How Long Will I Be Sore After an Accident?

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After being in a car accident, most people will have experienced some form of physical trauma. The amount of pain experienced after an accident provides little indication of the severity of injury. It is also a poor indicator of how someone will feel in the days and weeks after the accident.

Car crashes will cause catastrophic injuries when they occur at high speeds and less injury at lower speeds. In a two-vehicle collision, the force exerted on vehicle occupants is that of the combined speed of both vehicles. When a vehicle traveling at 50 miles per hour is hit by a vehicle traveling at 60 miles per hour, the force of impact sustained by the vehicles and their occupants is 110 miles per hour. Faster travel speeds at the time of the crash equates to more serious injuries sustained in the crash and longer recovery times.

Soft Tissue Injuries

One of the most common injuries after an accident is whiplash, which is the strain of neck muscle, ligaments, and tendons that result from the rapid back-and-forth head motion when the vehicle suddenly stops. This condition can be quite serious and result in chronic pain and stiffness for weeks or months.

Proper medical attention is important after any crash. With respect to whiplash, physical therapy, gentle range-of-motion exercises, and chiropractic care have all been found useful and may decrease pain intensity and duration. Old school thinking in which the neck is immobilized using a collar has been found to delay healing.

Seat Belts

Seat belts are very important in preventing serious and fatal injuries from a car crash. However, they can also cause some injuries, including whiplash, abdominal injuries, organ damage, and breathing problems. On average, soreness from being in a car accident when a seat belt was worn can last around six weeks. In contrast, injuries experienced by those involved in car crashes who were not wearing seat belts include more serious injuries. Broken bones and traumatic brain injury (TBI) are not uncommon. Recovery times vary in these instances but can last for months. Sometimes victims never recover from TBI and remain permanently impaired.

Recovery for Pain and Suffering

Compensation for car accident victims will depend on the nature of their injuries, as well as state variations based on an assessment of fault and other factors. If you experienced severe pain and suffering from a car crash, you may be entitled to compensation.

Baltimore Car Accident Lawyers at LeViness, Tolzman & Hamilton Advocate for Victims Injured in Car Accidents

If you sustained injuries in a car accident, our committed and compassionate Baltimore car accident lawyers at LeViness, Tolzman & Hamilton will make every effort to ensure you recover the compensation to which you are entitled. Medical costs to treat injuries can sometimes go beyond any insurance company settlement. For a free consultation, call us at 800-547-4LAW (4529) or complete an online form.

Our offices are located in Baltimore, Columbia, Glen Burnie, and Prince George’s County, allowing us to represent car accident victims in Maryland, including those in Anne Arundel County, Baltimore County, Carroll County, Harford County, Howard County, Montgomery County, Maryland’s Western Counties, Prince George’s County, Queen Anne’s County, Southern Maryland, and the Eastern Shore, as well as the communities of Catonsville, Essex, Halethorpe, Middle River, Rosedale, Gwynn Oak, Brooklandville, Dundalk, Pikesville, Nottingham, Windsor Mill, Lutherville, Timonium, Sparrows Point, Ridgewood, and Elkridge.