Car accidents are a leading cause of soft-tissue injuries–injuries sustained to tendons and ligaments in the body. Common car accident injuries includes delayed pain which is common after an accident, and some injuries don’t show up right away. That’s why it’s so important to have a medical professional evaluate you right after a wreck.

Why Don’t I Feel Hurt After a Car Accident?

Immediately, after a collision, your body produces an adrenaline “fight or flight” hormone to help you react to an emergency. There are several self-preservation responses from adrenaline, including:

• No pain, or reduced pain
• Dilated blood vessels that increase oxygen in your bloodstream
• Increased energy
• Changes in hearing and vision that deepen focus on sights and sounds
• Greater strength from increased blood flow to your muscles

Your body also releases calming endorphins, making you feel in control. This combination of adrenaline and hormones means you may not feel pain right after the wreck. Even if you’re significantly hurt.

Some Post-Accident Car Injuries Don’t Show Up Right Away

Once the adrenaline wears off, it takes a few hours or days for certain car accident injuries to show up.

The impact of the wreck and the jerking motion can cause ligaments and tendons to tear or your muscles to overextend. Whiplash is the type of injury that most people are familiar with, but the same trauma can happen to any part of the body.

Ligament and muscle strain take time to develop, because the symptoms of stiffness, inflammation, and swelling don’t happen immediately.

Spinal trauma is also a common car accident injury. Impact on the discs that support your spine and vertebrae can damage the discs, causing them to herniate, bulge, or tear. Left untreated, these injuries put more pressure on the spine, causing pain and loss of range of motion.

If you experience blurry vision or dizziness, trouble concentrating, or trouble sleeping, it could indicate a delayed injury from your car accident.

Other symptoms you should have evaluated are headache, nausea, swelling, or back and shoulder pain and stiffness. Reduced range of motion, difficulty standing or walking, and numbness in your hands or feet are additional signs of a delayed car accident injury.

An early diagnosis of your car accident injuries ensures you’ll get the care you need. You’ll also stand a greater chance of full recovery when you begin treatment after the accident, including physical therapy or chiropractic care.