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Originally Posted On: https://www.clinicspots.com/blog/how-long-does-it-take-to-recover-after-a-traumatic-car-accident

Whether they’re minor fender benders or complicated wrecks, car accidents can cause trauma to the parties involved. The effects of auto accidents manifest physically or psychologically. However, physical injuries are more common, affecting over three million accident victims.

Victims may recover from accident injuries in days, weeks, or months. Unlike physical injuries, psychological injuries impact the victim’s life in many aspects. The nightmare of the accidents can affect your normal life. Most people experience PTSD, anxiety, and depression as a result. This explains why engaging an auto accident injury lawyer who can adequately handle your case is crucial. Understanding your compensation options, especially when pursuing personal injury claims, is important.

While some injuries become apparent immediately after the accident, others have delayed onset. As such, you should be vigilant for various symptoms that may not manifest immediately after the accident. The duration for looking for symptoms after a car accident generally varies. You should continually monitor your health for a while. Below are a few guidelines to follow:

Immediate Symptoms

You should attend to obvious physical injuries and symptoms that are noticeable immediately after the accident. Attend these injuries and seek immediate medical attention. However, adrenaline from the experience can mask your pain and symptoms. Regardless, take note of any changes to your body during this period.

24 to 48 Hours After the Accident

You should monitor your injuries closely during this period. It makes the difference between recovering faster or complicating your injuries. Use this time to monitor and address any rising injuries and symptoms. The adrenaline shock also wears out, making other injuries more apparent. You should expect:

Days to Weeks After the Accident 

Many other signs and symptoms become apparent days to weeks after the car accident as the body increasingly responds to trauma. Monitor these symptoms closely to understand the extent of your injuries. Whiplash and soft tissue injuries may worsen. For instance, your range of motion may get more limited. The affected area may also continue swelling.

Victims who sustained concussions may start feeling dizzy, and the psychological effects of the accident become more evident. Follow-up medications and chronic pain management and rehabilitation efforts are crucial during this period.

How Long to Expert Pain After a Car Accident

Victims of car accidents experience different pain levels. Its duration varies widely depending on many factors. Most accident victims experience acute pain immediately after the accident. Acute pain results from whiplash and soft tissue injuries. In most cases, acute pain resolves gradually, days to weeks after the accident. Pain from inflamed tissues is more pronounced initially but lessens gradually as the healing process progresses.

Accident victims with fractures and orthopedic injuries experience intense, immediate pain that may take a while to subside. Pain from damaged internal organs often becomes noticeable over time.

How Soon Can You Recover From a Car Accident

The recovery time following a car accident depends on:

• The severity of injuries sustained: Car accident victims who sustain minor injuries, such as strains and bruises, often recover within weeks. Moderate injuries heal and resolve after a few weeks. On the other hand, surgeries and major injuries take months or years.
• The victim’s health situation: The victim’s pre-existing health conditions also influence the recovery timeline. Victims with pre-existing health issues may face various challenges that impede normal recovery. That aside, trauma from the whole experience may worsen pre-existing health issues.
• Physical and rehabilitation therapy used: The other determiner of the time it takes to recover from auto accident injuries is the physical and rehabilitation therapy used. Medical and physical therapies used during treatment significantly influence recovery timelines. Medical therapies are designed to reduce pain and promote healing. Physical therapies help improve physical function. Your doctor will assess your injuries and choose the best interventions.

Endnote

The aftermath of auto accidents is stressful. Victims often struggle with physical pain and psychological injuries that make it difficult for them to resume their normal lives. Debilitating accidents often have long-lasting challenges. Immediate medical attention is crucial to prevent the worsening of accident injuries. A professional medic will conduct a proper exam, help you with recovery, and offer expert witness in case you want to file a personal injury case.