How Long Does the Physical Pain Last After a Car Accident?

Statistics reveal that more than 37,000 people die in car crashes every year in the US. An additional 2.35 million are injured or disabled. Nearly 8,000 drivers aged between 16 and 20 are killed in car accidents. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, there were 37,461 deaths in the US caused by car crashes in 2016. In Florida, there were 2,933 fatal crashes and 3,174 deaths. In 2014, there were 2 vehicles involved in fatal car accidents in Brandon, Florida, where Chambers Medical Group has a medical clinic, with 1 fatality.

Car accidents, even minor ones, can cause a lot of pain and discomfort, as well as damage. How long does physical pain last following an auto accident? This depends on a few variables, including:

• At what speed did the accident occur?
• What were the sizes of the vehicles involved?
• Did you wear your seatbelt?
• Where was the vehicle struck?
• Did your airbags deploy?
• How serious was the accident and the injuries you sustained?

These are important questions that a car accident chiropractor or doctor needs to know as they determine the extent of your injuries and possible long-term effects.

How Long Will You Suffer Physical Pain After a Car Crash?

In most cases, people who are involved in a car crash may feel pain, discomfort, and soreness up to 6 weeks after the accident.  There is no exact science to determine how long you will suffer physical pain after a car accident. Some people experience pain much longer than 6 weeks and a minority of patients may have some pain for a life-time.

To determine out how long you will experience physical pain and discomfort following a car accident, it is best to visit a car accident doctor, who specializes their practice to injuries caused by auto accidents. These doctors and chiropractors will be able to give you an educated estimation of how much damage or trauma your body has sustained in the collision and a timeline of how long it will take for you to recover from your injuries. These will be rough estimates because no two people have the exact same healing time.

Your car accident doctor will use diagnostic tools to help in diagnosing your injuries and determine if you have any broken bones, soft tissue injuries, or serious structural injuries. Such tools may include x-rays, MRIs, neurological tests and range of motion tests.

After your chiropractor or doctor determines the full extent of your injuries, they will be able to provide an estimated time frame of how long your recovery will take. The only way to find out how long you will suffer physical pain after a car accident is to visit a doctor who limits their practice to injuries caused by car crashes.

How Soon After an Auto Accident Should I See a Doctor?

In most cases, a person who has been involved in an auto accident quickly realizes that he or she has been injured. Injuries such as fractures, bruising, and lacerations present clear signs and symptoms. Some other injuries do not show any immediate signs of injury.  It is imperative that you do not ignore any pain from an accident for too long and see a doctor or chiropractor as soon as possible.

Even though you may have the ability to walk away from a collision without a scratch, it is imperative that you have your health evaluated by a chiropractor or physician. Note any immediate symptoms that you may experience and watch out for delayed signs and symptoms. Many serious injuries do not manifest until several hours after the collision.

Ideally, you should see a doctor soon after the accident, even if you feel relatively well. A full check-up and evaluation of your condition will enable the doctor to diagnose any injuries and treat them promptly. Even if a physician gives you a clean bill of health, stay alert for any signs or discomfort in the days after your accident. Report any new symptoms immediately and get a repeat medical evaluation.

Listed below are a few delayed injury symptoms that you may experience:

Dizziness or a Nagging Headache: A blood clot, concussion, neck injury, or even a whiplash injury could lead to both dizziness and headaches. These symptoms may manifest up to several days after the accident. It is important to note that these injuries could be serious and may warrant medical attention.

Back Pain: As with a headache, you may develop pain in the back a few hours after the crash or even many hours later. This could be a telltale sign of soft tissue injury, sprain, whiplash or something worse like a herniated disk. These conditions can impair mobility and cause debilitating pain and therefore mandate a thorough evaluation. Schedule an appointment with the nearest auto injury care center, if you experience numbness, pain, or even a tingling sensation in your back.

Pain in the neck and/or shoulders: Excruciating pain in the neck and shoulder region could indicate a spinal injury or herniated disk. This kind of pain is also a very commonly reported symptom of whiplash.  If you experience discomfort or pain that you cannot bear, contact a physician immediately for tests as well as treatment.

Get Quality Care After a Car Accident

If you or a family member has been injured in a car accident, do not waste time. Ensure that you get high quality auto injury care from well-trained and experienced professionals. Visit us at Chambers Medical Group or call us at 1-888-6-BackMan to schedule an appointment today.

Come visit us at the following locations to begin your healing process after an auto accident:

• Chambers Medical Group Tampa
• Chambers Medical Group Plant City
• Chambers Medical Group Brandon
• Chambers Medical Group Lakeland
• Chambers Medical Group Sarasota
• Chambers Medical Group Louisville
• Chambers Medical Group Lexington
• Chambers Medical Group Florence