several days after the accident.
See a Doctor: Headache
While most individuals have suffered a headache at one time or another, a very painful, prolonged headache after an auto accident should be taken more seriously. This type of headache can mean that you have a brain hemorrhage, internal bleeding or spinal damage. Take all headaches seriously and seek medical help if they are not treatable by over the counter medications.
See a Doctor: Difficulty Walking
If immediately after or within a few hours of being involved in a car accident you are unable to walk or walking becomes difficult, seek medical attention. Difficulty walking can indicate that pressure is developing on your spine, a serious condition that could lead to total paralysis if not treated.
See a Doctor: Slurred Speech
Developing slurred speech after an accident can indicate a concussion or even brain damage. After an accident, ask a family member or close friend to watch you for a few hours to see if you develop slurred speech. This occurrence may indicate that you need immediate medical help.
See a Doctor: Chest or Arm Pains
Pain or numbness in your chest or arms may indicate that your heart is under stress after an auto accident. This stress may be serious enough to cause a heart attack or mean that too much or too little blood is flowing throughout your body. Heart problems should always be taken very seriously; if you develop such problems, seek physician treatment.
See a Doctor: Open Wounds
If you have bleeding wound or severely deep or dark bruises, seek medical help. While traditionally injured individuals will treat small wounds on their own, after an auto accident an open wound may have glass or other foreign objects inside. A physician will need to clean these wounds and sometimes apply heavier bandages or sew the wound closed.
See a Doctor: Bloody Stool or Upset Stomach
There is often no indication that you are bleeding internally. Sometimes, an injured person will have an upset stomach or pass blood from their system because their body is unable to process the fluid. If this develops, seek immediate physician care.
Getting Medical and Legal Help
If you develop any of these symptoms, seek immediate medical treatment. Subsequent to treatment, obtain legal advice about whether your medical problems are compensable by the other parties involved in the auto accident.
