Some car accident injuries result in symptoms that require immediate medical assistance. However, other injuries may not have symptoms until hours, days or weeks after the crash.
The insurance company may even try to use any delayed injury against you when filing a claim for compensation. For this reason, it is important to speak to an experienced lawyer for legal help. The Windsor car accident lawyers at our firm are prepared to review your situation in a free consultation.
Common Injuries With Delayed Symptoms
Some injuries do not result in immediate symptoms that are apparent. In other situations, you may experience a rush of adrenaline that masks these symptoms.
Concussions
While a concussion is considered a mild traumatic brain injury, it can result in serious consequences. Concussions commonly occur during car accidents when the head sustains a blow or when the neck jerks violently.
Delayed symptoms accident victims often suffer after a concussion include:
- Loss of consciousness
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Confusion
- Anger, irritability or other mood changes
- Changes in eating or sleeping habits
- Memory loss
- Delayed response time
- Sensitivity to light or noise
Whiplash
Whiplash is another common car accident injury that occurs when the neck snaps back and forth. The injury may extend to the neck’s nerves, joints and muscles. Many of the symptoms of whiplash are the same as those for a concussion, including headaches, dizziness and changes in sleep patterns. Other symptoms could include ringing in the ears, blurred vision and neck and shoulder pain.
Although the symptoms may not occur immediately, some whiplash injuries may take months before they fully heal.
Soft-Tissue Damage
Soft-tissue damage includes injuries to the body’s muscles, ligaments and tendons, including sprains, strains and contusions. The most noticeable symptom of this injury is pain to the affected area.
Soft-tissue damage is often treated with the following:
- Rest, ice, compression and elevation
- Heat
- Gentle exercises
- Physical therapy
Back Pain
Back pain can be a symptom of several serious injuries, such as:
- A herniated disc
- Spinal injury
- Whiplash
- A sprain
- Soft-tissue injury
- Pinched nerve
These injuries can result in significant pain and can negatively impact your mobility, so be sure you receive prompt medical attention following a crash.
Emotional Trauma
Many accident victims also suffer from emotional trauma such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Symptoms could include flashbacks and nightmares about the accident or anxiety when getting into a vehicle. Emotional injuries can result in months or years of therapy and possibly a prescription for medication to help treat the condition.
How Delayed Injuries Can Affect a Claim
An insurance adjuster may try to claim that your delayed injuries were not due to the car accident and were caused by some other reason. He or she may say that you are exaggerating your injury and that if you were really injured, you would have received treatment more quickly. Since cases involving delayed injuries can be complex, it is important to speak with a lawyer who can advocate for you.
Do not rush to settle your claim too quickly either in case you have injuries stemming from your accident that are not readily apparent. Once you agree to a settlement, you may lose out on any additional compensation if you later discover an injury caused by the accident.
Reach Out to a Lawyer for Legal Help
If you have been injured in a car accident, we recommend consulting with a lawyer about your rights. At Greg Monforton & Partners, we have helped many car accident victims file claims after suffering an injury with delayed symptoms. We know what it takes to build a strong case to pursue maximum compensation for our clients. There are no upfront fees, so we do not get paid unless you do.
Call (866) 320-4770 to schedule your free consultation.