Car accidents can result in severe injuries, not all of which manifest themselves immediately. While some are evident at the scene, others can take days, weeks, or even longer to appear—injuries like soft tissue damage, hairline fractures, and internal bleeding. While these latent injuries should still be covered by the at-fault driver’s insurance provider, a patient may need help from an experienced personal injury attorney to prove their connection to a prior motor vehicle accident.
Why Some Car Accident Injuries Take Time to Appear
Some car accident injuries do not manifest pain or other symptoms immediately following a crash, as the shock and adrenaline rush from a car accident can dull the pain and stiffness that injuries normally cause. Some injuries may also take time for damaged tissue to swell or become inflamed. As a result, some injuries may take time to become noticeable. Common “delayed” car accident injuries include:
- Concussions and other traumatic brain injuries
- Whiplash
- Back or spinal injuries, such as herniated discs
- Ligament sprains or muscle/tendon strains
- Internal bleeding or organ damage
Because you may not realize that you have suffered injury immediately following a car crash, it’s important to get medical attention even if you “feel fine.” Doctors can identify injuries through examinations or internal scans, even if those injuries have not yet begun causing pain or other symptoms. Prompt diagnosis can strengthen the causal link between the crash and the injuries.
How Delayed Injuries Affect Your Right to Compensation
If someone else caused the car accident that injured you, they owe you compensation for what you suffered, even if it takes time for some of the consequences to appear. However, the delay in identifying your injuries can complicate the claims process, as insurance companies and defense lawyers may argue that these injuries occurred after the accident or resulted from pre-existing conditions, rather than from trauma you suffered in the crash. As a result, you will need comprehensive medical evidence to establish the link between the crash and your injuries. For example, medical experts can testify that they’ve ruled out other causes for your injuries and explain why you experienced delayed symptoms.
Steps to Take If You Notice New Symptoms Long After an Accident
If you’ve started to notice symptoms of injuries in the days or weeks after being in a car accident, it’s important to act quickly to protect your right to compensation. Here are some important steps you can take to strengthen your accident claim:
- Seek medical attention as soon as you notice your symptoms to document your injuries and begin treatment. Your treating physicians can provide reports and testimony providing a medical opinion linking your injuries to the accident.
- Notify your insurance company about the accident, but be careful what you say, and do not go into unnecessary details.
- Avoid signing a settlement with an insurer soon after a crash, since you may discover injuries and incur losses for weeks after the accident.
Perhaps most importantly, consult a personal injury attorney right away. An experienced car accident lawyer can prepare a compelling case to prove your right to compensation for all your injuries, including delayed ones.
Contact a Car Accident Lawyer Today
Were you recently in a car accident that caused injuries that didn’t manifest symptoms right away? If so, you may need experienced counsel to help you pursue compensation for your harm and loss. Contact Bonifield & Rosenstengel, P.C. today for a free, confidential consultation with a car accident attorney, and let us demand fair compensation for what you’ve suffered..