Think you’re ok after your car accident?
Think again.
Delayed car accident injuries are more common than you’d expect. After being rear ended or involved in another type of collision, symptoms can take hours, days… even weeks to manifest. Once they do…
Trying to prove fault after accident injuries becomes extremely difficult.
Without immediate medical treatment to document your injuries, insurance companies will claim they weren’t caused by the crash. This gap of treatment gives them plenty of room to deny a claim or settle for less money.
Luckily, knowing how delayed symptoms work and taking action quickly can save both your health…and your legal rights.
You’re about to learn:
- Why Symptoms Appear Days After A Car Accident
- 5 Common Delayed Injuries To Look Out For
- Why Delayed Symptoms Make Proving Fault After Accident Claims Harder
- When To Get A Medical Evaluation After An Accident
- Why Documentation Really Is Everything
Why Symptoms Appear Days After A Car Accident
Here’s the thing…
Your body releases adrenaline after a car accident. Adrenaline and other stress hormones kick in to help you survive. They’re amazing painkillers that disguise serious injuries for up to 48 hours after an accident.
So, you can leave the scene feeling perfectly fine after a major wreck.
But you’re not.
Soon enough that adrenaline will wear off. Hours, days or weeks later you could be hit with excruciating pain due to injuries you weren’t even aware of at the time of the crash. That’s why medical experts recommend seeking medical treatment after ANY accident, no matter how minor.
Soft tissue damage is also a huge culprit when it comes to delayed injuries. Small tears in your muscles and tendons may not hurt right away. Hours or days later, swelling and inflammation set in… bringing a whole new level of pain.
When proving fault after accident injuries, the goal is to connect every symptom to the car crash. Seeking legal assistance for auto accidents ASAP can help protect your rights and prevent delayed injuries from ruining a claim.
5 Common Delayed Injuries To Look Out For
Staying on the topic of delayed injuries.
Not all injuries are created equal. Some are minor and don’t require medical treatment. Others can be life altering if they go untreated.
Keep an eye out for these common delayed accident injuries:
- Whiplash- whiplash injuries are the most common type of car accident injury. Symptoms can take DAYS to appear. Pain in your neck, stiffness and headaches are typical. Studies have found whiplash impacts 83% of those involved in car accidents. Whiplash can cause chronic pain and disability if not treated properly.
- Concussions- head trauma isn’t always immediate. Symptoms of a concussion may not show up for days. Dizziness, confusion and memory loss are all signs of a concussion.
- Back pain- herniated discs and spinal issues can lay dormant for days. Then, suddenly, cause severe back pain. Or even numbness/tingling if the injury is severe enough.
- Internal bleeding- though rare, internal bleeding should be taken seriously. Severe abdominal pain, large bruising and dizzy spells can indicate internal bleeding that wasn’t obvious at the scene of the accident.
- PTSD/emotional trauma- suffering from anxiety, flashbacks, inability to drive or loss of sleep weeks after an accident? That’s a form of trauma that should be treated just like physical injuries.
Any of these symptoms, no matter how small you may think they are, should be checked out by a doctor ASAP.
How Delayed Accident Symptoms Make Proving Fault After Accident Claims Harder
Insurance companies LOVE gaps in medical treatment.
If you don’t go to the doctor right away to document your injuries, insurance companies will use that to their advantage. They’ll argue those injuries were caused by something else entirely.
If you go to the doctor two weeks after an accident, file a claim and tell them you hurt your back…they’re gonna argue you could’ve hurt your back ANYWHERE during those two weeks. Playing sports with the kids. Sleeping is funny. Lifting your dog. The possibilities are endless and insurance companies will exploit every angle to avoid paying claims.
By waiting to seek medical treatment for your injuries, you’re decreasing your chances of proving fault after an accident from the start.
Even if you go to the ER right after an accident and “clear” up fine, some injuries can be delayed. Internal bleeding, soft tissue damage and whiplash may not show up right away on diagnostic tests.
It’s important to go NOW. And follow up with your doctor even if you think you’re feeling better.
When To Get A Medical Evaluation After An Accident
It doesn’t get much simpler than this. Immediately.
Yes, even if you feel fine after an accident it’s recommended to seek medical treatment within 72 hours.
Establishing that you went to the doctor right after the accident forms an injury timeline. Medical treatment creates documents that can link you back to the accident, no matter when those injuries decide to make themselves known.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that over 39,000 people die in traffic crashes every year. Millions more suffer injuries that could develop symptoms days or weeks later.
Here’s what you SHOULD be doing after an accident:
- Go to urgent care or the ER immediately
- Visit your primary care doctor for a follow up if symptoms develop later
- Visit any recommended specialists if injuries persist
- Document every symptom, no matter how small it may seem.
Your injuries won’t document themselves. Not seeking medical treatment is asking for a denied claim.
Why Documentation Really Is Everything
Alright, one more thing.
Medical records are your best friend when it comes to proving fault after accident injuries.
They tie you to the crash by documenting your injuries. Medical records create a timeline of symptoms caused by the accident.
Good documentation includes:
- Dates and times of medical visits
- What symptoms you reported to doctors and when
- Imaging tests like X-rays, MRIs, CT scans
- Medical provider notes
A personal injury journal can be used as documentation as well. Take note of every injury symptom experienced.
Jot down pain levels and what activities your injuries prevent you from doing. This type of info can be used along with medical records to establish injury details insurance companies want to ignore.
The more documentation you have, the easier it’ll be to prove your injuries were caused by the crash.
Let’s Review
Delayed symptoms can appear days or even weeks after a crash. Adrenaline from the initial accident tricks your body into thinking you’re uninjured. Until suddenly, you’re not.
Here’s what you SHOULD be doing:
- Seek medical treatment immediately after an accident AND if delayed symptoms appear
- Document everything related to your injuries from day one
- Don’t give insurance companies room to deny your claim based on gaps in medical treatment
Taking care of your health is priority number one. But don’t forget to take care of your rights too.