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Teri Lou, November 21 2022

Minor Car Accident Injuries

Can A Minor Car Accident Cause Injury?

Even a small car accident can cause injuries, including invisible problems you may not notice right away. For example, if you were recently involved in an accident, you might feel shaken and concerned even if you do not feel any pain which may cause you to think you are not injured. However, only a doctor can check for all issues and determine whether you are injury-free internally and externally. 

No matter how eager you are to get on with your day after a minor car accident, visiting an urgent care clinic is essential. Many complications from car accidents may not show up for several hours due to shock, which is why visiting a doctor is necessary. Read below to find out all the answers to your question about minor car accidents, common injuries, and how you should handle the situation for the best outcome. 

What is considered a minor car accident?

Minor car accidents do not cause a threat to your life or limb and often recover faster than major car accidents. Cars usually survive after a minor accident, but I need bodywork or other minor repairs. While most individuals consider minor accidents to be of little more than an annoyance, others suffer long-term consequences such as emotional anguish, injuries, and costly vehicle damage.

Furthermore, minor accidents do not usually lead to broken bones, surgery, or hospitalization, although they can, which is why visiting a doctor is still necessary even for a fender bender. If the injury was caused by a vehicle accident, people typically neglect to seek experienced medical attention. However, "minor" injuries or mishaps may be more dangerous than you realize.

Injuries can include shallow cuts, abrasions, sprains, tears, bruises, skin lesions, and burns. A minor vehicle accident results in less damage and injuries than a severe collision. They usually result in minimal injuries and little damage to the vehicles involved. A fender bender or a low-speed rear-end collision, for example, are both considered minor auto accidents. 

What do I do if I have a minor car accident?

Many people may not want to add to the stress of a vehicle accident by seeking care for their injuries. Others may prefer to suffer in silence or may not believe a visit to a medical care facility is necessary. On the other hand, certain symptoms can worsen with time, while others may not appear until days or weeks later. Therefore, getting treatment as soon as possible is more effective than waiting until the problem becomes worse and too difficult to bear. 

Additionally, receiving a diagnosis and treatment will expedite the insurance claim so you can move past the accident and get on with your life. If the victim plans to hire a lawyer and file an auto accident case, this is also an important step. Urgent care is the most effective option for minor accidents.

Waiting times at an emergency are often much longer as they prioritize causes by the level of injury. Meanwhile, an urgent care can see you in minutes as they do not see patients with the potential loss of life or limb. They can also run labs, tests, scans, repair minor cuts, abrasions, and prescribe medicine. Also, they can formulate a personalized recovery plan for each patient. 

Other difficulties may need the doctor to advise the patient to rest and refrain from strenuous activity and limit work hours. The best urgent cares also provide other therapies to help with a speedy recovery, such as chiropractic care, physical therapy, and massage therapy. Instead of waiting for normal business hours and scheduling an appointment with your primary physician, an urgent care can see you today.

What are common injuries from car accidents?

Car accidents result in a wide range of injuries. However, a car accident almost always ends in mild injuries, with just a few occurrences resulting in catastrophic casualties. Whiplash, neck and back pain, headaches and migraines, soft tissue injuries, lacerations, broken bones, and bruised ribs are the most prevalent injuries. 

The head, neck, back, and spine and the wrist and hand, knee, foot, and ankle are the most usually affected body parts. Swelling, tingling, numbness, prickling, weakness, and a loss of range of motion are all signs that something is wrong. "Soft tissue" injuries are the most common type of minor car accident injury. In-car accidents, muscles, and tendons are affected, resulting in bruising and swelling. Whiplash and neck pain are the most prevalent minor automobile accident injuries. 

Minor injuries from car accidents include sprained ankles, wrists, and lacerations. Major traumas include traumatic brain injury, shattered bones, ruptured discs, and spinal injuries. All injuries experienced in an automobile collision require a trip to the doctor, urgent care, or emergency department. 

You may almost always expect to be wounded unless you were just hit by another vehicle. Internal injuries can take a few days to appear once the shock has gone off, even if you do not realize you have been wounded. Finally, automobile accident injuries such as guilt, melancholy, worry, and other psychological discomforts should not be disregarded.

How do I know if I am okay after a car accident?

The only way to know you are okay after a car accident is to wait. As many injuries can show up hours, days, or weeks later, the only way to know you are all right after an accident is to get the all-clear from a doctor. Even if you are physically fine, your doctor might notice psychological or emotional problems that need to be addressed. 

What happens to your body after a minor car accident?

Even a minor car accident can throw your body around and cause it to endure tremendous amounts of force and physical impact. You will probably have aches and pains after a collision, no matter how light, safe, or how tightly the seat belt was fastened. In addition, a minor accident can send you forward, backward, into the dashboard or windshield, into an airbag, or cause flying debris to attack. 

All of these options can cause misalignment in the body that can lead to pain, disturbance, and other ramifications. You can expect neck pain, headaches, nausea, abdominal pain, swelling, numbness, tingling, changes in vision, and fatigue. One or more of these symptoms are quite possible, as even a minor auto accident can cause strong force and impact. 

How long after a car accident do injuries show up?

Delay-symptom injuries can arise after a car crash and are life-threatening in some uncommon cases. A slight injury could cause an infection or organ failure that takes three to four weeks to show. Even a part that does not seem to be affected by the accident may link to another body part and cause injury there.

For example, the seat belt may leave a bruise but can also lead to stomach problems days later. Brain bleeds and brain damage might have delayed signs following a car collision. Some people may develop a brain bleed over a month later, which is why you should have multiple follow-up visits with your doctor. 

What is the minimum speed to cause whiplash?

Whiplash can happen even if you are not driving fast. Whiplash injuries can occur at speeds as low as 5 miles per hour. Although driving is the most common cause of whiplash, it can also be caused by quick stops on roller coasters or other amusement park rides, sports injuries, or being punched or shaken. Unfortunately, whiplash can happen far too easily and make life unbearable for months after a car accident. 

How does your body heal after a car accident?

Rest and time will allow your body to heal after a car accident. The process of healing blood cells starts by stopping any bleeding and then sending oxygen to the injuries. Next, white blood cells start the repair of infections and injuries while also cleaning the wounds. Next, the cells send signals to create collagen and repair tissue before finishing by strengthening the area over time. 

With proper nutrition and hydration, your body will send blood cells to the areas of issue and help to repair the problem. The process will not happen overnight but will happen with time. Help speed the process along by following your doctor's instructions completely. 

Why Choose Portland Urgent Care for car accident injury treatment?

Any portion of the body might be harmed in an automobile collision. Front-seat passengers should be aware that wearing a seat belt minimizes their risk of death or serious injury. Concussions, limited motion, bruising, bleeding, weakening, deformity, instability, and discomfort are all possible outcomes of an accident. Accidents frequently result in mental anguish and worry. An automobile accident's high levels of adrenaline and the distressing events that follow can produce emotional stress. 

Other times, as a result of the accident, you may be concerned about your car, health, or money, and this concern may grow into chronic worry, anxiety, or even depression. If you have serious injuries, you may be more prone to anxiety and other mental health disorders. When these feelings occur in moderation and do not interfere with your daily life, they are normal and healthy.

Conclusion

In an automobile accident, any part of the body can be harmed. Common injuries include emotional discomfort, bruising, fractured bones, sprains, concussions, and whiplash. Knowing what to expect might make dealing with a vehicle accident easier, and Portland Urgent Care can help. Call us now to schedule an appointment if you have recently been in a car accident. With your injuries, we can help. Pain does not have to be a part of your life.

Read More Accident Related Blogs Here:

What To Do After A Car Accident

What Are Motor Vehicle Accidents?

Common Car Accident Injuries

What To Do After A Bike Accident

Urgent Care Vs ER for Auto Accidents

Should I Go To Urgent Care After A Car Accident?

Written by

Teri Lou

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