Red Flags for Injuries After Truck Accidents

Truck accidents are fundamentally dangerous affairs, often completely totaling smaller vehicles and killing their occupants. If you do make it out of a truck accident without serious injuries and a prompt trip to the emergency room, however, you should still see a doctor as soon as possible. Furthermore, be vigilant of these clear red flags that you could have delayed-onset injuries and severe wounds that might not be immediately apparent in the minutes, days, or even weeks after a crash.

Signs of Delayed Onset Injuries

Delayed onset injuries can manifest at any point after the date of your accident, so you should regularly examine your body and be mindful of what you feel, even if you’ve already seen a doctor. Experiencing any of these symptoms after a truck crash is more than enough cause to contact a doctor:

• Pain: Any amount of pain, of any type, in any part of your body, should never be dismissed. While some soreness is inevitable after an accident, soft-tissue trauma can be nearly impossible to distinguish from more severe crash-related injuries on your own.
• Headaches: Whiplash, concussions, and spinal cord trauma can all manifest as migraines, which means that headaches could signify both mild and severe conditions. 
• Stiffness: Loss of mobility in any part of the body, but especially in the neck and back, often denotes a soft-tissue sprain or spinal cord injury, and could potentially get worse with time if left untreated.
• Swelling and bruising: Bruising, swelling, and general inflammation are some of the earliest signs of internal bleeding, fractures, and similar internal injuries. While some bruises may be the result of benign bumps, you shouldn’t assume that to be the case.
• Numbness and tingling: Sensory phenomena are far more severe than they might initially seem, as numbness is often a sign of spinal cord injuries or other nervous system damage.
• Behavior changes and impairment: Changes to your behavior and psyche can occasionally be the result of regular stress and pain, but should always be treated with the utmost caution. Irritability, poor memory, depression, anxiety, and cognitive impairments are often signs of severe physical or mental trauma.

Failing to see a doctor despite noticing symptoms of potential injuries is both incredibly unsafe and risky for your compensation. Delayed-onset injuries are already difficult to conclusively link to a crash, but if it’s revealed that you failed to take basic care of yourself and act responsibly, adjusters may be able to completely deny you compensation based on your clear disregard for your well being. Always play it safe and see a doctor if you’re not sure whether your symptoms warrant examination.

Compensation for Arizona Truck Accident Injuries

No matter the form your injury takes, you can file for full compensation for the expenses it incurs and the suffering you experience. ELG’s Arizona truck accident attorneys can provide you with the knowledge and legal resources necessary to pursue a successful claim, ensuring that you can afford and focus on appropriate treatment without having to worry about the burden of thorough investigations and legal paperwork. Schedule a free consultation today with one of our Arizona personal injury attorneys by calling us at (623) 877-3600, and we’ll get you started on the road to recovery.