5 Signs You Shouldn’t Ignore After a Car Accident

Even if your car accident seemed minor, your body may respond to the sudden force in ways that aren’t obvious at first. Muscles, ligaments, bones, and even your brain can be affected by minor accidents like fender benders and low-speed collisions, and it’s important to know what symptoms to watch for.

At Full Orthopedics Urgent Care in North Miami Beach, Florida, we offer same-day imaging, orthopedic care, and concussion evaluation to catch and treat common car accident injuries early. Here are five signs that deserve immediate attention after a car accident:

1. Persistent neck or back pain, stiffness, or limited mobility

It’s common for people to brush off pain in their neck or back after a car accident, chalking it up to stress or sore muscles. But stiffness, pain, or limited movement — especially after a few hours or overnight — may point to whiplash, ligament strain, muscle injury, or spinal misalignment.

If you notice soreness, stiffness, burning, or numbness in your neck or back, or if it gets hard to turn your head, you should be evaluated. Untreated spinal injuries can worsen and increase your risk of chronic pain, but we have the expertise and equipment to diagnose your condition quickly and accurately.

2. Unexplained swelling, bruising, or pain in your joints

Falls, sudden stops, or collisions can jolt your arms, legs, knees, or ankles, even if you don’t land directly on them. And sometimes, soft-tissue injuries like sprains or strains don’t show symptoms right away. Even symptoms from fractures may take time to develop.

If you notice swelling, unusual bruising, persistent pain, or difficulty putting weight on a leg or arm, it’s a red flag. These symptoms could indicate an injury such as a sprain, ligament tear, or fracture — all of which benefit from timely diagnosis and treatment. We have an on-site X-ray to evaluate your injury, and we can cast, splint, or brace as needed.

3. Headache, dizziness, or confusion

Even if you didn’t hit your head directly, the force of a car accident can jostle your brain inside your skull and potentially cause a concussion. Watch for symptoms like:

• A headache that shows up hours after the accident
• Dizziness or lightheadedness
• Blurred vision
• Ringing in your ears
• Sensitivity to light and/or noise
• Confusion, trouble focusing, or memory lapses
• Nausea or balance problems

It’s important to note that concussion symptoms can appear in the hours or days following an accident. If you notice a headache or other changes, don’t brush them off.

These symptoms may not appear right away, and ignoring them can delay diagnosis and increase your risk of complications. At Full Orthopedics Urgent Care, our team is trained to identify subtle brain injuries, monitor symptoms, and guide safe recovery.

4. Numbness, tingling, or weakness in your arms or legs

Car accidents can cause nerve irritation, compression, or injury, even when there’s no visible trauma. If you experience numbness, tingling, burning sensations, or weakness in your arms, hands, legs, or feet, it could indicate nerve involvement or spinal nerve compression.

Don’t wait to see if nerve symptoms go away on their own. Early evaluation and imaging help determine whether the issue is temporary or requires intervention to prevent more serious complications.

5. Pain or symptoms that worsen over time

It’s normal to feel a bit sore or stiff after a car accident, but you should start feeling better within a few days. If symptoms like stiffness, swelling, or pain begin to worsen instead of improve, that’s a warning sign.

Delayed-onset pain or worsening symptoms may indicate a hairline fracture, internal soft-tissue damage, spinal injury, or nerve involvement. Pay close attention to your symptoms, particularly if they evolve — for example, pain turns into numbness or a dull ache becomes severe — and get checked out as soon as possible.

At Full Orthopedics Urgent Care, we strive to offer complete orthopedic care under one roof, so you don’t have to wait days for imaging, referrals, or a diagnosis. Getting evaluated as soon as you notice symptoms is the best way to improve treatment outcomes, speed recovery, and reduce your risk of chronic issues.

If you’ve been in a car accident, don’t assume everything is fine just because you feel okay. Some injuries show up hours or days later, so pay close attention to how you feel, and don’t wait to come in if you develop pain or other discomfort. 

We’re open seven days a week, so call us to schedule an appointment, check in online to get started, or just walk in.