One of the reasons why a victim may not immediately realize they have been physically injured in a crash is because of the emotional impact the crash has. Car accidents are traumatic experiences and when they occur, the human body immediately goes into fight or flight mode. This is a biochemical response to a perceived danger or threat.
When the body reacts in fight or flight mode, it releases cortisol and adrenaline. These two hormones speed up the heart rate, deviate the flow of blood to groups of major muscles, slow digestion, as well as alter other autonomic functions. This gives the body a boost in its strength and energy level. When the threat is gone, the body goes back into normal functioning mode.
It is this fight or flight mode which can mask the pain that the victim would normally feel when hurt. Instead, in this state, the victim does not feel the pain and instead focuses on what needs to be addressed immediately after the crash – moving into a safe place away from oncoming traffic, checking on other potential victims, etc.
A Houston, TX car accident lawyer, John K. Zaid & Associates knows it can take a few hours for the effects of the fight or flight mode to wear off. This is when the victim may begin to feel some of the symptoms of potential injuries. In some cases, it can take days or even longer. This is why it is so important for anyone who has been in a crash to seek medical treatment immediately following the accident to make sure there are no injuries.
It is not uncommon for accident a Texas car accident victim to not realize right away that they have been injured. This can occur because there are many types of injuries that often have delayed symptoms. These injuries can take days, or even weeks, before symptoms began to show up and the victim realizes something is wrong. A car accident lawyer in Houston, TX knows that even minor accidents can result in a serious injury, such as a concussion or whiplash. In fact, this is one of the most common issues with injuries sustained in fender benders – these types of injuries often have delayed symptoms. Knowing what those symptoms are can mean the difference between a successful recovery or long-term physical issues from the injury.
