Car accident injuries that may go unnoticed by paramedics

On behalf of Aiken and Aiken P.C. Personal Injury Attorneys posted in Car Accidents, on Monday, September 14, 2015

Emergency medical services personnel in Massachusetts are extremely well trained and have some of the best equipment available at their disposal, but they are not always able to identify all of the injuries suffered in road traffic accidents. Serious injuries do not always present immediate symptoms, and they are sometimes only discovered after CT scans, MRIs or X-rays are performed. While the diagnostic equipment used by paramedics at accident scenes is highly sophisticated, it is not able to perform this kind of testing. Soft tissue injuries to the neck and back are common among vehicle accident victims, and symptoms such as numbness, weakness and pain may not be felt until several days after the crash. Whiplash is one of the most common forms of soft tissue injury. Accident victims who develop discomfort or pain several days after an accident should seek medical treatment as soon as possible to determine the cause of their symptoms. While headaches are a common problem for millions of Americans, they may indicate cranial swelling or a blood clots in car accident victims. Diagnosing brain injuries is particularly challenging for emergency medical services personnel, and they are sometimes only discovered when crash victims develop personality issues or start to have difficulty remembering things. Accident survivors who develop abdominal swelling and pain in the hours following a crash may be bleeding internally, which can be dangerous when left untreated. Personal injury attorneys will likely understand that the consequences of an automobile accident are sometimes not fully apparent for some time, and they may speak with medical experts to determine if the injuries suffered by those involved could worsen over time. Attorneys may also consider the long-term health care costs of those who suffer brain or spinal cord injuries when determining the level of damages to seek in a lawsuit.