Vehicle accidents occur regularly in Philadelphia and throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. In some cases, these incidents cause no injuries at all. However, it is not uncommon for drivers and passengers to sustain injuries at varying levels of severity when a crash occurs. In some instances, vehicle crash injuries are relatively minor, but that is not always the case. Here, we want to discuss post-accident soreness, particularly how long a person may be sore after the crash occurs.
Car Accident Injuries Common Reality in Pennsylvania
According to data available from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, we can see that there were more than 125,000 total vehicle collisions across the Commonwealth during the latest reporting year. Out of these incidents, there were:
- 4,680 total suspected serious injuries
- 35,539 total suspected minor injuries
- 15,188 total suspected possible injuries
Regardless of whether or not an injury is minor or severe, drivers and passengers often sustain soreness in the aftermath of the collision. It is important to point out that even relatively minor or unseen injuries can lead to significant pain and soreness following the collision. In some cases, this soreness may not even appear until hours or even days after the crash occurs.
How Long Will the Soreness Last?
First, we want you to know that you need to seek immediate medical attention following a vehicle collision. If you do not seek medical assistance right away and then began to experience pain or soreness in the hours or days following the crash, go to the doctor immediately. Soreness could indicate that there is an unseen injury causing much more damage than you suspect. This could include a traumatic brain injury, internal bleeding, or some type of internal organ damage.
Even if soreness is not an indicator of a major injury, it could still be a nuisance that lasts for quite a while after the collision occurs. There is no set rule for understanding how long soreness may last following a vehicle collision in Pennsylvania. When you speak to your doctor, chances are that they will tell you they do not know how long you will be sore either. The length of the amount of time you will be sore depends largely on how severe the injuries are and whether or not you are able to receive medical care that could alleviate the symptoms.
Severe injuries such as broken and dislocated bones will obviously take a while to heal and lead to longer periods of pain and soreness. General sprains or strains that occur because of a crash may be sore for a few weeks.
Unfortunately, there are times when vehicle accident victims experience soreness and pain long after any outward signs of injuries have healed. It is not uncommon for accident victims to sustain long-lasting pain and suffering, sometimes years after a crash occurs. Often, a car accident victim must undergo physical therapy or rehabilitation in order to alleviate the soreness. Sometimes, a doctor may recommend that a crash victim see a chiropractor to handle back or neck soreness.
The length of the amount of time that a car accident victim will be sore after a collision depends entirely on what type of injury has occurred, the severity of the injury, and the effectiveness of treatment available.
When you need a Philadelphia injury lawyer, you can contact us for a free consultation calling 215.228.0100.