Do I Have a Delayed Crash Injury?

It is often immediately obvious to car accident victims that they have sustained a serious injury. Severe lacerations, for example, are hard to miss, as are compound fractures and contusions. Some injuries, however, such as concussions and whiplash, don’t always show any symptoms at the time of the collision and so could go undiagnosed for days or even weeks after an accident.

These kinds of delayed injuries pose a serious risk to accident victims, as they can make it harder for an injured party to successfully treat his or her condition and can also make filing a claim for accident-related compensation much more complicated. To learn more about demonstrating fault for a delayed crash injury, please contact an experienced Altamonte Springs car accident lawyer who can advise you.

Common Delayed Crash Injuries

It is not uncommon for car accident victims to be reluctant to go to the hospital or seek medical assistance after a crash. This is especially true for motorists who don’t initially notice any symptoms, as they may want to avoid the expense and trouble of seeking medical attention for a seemingly non-existent injury. Unfortunately, the symptoms of some car crash injuries are initially masked by the adrenaline rush of being involved in an accident. This can last for anywhere from a few minutes to a number of days, which is why car accident victims are strongly encouraged to keep an eye out for certain symptoms, which could be indicative of an underlying and delayed injury:

• Back pain, which could be evidence of a herniated disc, fractured vertebrae, spinal cord injury, or an injured tendon, muscle, or ligament;
• Pain and stiffness in the neck and shoulders, both of which are common signs of whiplash;
• Tingling or numbness in the limbs, which is also a good indicator of some types of spinal cord damage;
• Bruising or swelling, particularly in the abdomen, which could be evidence of internal bleeding;
• Headaches, nausea, memory loss, sleep disturbances, and changes in personality, which are all common symptoms of mild traumatic brain injuries like concussions; and
• Anxiety, depression, or insomnia, which could be considered evidence of PTSD or emotional distress.

These types of symptoms should all be addressed immediately, as even a slight delay in obtaining treatment can result in additional complications, while also making it harder for injured parties to obtain compensation for accident-related losses.

The Importance of Early Diagnosis

At the end of the day, early diagnosis is one of the best ways to both keep a car accident injury from becoming more serious and help plaintiffs recover compensation for medical bills and lost wages. However, delayed crash injuries do happen, even to those who take the greatest care to obtain medical attention after an accident. For this reason, car accident victims should wait before releasing anyone from liability, as doing so could bar an injured party from filing a claim at a later date. Seeking medical attention as soon as possible can also play a crucial role in creating a record that definitively links a specific injury to a particular accident.

Get Legal Help Today

Please call Goldman Law, P.A. at 407-960-1900 today to speak with an experienced car accident lawyer in Altamonte Springs about your legal options following a car crash.