When you are in a crash, your body floods with adrenaline. This hormone, which is essential in keeping you functioning properly during a major trauma, can mask pain and prevent other injury symptoms from being obvious right away.
Once the initial shock wears off, you may find that you suddenly have pain or worsening symptoms from crash injuries that were not apparent at the scene or in the first few hours or even days after the accident.
Understanding how long injuries can appear after a car accident is critical for both your physical recovery and your legal case. If you do have injuries, you may want to consider discussing your next steps with a car accident lawyer to ensure you fully understand your legal options for compensation.
What Types of Collision Injuries Can Have Delayed Symptoms?
Several types of injuries frequently have delayed symptoms. Some of the most common include:
Whiplash and Similar Soft Tissue Injuries
Whiplash occurs when an accident forces your head to whip back and forth suddenly, straining the muscles and ligaments in your neck. Symptoms like stiffness, limited range of motion, headaches, and shoulder pain may not occur for the first day or two after the accident. However, getting a diagnosis and treatment quickly, as soon as symptoms appear, is essential for your recovery and legal case.
Concussions and Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs)
Brain injuries, such as concussions and even brain bleeding, are not always apparent immediately. The symptoms of head trauma, such as dizziness, confusion, headaches, nausea, and memory problems, might not become apparent for several hours or even days. Because of the nature of the injury, the victim might not be aware of the significance of their own symptoms, either.
TBIs can range from mild to severe. Some people never lose consciousness or are unconscious only briefly right after a crash. However, even a mild concussion should be evaluated by a doctor. This also ties the injury to the crash, which is important for the insurance claim or legal case.
Back Injuries
Many types of back injuries are not immediately obvious. This could include herniated discs, soft tissue injuries, and even some spinal cord injuries. Symptoms could begin as stiffness, numbness, tingling, or back pain a few days later. These conditions can worsen and cause lasting damage without proper treatment, so you should see a doctor as soon as symptoms appear.
Internal Injuries
Many people wrongly believe that serious injuries will be apparent from the outset. However, this is not always true. Internal bleeding from organ damage can be life-threatening, but it is not always obvious. Abdominal pain and deep bruising can take hours or even days to appear. Other symptoms could take even longer. Still, internal injuries require emergency care and could be fatal. See a doctor as soon as possible when you have these symptoms.
Why Is Getting Timely Medical Attention Essential?
It is crucial to get prompt medical care so you can begin the healing process and have the best chance at making a full recovery. Some states also have deadlines for getting care and filing insurance claims after a crash.
For example, under Florida Statute § 627.736, there is a 14-day rule for getting medical treatment after a crash. If you wait too long, you cannot file a claim with your Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage.
Additionally, prompt documentation of your accident injuries builds a strong foundation for your legal case. Insurers often challenge claims when there is delayed treatment. They may suggest your injuries were not from the crash but from another cause. When you get an exam as soon as possible or as soon as your symptoms appear, your medical records link the injuries to the accident.
What Should I Do If My Car Accident Symptoms Appear Later?
If you begin to experience pain, swelling, or discomfort hours or days after a car accident, you should:
- See a Doctor Immediately: Even if it has been several days since the accident, do not wait to see a doctor. As soon as you have symptoms, you should go to a local emergency department, walk-in clinic, or your primary care doctor. A medical evaluation will help detect and treat injuries while creating a record of your necessary care.
- Inform Your Doctor of the Accident: Be clear about when the crash happened and what your body experienced. This helps ensure you receive the necessary tests and assessments while connecting your symptoms to the accident in your medical record.
- Follow Your Doctor’s Treatment Plan: Once you receive a diagnosis, it is imperative that you follow the treatment plan to the letter. Do not miss follow-up appointments or skip physical therapy. The insurer could try to use this against you later.
- Contact a Car Accident Lawyer: An attorney can assess your options and offer guidance on proceeding with your claim. They will handle communications with the insurance company while you focus on recovery.
Do Not Ignore Delayed Symptoms or Signs of Injuries
Ignoring potential symptoms puts your health at risk and could hurt your legal claim if you end up needing care later. If you experience pain, headaches, numbness, tingling, or serious bruising in the hours, days, or weeks after a crash, treat your symptoms seriously.
Some injuries worsen over time, and the damage can become permanent without the right treatment. Most insurance companies place the burden on you to act promptly, or they could try to deny your claim. The sooner you seek medical care and legal guidance, the better your chances of winning your case.
If you or a loved one experiences delayed symptoms after a car accident, you are not alone. Many injuries take time to appear, but they can still be covered. A personal injury lawyer can help you file an insurance claim or lawsuit.
Talk to Our Team About Your Car Accident Injuries for Free
GED Lawyers provides a free consultation for victims hurt in collisions in our service areas. Founded in 1995, we have extensive case results that show we know how to build these cases and secure compensation for clients through settlements and verdicts. We have recovered over $100 million for our clients.
