How Car Accident Injuries Can Appear Days After the Crash

You were involved in a car accident. While you were a little shaken up afterward, you were able to walk away without any injuries and you now feel fine. Because you have no pain, you must not have any injuries, right?

Unfortunately, that’s not always the case. Car accidents frequently cause delayed pain, delayed symptoms, and delayed injuries. Car accident pain, symptoms, and injuries can manifest hours, days, or even weeks after the crash. One common reason for delayed symptoms is that our bodies experience an enormous surge of adrenaline and endorphins during a traumatic event like a car accident.

Adrenaline can mask pain initially, and swelling and inflammation can take time to develop. This means that symptoms like muscle soreness, headaches, neck stiffness, bruising, and even signs of internal bleeding may not be noticeable until hours or days later.

Everyone reacts to stress and trauma in different ways. It is still unknown why some people feel immediate symptoms while others experience delayed pain. In any case, feeling fine after a car crash does not mean you won’t experience symptoms later.

Here are some situations in which you may experience delayed symptoms:

Swelling and inflammation. It takes time for swelling and inflammation to build up around injured tissues, leading to delayed pain and stiffness.
Soft tissue injuries. Strains, sprains, and muscle damage can take a few days to manifest as pain and discomfort.
This is a common delayed injury where neck pain and stiffness may not appear until a day or two after the accident.
Mild traumatic brain injuries can have delayed symptoms like headaches, dizziness, confusion, and memory problems.
Internal bleeding. Internal bleeding may not have immediate symptoms but can cause pain, swelling, or dizziness within hours or days.
Herniated discs. These spinal injuries cause back pain, numbness, or tingling in the limbs that may not appear until days or weeks later.

You should also be aware of mental issues after a car accident. A traumatic event like a car crash can significantly impact your mental and emotional well-being and possibly cause depression, anxiety, or even post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). These mental health disorders can present weeks, months, or even years after the crash.

While you can still file a claim for delayed injuries, your insurance company has the right to deny a personal injury claim if you wait too long. To prevent this, you should see a doctor right after the auto accident, even if you feel fine. A doctor can evaluate you for potential injuries. Provide this documentation to your insurance provider to prove that you sought medical care within an appropriate time period.

Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer

A car accident can cause significant injuries — some you may not even notice for days or even weeks later. It’s important to stay vigilant and monitor your symptoms so you can get appropriate medical treatment.

A Houston car accident attorney from The West Law Office, PLLC can help ensure you get the medical treatment and compensation you need after a crash. We’ll help you meet the deadlines and deal with all the complexities involved. To schedule a consultation, fill out the online form or call 281-347-3247.

Source:

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