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Pain after Car Accident Delayed

Once you have received compensation for injuries and expenses, you may not be able to claim compensation for injuries that may show up later.

car accident injury

Car accidents happen all the time, even when you are making sure you’re driving preventively and following the rules. There are so many ways in which your body can get injured in a car crash that the aftermath is rarely predictable. Most car accident injuries are noticeable right away, but there are some injuries that get worse over time or pass unnoticed at the time of the accident and immediately after.

Some of the injuries that may affect you more later on than in the immediate aftermath of the accident are: soft tissue injuries, concussion, spine injuries, ruptured spleen, membranes that can lead to delayed internal bleeding, bone fissures, etc.

Why It’s Important to Go to the Doctor After a Car Crash

When you are in an extremely stressful situation, like a car accident, your body triggers the “fight or flight” response and flushes adrenaline through your body. Besides preparing your body to deal with immediate danger, adrenaline also inhibits your ability to feel pain. This is why many car accident victims skip going to the doctor, thinking they are ok, only to find out later that they need medical treatment for injuries.

Going to the doctor after a car accident will also help you protect your legal rights and allow you to claim compensation for your medical expenses, pain, and suffering.

headache after a car accident

Headache After Car Accident

Headaches are a common result of a car accident. While you may experience a mild headache at first, it could be a sign of something more serious such as:

A headache may result even if there has been no direct head trauma. It could be a result of some other internal injury.



Soft Tissue Injuries and Whiplash

Whiplash is the soft tissue injury in the neck region and is generally associated with pain in the neck; however, it can affect the neural pathways affecting the extremities and the complete spinal cord. Other symptoms of whiplash include the reduced motion of the neck, headaches, feeling dizzy, stiffness in the shoulders and arms, numbness or weakness in the affected region, and slowed reflexes. These symptoms impact the day-to-day life of the injured person and the effects can vary from unpleasant to debilitating. These injuries can be treated with physical therapy and chiropractic manipulations.

Concussions

A concussion is a brain injury when the brain sustains trauma due to the impact to the brain inside the skull. This is caused when the head hits an object or when the head which is in motion with the vehicle suddenly stops due to sudden deceleration of the vehicle. This sudden acceleration or deceleration can cause whiplash in addition to a concussion. A concussion causes a temporary loss of brain function. The symptoms of concussion include headaches, disorientation, ringing in the ears, confusion, blurred vision, vomiting, irritability, loss of balance, amnesia, anxiety or depression, lethargy, insomnia, and loss of concentration.

Studies have shown that five to seven percent of people who have suffered a concussion experience a post-traumatic seizure some time in their life. The most susceptible to post-traumatic seizures are children and elderly ones. Concussion which results in internal bleeding of the brain may cause post-traumatic epilepsy, which is a permanent condition. The effects of concussion generally last from a few hours to a few weeks. The treatment is that of the symptoms rather than the injury.

doctor examining abdomen

Abdominal pain

Abdominal swelling and pain could be a sign of internal bleeding. Some other signs of internal bleeding that one must watch out for include:

  • Headaches
  • Deep bruising and purplish skin
  • Lightheadedness
  • Dizziness
  • Fainting

Internal injuries may not be evident for several days after the crash, and in many cases, they can be life-threatening if they are not diagnosed and treated early on. So, it is important to seek immediate medical attention.



Neck and shoulder pain

Pain in the neck or shoulder might indicate whiplash injury. In some cases, neck and shoulder pain may be felt immediately after the crash, but some people may not experience symptoms until days later.

You should see a doctor if you experience pain or stiffness around the neck, shoulder or head area. The doctor may order imaging tests such as X-rays to diagnose the injuries. Neck pain may also be a result of spinal injuries such as herniated discs.

car accident back pain

Back pain

Lower back pain is another delayed symptom of whiplash or other injuries such as strain, sprain, and herniated disc. These injuries could indicate muscle, ligament or vertebral damage. The victim may experience sciatica and symptoms such as numbness or tingling if the damaged parts within the spinal cord press on any nerves in the area.

Numbness and tingling

A herniated disc can cause symptoms in the injured area as well as the limbs. A herniated disc may press on spinal nerves and cause symptoms such as weakness, numbness and tingling in the limbs. The doctor may order imaging tests to identify the injury and start appropriate treatment.

Emotional Injuries

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) happens when a victim of a car accident develops misplaced situational anxiety or changes in normal personality. This may arise after a few months of the traumatic event and is the most difficult injury to diagnose.

If you are involved in a car accident, seek medical attention and look for injuries that may have delayed symptoms. This is essential because it may help you to safeguard your health and ensure that your legal rights are protected. Claiming compensation for injuries with delayed symptoms, especially PTSD, can be a difficult task. The insurance company may offer you an initial settlement. Before signing a settlement offer, contact a St. Louis car accident attorney for legal advice. Once you have received compensation for current injuries and expenses you will not be able to claim compensation for injuries that may show up later.

Delayed Symptoms of a Heart Injury

A heart injury is a less common but frightening injury a person can suffer in a car accident.

The main cause of heart injury arising from a car crash is impacting the chest against the steering wheel or dashboard of the vehicle. Heart injuries are difficult to diagnose because there are no immediate signs of external injury. It may take weeks and even months after the crash for symptoms to present themselves.

Any new symptoms should be reported to a doctor, even if they occur weeks or months after the crash. Delayed symptoms could be signs of an underlying serious injury. Prompt treatment of heart injuries is important to prevent any serious life-threatening complications. The are two common heart injuries related to car accidents – myocardial contusion and traumatic aortic disruption.



Myocardial Contusion

The bruising of the heart muscle is referred to as myocardial contusion. This bruising is often caused when a driver’s chest hits the steering wheel forcefully during a crash. The bruising can range from being minor to severe. Common symptoms of myocardial contusion include pain in the sternum or front of the ribs, shortness of breath, chest pressure or pain, nausea, vomiting, and a racing heartbeat.

Traumatic Aortic Disruption

A serious and potentially life-threatening heart injury resulting from car accidents is a traumatic aortic rupture. It occurs when the largest artery in the body, the aorta, is ruptured or torn due to the impact of the crash. The aorta branches out from the heart and supplies blood to the rest of the body. Any disruption from the injury is significant and blood may pump out rapidly. The condition is often life-threatening, because of the profuse bleeding that can result from the tear or rupture. However, prompt treatment can help manage the condition and prevent any complications.

St. Louis man with headache after car accident

What To Do If You Have Suffered a Delayed Car Accident Injury

As we have discussed, car accidents can cause a variety of different injuries, but in some cases, you may not be able to spot them right away.

Many car crash victims can even seem to be completely fine right after the event takes place. Apart from being a bit frazzled, they can talk, and even walk on their own two feet to go home.

However, this does not exclude the possibility of a delayed car accident injury.

These injuries may only become visible or start presenting symptoms a few days after the car accident. In some cases, these injuries occur right after the event, but because of the adrenaline rush, you may feel completely fine.

For example, you may fracture or sprain your wrist during a car crash, but it’s possible not to feel it at first. In fact, you may only notice something’s wrong when the wrist begins to swell.

Other injuries may occur as complications to not receiving medical attention right after the event.

How These Injuries Can Affect Your Claim

Again, we cannot emphasize how important it is to see a doctor right after a car accident, regardless of how you may feel. This ensures that you are safe, and makes it a lot easier to file a compensation claim later on if you were the victim of an accident.

Delayed injuries often complicate the insurance claims’ process quite a bit. Depending on how long you wait until you see a doctor, it can be harder and harder to link the injury itself to the car accident, and the insurance company may wonder if you haven’t actually sustained them somewhere else.

Additionally, if your injuries get worse because of not getting medical treatment, this can affect the settlement amount. The at-fault driver is responsible for covering your medical costs that result from the accident, but if you don’t see a doctor right away, you will likely be held responsible for at least part of these costs. Had you seen a doctor after the crash, the treatment needed may have been less extensive and, as a result, less expensive. The insurance company will almost surely push back as a result.

Additionally, think of your own wellbeing. Your body is made up of a lot of complicated systems, and the truth is that you are not always aware of what’s going on inside. To stay safe, it’s best to see a doctor as soon as the car accident occurs, even if it’s just to rule out anything serious.


Free Consultation with a St. Louis Car Accident Lawyer

Don’t talk to an insurance claims adjuster before speaking with The Hoffmann Law Firm, L.L.C. We can help you avoid making statements that may affect the outcome of your case. The consultation is free; you don’t pay unless we get you money!

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Updated: January 18, 2023