Some people involved in a car accident fail to notice they are injured until hours or days later. And in most cases, the injuries in question are usually worse by the time the victim gets medical attention.
But what can cause an injury to exist but be unnoticeable?
Adrenaline rush
After a car accident, the body will release an increased amount of adrenaline to trigger the “fight or flight response.” During the adrenaline rush, a victim’s alertness is heightened, and their blood pressure and heart rate are increased. Additionally, the pain of any injury can be masked. These adrenaline symptoms allow the body to focus on survival and taking action.
While adrenaline masking pain is initially advantageous, as it allows humans to quickly get out of dangerous situations, something that would have been impossible when feeling pain, it is generally considered risky. Someone injured in an accident may believe they are not injured due to the absence of pain. Accordingly, they may not seek medical attention or at least sooner.
Inflammatory response
Some car accident injuries can cause inflammation (a natural response to injury that helps the body heal, whose symptoms include swelling, pain, redness, heat and loss of function). Examples of such injuries include whiplash, joint misalignments, herniated discs and soft tissue injuries, such as muscle strains, ligament sprains and tendonitis.
While the inflammatory process can start almost immediately after an injury, it can take hours, days or weeks before its symptoms are noticeable. That’s why someone may begin to feel pain weeks after an accident or mild pain may worsen over time.
If you are involved in a car accident, you should immediately visit a doctor to be examined. They are likely to be able to discover injuries you miss. Then, get more information on how you can receive compensation for the damages you have suffered.