Delayed Injury Symptoms After a Car Accident
Many injuries are noticeable immediately after a car accident, but there are others that can have delayed or hidden symptoms. Seeing a doctor right away is extremely important, and may help with finding “invisible” injuries. However, you must stay alert for any new symptoms in the days and weeks following an accident that might occur once the adrenaline wears off.
Common Delayed Injury Symptoms
Here are seven delayed injury symptoms that commonly occur, and what they mean:
1) Neck or Shoulder Pain and Stiffness
Delayed neck injury symptoms often mean whiplash. An x-ray, CT scan, or MRI may be required to properly diagnose it. Rear-end collisions commonly result in whiplash injuries. It could also mean a herniated disc or spinal injury.
2) Headaches
Headaches can take several days to become apparent. It may signal a serious problem, such as a concussion, injury to the head, or a blood clot in the brain.
3) Back Pain
There are many injuries that back pain could represent, such as a soft tissue injury, sprain, pinched nerve, spinal cord injury, herniated disc, or whiplash.
4) Numbness
A loss of feeling in your hands or arms could indicate a whiplash injury or damage to the neck or spinal column.
5) Abdominal Pain or Swelling
Abdominal pain, swelling, deep purple bruises, shortness of breath, fainting, and dizziness, are all symptoms that may indicate internal bleeding. Without emergency treatment, internal bleeding can be very dangerous and possibly deadly.
6) Changes in Behavior (physical or personality)
Any changes in physical function or in someone’s personality after a car accident could be a sign of a traumatic brain injury (TBI). Symptoms can show up as fatigue, insomnia, memory problems, changes to vision and/or hearing, mood changes such as irritability or depression, headaches, paralysis, numbness in limbs, inability to speak, and more.
7) Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
PTSD is a mental health condition that is commonly triggered by car accidents. Symptoms may include severe anxiety, flashbacks, nightmares, as well as uncontrollable thoughts about the event.
8) I Had Delayed Injury Symptoms After a Car Accident, What Now?
A large issue when it comes to delayed symptoms is the negative impact they can have on your car accident claim. Demonstrating to the insurance company that the accident was the cause of your injuries can be difficult to do, especially if you waited to see a doctor.
A way to protect yourself legally is by not rushing to settle your accident claim too early. If the other party was at fault, their insurance company will likely attempt to settle your claim quickly and want you to sign a release of liability to receive the money.
Before signing anything, make sure you have a complete medical evaluation and speak to a car accident attorney in Minneapolis. The settlement amount may seem reasonable, but it can end up being much less than you deserve if it turns out your delayed symptoms are signs of serious injuries.
It is best to wait until your physician believes you have reached maximum medical improvement (MMI), which is when you have reached as full of a recovery as can be expected. At that point, your attorney can then calculate and demand a fair settlement.
We Can Help Protect Your Rights
If you have been involved in a car accident and are experiencing delayed injury symptoms, contact Hall Law P.A. as soon as possible for a free consultation. Our experienced car accident attorneys will ensure you recover the maximum amount of compensation you are owed.