Tip #6--Severe car accidents can cause both physical and emotional injuries

After a high speed accident, the occupants of the cars may suffer well-known injuries such as whiplash of the neck; shoulder injuries sometimes necessitating surgery;  upper, middle and low back injuries; hip, arm or leg injuries;  broken bones, abrasions and contusions.

Lesser known symptoms caused by accidents include chest and hip trauma caused by seatbelts, broken ribs, swelling and stiffness of the neck affecting swallowing and turning the head, headaches including traumatically induced migraines.   Accident victims often have difficulty sleeping due to discomfort.

Head trauma, concussion and mild traumatic brain damage can also be caused by a car accident.  These injuries can cause severe headaches or migraines, difficulty concentrating, difficulty remembering facts and conversations, emotional and personality changes.  A brain injury may even erase an entire area of brain functioning like ability to use numbers or ability to read.

Psychological symptoms include anxiety, anger, frustration, depression.  Many accident victims have
driving anxiety because driving in traffic brings back the memories of their accident.  In some cases,
driving can cause a panic attack.  Some victims have bad dreams about accidents or relive the accident during the day causing anxiety.

Be sure to tell your doctor about all of the symptoms that appear after an accident.  It is the doctor's job to decide which symptoms are connected to the accident and to prescribe treatments to help you. It is important to see your doctor or go to the Emergency Room as soon as possible after the accident, and to follow through with treatments.  In this way, your medical records will document your injuries and symptoms and this will help your insurance claim and your attorney.