With so much traffic in the Fort Walton Beach area now that summer is upon us, we are seeing an increase in rear-end collisions.
This is the kind of accident that jolts you and jars your nerves, but you are more worried about the damage to your car than to yourself. However, delayed symptoms may show that you suffered more of an injury than you think. Here are four common symptoms of medical issues that may not show up at the time of the crash:
1. Back pain
Back pain is a common result of a minor, rear-end collision, occurring in over half of these accidents. There could be damage to the spinal column, nerves, muscles or ligaments.
2. Headaches
If you are the victim of a rear-end collision, you may begin to have headaches in the days after. This could signal an underlying condition, such as a concussion, a blood clot in your brain or a neck injury.
3. Abdominal pain
This kind of pain may point to internal bleeding, which could be a life-threatening condition that needs to be diagnosed and treated as soon as possible.
4. Personality change
If you find you have problems with your memory, hearing, vision, movement or balance, you may have a traumatic brain injury. In fact, motor vehicle crashes represent the third-leading cause of TBI, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Seeking medical care
In addition to the more than 200,000 full-time residents in our part of Florida, the Fort Walton Beach area is visited by more than two million tourists each year. Since most people drive, car crashes are common, especially low-speed, rear-end collisions. A personal injury attorney will tell you that injuries, too, are common, even in a minor accident. Drivers and their passengers should seek medical care promptly, because delayed symptoms could signal injuries no one suspected at the time of the crash.