Most injuries are painful. Some of them are also visibly obvious. Lacerations and bruises are easy to identify. People could also notice broken bones because body parts are painful to use or twisted into an abnormal position.
Typically, all parties in a motor vehicle when a crash occurs will check themselves for signs of injury. People may expect to notice significant injuries quickly, but it is relatively common for people to overlook potentially severe injuries after a car crash.
How could people fail to notice injuries that can become painful and debilitating later?
The body hides initial injury symptoms
The human body has adapted to survive very dangerous situations. The stress response allows people to exceed their normal physical limitations and escape situations that put their well-being at risk. The same chemical response that helps people flee predators and natural disasters can leave them unable to notice their injuries after a crash until the chemical response subsides.
People with broken bones, soft tissue injuries and brain injuries may not have any pain symptoms or other immediate warning signs of their conditions because of the stress response. Developing conditions with delayed-onset symptoms, such as traumatic brain injuries, can make it even more difficult for people to identify when they require medical support after a car crash.
Given how easy it is for people to overlook injury symptoms, making a point of seeing a physician after a collision is often the best option available. Getting a diagnosis quickly after a car crash may make it easier for people to recover from their injuries and to seek compensation for their medical expenses and lost wages.