When you’re in a car accident, the world quickly becomes a blur. As the adrenaline rushes through your body, you may be relieved to see that you aren’t bleeding and that you can move your limbs.
However, every car accident victim must be cautious and remember not to celebrate being injury-free without a proper medical evaluation. Post-accident symptoms may arise and reveal that you are injured. With hidden injuries, car accident victims can face issues recovering compensation for a delayed injury car accident.
Angel Reyes & Associates is a personal injury law firm committed to representing victims, including those with late-onset symptoms after a car accident. In this blog post, we discuss post-accident symptoms and how a car accident lawyer can help you recover the compensation you deserve.
What Are Delayed Symptoms After a Car Wreck?
Delayed symptoms, also known as late-onset symptoms, after a car accident may arise in the hours, days, or even weeks following a car crash. Due to the initial adrenaline rush, you may not feel the pain or notice something isn’t right. As the injuries progress and worsen, it may become obvious that you need medical care.
All car accident victims are encouraged to keep a journal following the car wreck. You can detail what you remember before and after the accident as well as how you are feeling. If you start noticing symptoms, this information can help medical professionals to more quickly recommend the appropriate treatments needed for your recovery.
Common Delayed Symptoms After a Car Accident
The most common post-accident symptoms appearing after a car wreck should be checked by a medical professional as soon as possible. If you were recently in a car crash and are experiencing these symptoms, do not wait to get prompt medical attention.
Headaches and Migraines
Headaches and migraines that develop after a car accident may be an indication of a concussion, whiplash, or traumatic brain injury. You may have these injuries if your head collides with anything hard during the crash.
However, even if you’re certain your head didn’t contact the dashboard, steering wheel, driver’s side door, or anything else in the vehicle, head injuries can occur. Traumatic brain injuries are possible due to the violent shaking your brain may experience as it makes contact with the inside of your skull. If you are experiencing headaches or migraines after your accident, do not wait to visit a doctor.
Neck and Shoulder Pain
The pain you feel in your neck or shoulders could be a sign of whiplash or another soft tissue injury. These injuries will typically heal over time when you have them treated promptly but pain in these areas may also indicate spinal cord damage.
Whiplash is one of the most common soft tissue injuries that develop as a result of a car crash. The strain put on the muscles in the neck on impact will often lead to this injury. You may experience significant pain and discomfort as well as a reduced range of motion. While soreness is common after auto accidents, stiffness and being unable to fully move your head and neck is not something to ignore. Assuming you are fine can lead to long-term damage that permanently affects your life.
Back Pain
Back pain may be due to slipped or herniated discs, fractures, or spinal cord damage. Since there are a wide range of post-accident symptoms that reveal hidden injuries after a car accident, this type of pain should be promptly addressed.
The signs of danger are when you have a dull ache or sharp pain. Stiffness and limited range of motion may reveal that you have a serious back injury. This is not something anyone can diagnose by looking at you. You will need X-rays or MRIs so doctors can determine the extent of the injury and the best way to treat it for your recovery.
Abdominal Pain and Internal Injuries
Perhaps one of the worst hidden injuries from a car accident is abdominal pain. This tends to signify internal bleeding, which is a serious issue. Car accidents can impact the abdomen, damaging internal organs. This injury can become life-threatening and when you experience stomach pains following a crash, you must head to the emergency room.
In addition to pain in the abdomen, you may have swelling in the abdominal area, dizziness, headaches, or bruising. If you or a loved one experience abdominal pain after being involved in a car accident, make sure you get emergency medical treatment immediately.
Emotional Distress and PTSD
Physical injuries can also lead to emotional impacts. Traumatic brain injuries are known to cause changes to personality while the suddeness and terror of car accidents can trigger mental disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
If you experience changes to your mood, behavior, and cognitive function, you should visit your doctor and discuss these symptoms. Additionally, if you start feeling anxious, depressed, or fearful of driving or being in a car, you will want to get the help you need from mental health professionals before those symptoms completely disrupt your life.
The Role of Medical Evaluation for Late-Onset Symptoms After a Car Accident
Ideally, you should seek medical attention after a serious car accident, even if you feel okay. The medical tests doctors will perform can detect hidden injuries after a car accident, allowing them to treat you quickly and get your life back to as normal as possible.
Delaying your care may lead to worsening symptoms and can make a difference in your recovery. You may be left with permanent impacts instead of making a full recovery from your injuries.
When you delay essential care, it can be a greater challenge to prove that the accident caused by the other driver caused your injuries. You will want to hire a car accident attorney who has experience representing victims with late onset symptoms after a car accident. It will take someone with vast knowledge of the laws who has the resources needed to build a strong case that links your injuries to the crash.
Steps to Take if You Notice Delayed Injury Car Accident Symptoms
If you were recently in a car accident, you should go to a doctor or urgent care to get a thorough evaluation. If your symptoms become urgent and life-threatening, it is best to go to the hospital.
Document your symptoms in a journal to help your medical provider understand what you are experiencing. This journal can also be helpful in documenting your injuries for your car accident case.
Once you receive medical treatment, make sure you follow all the recommendations by the doctors. If you are advised to see a specialist, you should do so. If you are prescribed medication, you should take them. Most importantly, attend all follow-up appointments. Avoiding these actions gives the insurance company ammunition to claim that you are not seriously injured.
You’ll also want to contact an attorney for legal guidance. Angel Reyes & Associates can help review your case and provide legal options.
Legal Support from Angel Reyes & Associates
You can avoid a delayed injury car accident by seeking medical care immediately following this event. You do not have to go to the hospital if you do not have life-threatening injuries but you should go to an urgent care center or your doctor as soon as possible. Taking these steps will help you with any latent injuries and get you on the road to recovery.
If you did not seek medical attention and have hidden injuries in a car accident, get the treatment you need when you begin experiencing symptoms. You should then consult a car accident attorney. Angel Reyes & Associates provides free initial consultations to review your car accident case. We can take a look at the unique factors in your case and provide legal advice on the next steps you should take.
Compensation may be more challenging to obtain when you have delayed symptoms. For these reasons, you should document everything you can and organize the medical records of your treatments. Your car accident attorney will investigate the crash and gather evidence to help strengthen your claim. This will include hiring expert witnesses, including medical experts, who can testify about your post-accident symptoms.
In a delayed injury car accident, you may be able to recover compensation for your medical expenses, including surgeries, hospital stays, physical therapy, medication, and more. Other compensation you can receive is for lost wages for being unable to work due to your injuries, out-of-pocket expenses related to the accident, and non-economic damages such as your mental anguish or loss of enjoyment of life.
Receiving prompt medical attention can help you avoid these common pitfalls when you’ve been in a car accident. However, the moment you experience any symptoms, you should seek the care you need followed by a consultation with a car accident attorney.