Car accidents can result in severe burns, broken bones, lacerations, and other injuries that are immediately apparent. However, other types of injuries might not present symptoms for several days or even weeks. Despite the hidden nature of these injuries, they can sometimes pose severe and even fatal health risks. So, how long after a car accident can injuries appear?
The appearance of your injury symptoms depends on the nature and severity of the harm you have suffered. Seeking medical attention as soon as possible can identify hidden injuries before it is too late. Early diagnosis can also give you vital evidence to support your compensation claim.
Types of Car Accident Injuries with Delayed Symptoms
While it is often challenging to prove that you have sustained injuries in a car accident due to someone else’s negligence, proving a claim involving the following types of hidden injuries can be particularly difficult.
Whiplash
Neck strain injuries due to whiplash are among the most common adverse health consequences after a car accident. The suddenness of the collision causes your head to “whip” forward and backward, damaging the soft tissues in your neck and can cause extreme neck pain.
However, the adrenaline rush accompanying a crash can mask the pain you might otherwise feel. Without a medical examination, you might not realize you have sustained harm until days or weeks later.
Traumatic Brain Injury
The trauma resulting from a blow to the head can lead to a concussion. More powerful collisions can result in even more severe traumatic brain injuries (TBI). While common symptoms might not appear for several hours or days after a crash, they may include:
- Headaches
- Amnesia
- Confusion
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
- Changes to sleep patterns
- Seizures
Delayed treatment may result in more protracted recovery time.
Spine Injuries
Even when a spinal injury is severe, it might not be immediately obvious. In some cases, swelling or bleeding within the spinal column can build over time, causing a gradual onset of numbness or paralysis. A physician can conduct diagnostic scans to detect hidden spinal injuries, and early treatment can significantly improve your prognosis.
Soft Tissue Injuries
Injuries to your muscles, tendons, and ligaments can go unnoticed for several hours or days in the shocking aftermath of a car accident. Be sure to seek treatment for any delayed pain after a car accident. The sooner you get medical help, the easier it will be to establish a clear link between the crash and your injuries.
Organ Damage
The blunt force trauma of a car crash can lead to internal bleeding and organ damage. While these injuries might not be immediately obvious, they are often life-threatening. Early intervention is critical to reduce the risk of severe complications. This is one of the reasons it is crucial to seek medical attention as soon as possible after being involved in a crash.
Importance of Medical Documentation
When you suffer injuries in a car accident, you can hold the other party accountable for their negligence by seeking a compensation claim. However, securing the compensation you deserve can sometimes be challenging. The process can become even more complicated when hidden injuries are involved.
Insurance companies are often eager to avoid paying out claims. One way they do this is to argue that the claimant’s injuries are unrelated to the accident. When a crash results in delayed injuries, insurers point to the gap in time between the collision and the treatment as evidence of this lack of causation.
As such, seeking medical attention promptly after a car accident is crucial, even if you feel fine initially. Medical documentation serves as a vital link between the accident and your injuries. It creates a paper trail that can strengthen your compensation claim. Be sure to:
- Follow all treatment plans and attend follow-up appointments
- Keep a journal of your symptoms and how they affect your daily life
- Save all medical bills, prescriptions, and related expenses
Thorough medical documentation can help counter insurance company arguments about pre-existing conditions or unrelated injuries. It provides a clear timeline of your medical issues and treatment, making it easier to demonstrate the accident’s impact on your health and well-being.
Steps to Take If You Experience Delayed Symptoms
If you start experiencing pain or other symptoms days or weeks after a car accident:
- Seek medical attention immediately
- Inform your doctor about the recent car accident
- Contact a legal professional as soon as possible
- Avoid discussing your injuries on social media
- Do not provide recorded statements to insurance companies without legal counsel
Prompt action can help preserve evidence, ensure timely medical treatment, and strengthen your potential compensation claim.
Proving Hidden Injuries in a Compensation Claim
An experienced Georgia personal injury attorney can take active steps to prove that your injuries resulted from the negligent party’s actions, even if you could not seek treatment immediately after the crash. A thorough investigation can compile evidence such as:
- Police reports
- Diagnostic tests and scans
- Doctor’s notes and assessments
- Testimony from medical experts
- Statements from eyewitnesses
- Photos of the accident scene
- Video footage from CCTV or dashcams
Your lawyer can analyze and present this evidence in a way that demonstrates a direct causal relationship between the accident and the harm you have suffered.
Contact an Experienced Georgia Car Accident Attorney
Even in the absence of immediate symptoms, the aftermath of a car accident can be stressful and overwhelming. When you begin to experience unexpected pain days after the crash, you may begin to worry about what your symptoms might mean and whether you will be able to recover compensation. Working with a skilled Georgia car accident lawyer can help you understand your options and protect your rights.
The seasoned legal team at Chris Hudson Law Group has been fighting for injured people in Augusta and the entire Central Savannah Region since 2005. Our experienced lawyers can handle every aspect of your case, from investigation to negotiation and litigation if necessary. Call us today at (706) 863-6600 or contact us online for a free consultation with a car accident attorney in Georgia.