If you are in a car accident in New Mexico, it can be a stressful situation. Even with minor wrecks, you have to deal with exchanging information with the other driver, making a police report, scheduling repairs and possibly missing work. Especially if it was a fender bender, you may not notice any pain or other symptoms after the accident. However, it is not unusual for symptoms to start showing up hours or even days after the crash, and it is important to get the proper care so it does not turn into something more serious.
According to KTAR News, the following are common symptoms that may not show up until later:
- Neck pain and stiffness – whiplash is extremely common in accidents involving slower speeds, and these are typical signs
- Headaches – these can be indicative of a minor neck injury or major brain issues
- Numbness – often in hands and arms
- Back pain – lower back pain is common
- Personality changes – impaired memory, movement or thinking may indicate a traumatic brain injury
- Pain or swelling of the abdomen – may indicate internal bleeding, which can be life threatening
FindLaw discusses that even if you did not have symptoms right away, your medical bills should be covered by the insurance claim as long as you did not sign a liability release form. After obtaining a complete physical and mental exam, the doctor should be able to estimate current and future medical costs so the insurance company can cover everything you may need to achieve maximum medical improvement.