Some car accidents can directly and immediately injure nerves. For example, a forceful impact can compress or stretch nerves, leading to immediate symptoms such as numbness, tingling, weakness, or loss of sensation in affected body parts. These symptoms may be apparent right after the accident.
In other cases, nerve damage symptoms may not become noticeable until hours, days, or even weeks after the car accident. This delayed onset can occur due to inflammation, swelling, or the body's natural response to trauma.
Some nerve damage may not be immediately apparent due to the body's ability to compensate for minor injuries. Over time, as the injury worsens or as the body's compensatory mechanisms weaken, nerve damage symptoms may become more noticeable.