In the aftermath of a car accident, it can be difficult to fully assess how you feel and whether you suffered injuries. If you do not have any obvious signs of trauma, like intense pain or open wounds, you may think that you escaped the event without harm. However, that may not necessarily be the case.
Many people do not realize that they have suffered injuries after a car accident because hormones coursing through their bodies have masked the pain and other symptoms. As a result, you may have foregone medical treatment or told a doctor that you felt shaken up but otherwise okay after a crash.
Are you sleeping more?
Though anyone involved in a crash should always seek medical attention afterward, injuries are not always immediately clear. Additionally, some could show signs in ways that you and others may not attribute as a symptom of a serious injury. For example, you may have found yourself feeling more tired and sleeping more after the accident than you did before. Did you know this could be a sign of trauma?
The adrenaline and other hormones in your body can easily make you feel hyped up after a collision and cause you to come down hard later. Because of this, it is common for people to feel more tired than usual after an accident. However, if you experience increased sleepiness for over a week or feel tired to a concerning degree, seeking medical attention is wise.
Why is it a concern?
In some cases, increased tiredness or sleepiness could be a sign of a head or brain injury. You may think that sounds outlandish or that you would know if you had suffered head trauma, but it may not be as obvious as you think, especially after an intense incident like a car accident. You could have suffered whiplash, a concussion, brain hemorrhage or another serious injury.
If you do find out that you have suffered this type of harm, you may be in line for intense medical treatment, a long recovery period and other serious effects on your life. While your recovery should be your main priority, you may have concerns about the medical bills and lost wages you could face during this time. If another person caused the accident that led to your injury, you may have reason to seek compensation for damages by filing a personal injury claim in a Texas civil court.