The Health Effects of a Car Accident Injurysubmitted on 14 October 2017
We all know that car accidents can cause all kinds of different problems for you. You’ll have to sort out the property damage you’ve sustained, contend with insurance companies, possibly miss out on work, handle concerns regarding medical bills, and even deal with any other person that might have been involved in the accident, whether you were at fault or not.
But one of the most distressing concerns is one’s own health. Sustaining an injury from a car accident is troublesome, and is often the cause of some of the aforementioned things like medical bills and missed work. But if it’s a serious injury, the long-lasting effects could be detrimental to your overall physical and mental health.
Physical Health
Sometimes because your state of shock, whirlwind emotions, and adrenaline is running high, you aren’t always aware at the outset that you have sustained any type of injury at all. Not only that, what may even seem like the slightest injury then does not give you a reason to think about its long-term effects on your life and your health in the future.
There are many times, however, that it becomes immediately clear that your injuries are serious, like with visible damage. You will feel the pain right away when you attempt to stand, walk, or move about as you normally would. Or there may be cuts, scrapes, bruises, or worse.
Life after an accident can be difficult. If you make the right choices, you won’t have to feel powerless about how it affects you. The important thing is to get help at the right time and seek immediate medical attention. You can minimize the extent to which your injuries will impact the rest of your life. You can read more here about your legal options following a medical examination.
Mental and Emotional Health
While many people tend to focus on the physical injuries sustained from an accident, there are also mental health issues at play as well. And unfortunately, many victims of car accidents neglect to consider this aspect. Life becomes difficult following a terrifying situation, especially when having to rearrange your daily routines and responsibilities while suffering from a physical injury.
This type of trauma can profoundly disrupt your mental and emotional health. Suffering emotional distress isn’t something that can be medically diagnosed, but it does leave the victim struggling to cope with feelings of anguish, anxiety, mood swings, bouts of anger, fearfulness, humiliation, crying, sleeplessness and nightmares, loss of appetite, loss of interest in usual activities, depression, social withdrawal, intense and recurring flashbacks, and PTSD symptoms.
Even if you do find yourself physically able to work and maintain typical daily functions, the emotional distress can severely interrupt your mental presence. Your attention will be less focused on what is happening in front of you and more on the overwhelming symptoms you have experienced. It may even prevent you from ever deciding to get behind the wheel again.
While we can’t always remain in control of the things that happen to us and how outside forces can affect our long-term health, it’s important to be aware of our options and how to make the right decisions following a traumatic event like a car accident. Our health depends on it.
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