Whether you’re a permanent resident of Florida or a tourist who is just passing through, another driver’s negligence can not only ruin your day but cause you serious injury. The problem is that not all injuries are immediately apparent. This is why it’s so important to closely monitor your condition for days and weeks after a collision has occurred.
Your primary concern in the immediate aftermath of a crash is always to obtain medical attention. The rescue workers who respond to the scene can help determine if you have visible injuries, but it’s best to go to the hospital for further examination. Beyond that, keep watch for certain symptoms to develop during early recovery.
These symptoms suggest internal injuries
After a collision, you may feel scared, upset, sore and tired. These are common immediate-aftermath symptoms. The following list, however, shows additional symptoms that may signal a serious, underlying health issue that may pose a serious, even life-threatening risk:
- If you feel light-headed or faint, it might mean you have internal bleeding and that you have lost a lot of blood.
- Bruising is common after blunt force trauma, but deep purple coloration on the skin can signal internal injury.
- Any abdominal pain or swelling after a collision is an urgent health condition as it might mean your liver or spleen has suffered serious injury.
- Headache, confusion, ringing in the ear or facial discomfort are all symptoms of traumatic brain injury.
In addition to these symptoms, if you simply are not feeling better or are feeling worse as you recover from a motor vehicle collision, it’s always best to report your symptoms to a licensed physician or go to an emergency room if you need immediate care.
Who pays the medical bills?
You might feel hesitant to seek additional medical care after a motor vehicle collision if you’re worried about meeting expenses. Many people describe similar feelings, including running into credit card debt because they used credit to cover their expenses.
When another person’s negligence causes a collision that results in your injuries, you shouldn’t be the one who has to bear the full burden of financial responsibility, which is why Florida law allows recovering victims to seek financial recovery for their losses in civil court.