Can You Recover Compensation for Delayed Injuries After a Car Accident?

Car accident injuries often do not appear immediately. Since the body releases stress hormones that temporarily block pain signals, injuries caused by a crash can take time to become noticeable or be slow to fully develop. While an insurance company may accept a claim for delayed injuries after a car accident, it’s important to have medical documentation and other evidence to prove that your injuries were caused by the accident involving their insured.

What are Delayed Injuries After a Car Accident?

After the initial impact of a car crash, you may experience a surge of adrenaline and endorphins that mask the pain you would otherwise feel — and the onset of injury symptoms may be delayed. While this is the body’s natural shock response, you might not feel the extent of the injuries you’ve suffered until these chemicals subside.

Some common delayed injuries after a car accident can include the following:

• Soft tissue injuries — Soft tissue injuries, including sprains, strains, and contusions, are some of the most common types of injuries that can be sustained after a car accident. While you might not initially think you are injured due to the body’s shock response, soreness and inflammation can begin days later, limiting your range of motion.
• Whiplash — Whiplash occurs when the head and neck are forcefully moved forward and backward. Since this injury involves damage to soft tissue, the symptoms may not be apparent until the tissues become inflamed and swell. As muscle tension increases, the pain becomes more noticeable and severe.
• Concussion — Concussions are a type of brain injury that is caused by a blow or jolt to the head that causes the brain to move inside the skull. Since the brain needs time to react to trauma, concussion symptoms may not become noticeable until you have returned to your normal activities after a car accident.
• Knee damage — If your knee struck the steering wheel or dashboard during the impact of a car crash, you may have sustained a ligament tear, meniscus tear, or other type of knee injury. You may not develop pain for days or weeks with a knee injury due to the body’s initial response.
• Nerve damage — Days or weeks after a car crash, you may experience the symptoms of nerve damage, including numbness, tingling, and weakness in your arms or legs. Since the inflammation from an injury can take time to build up and place pressure on the nerves, these types of injuries are not readily apparent.
• Internal bleeding — The symptoms associated with internal bleeding after a car crash may be subtle and not appear for days. Critically, these types of injuries can be life-threatening, which is why it’s vital to have a doctor evaluate you immediately after a car accident.

While many people focus on the physical injuries they suffered after a motor vehicle collision, victims may also experience emotional injuries that have a gradual onset. Post-traumatic stress disorder is a common delayed car accident injury that can present with symptoms of anxiety, avoidance behaviors, difficulty concentrating, flashbacks, and intense emotional reactions when reminded about the accident.

Can You Recover Compensation for Delayed Injuries?

It’s crucial to seek medical attention immediately following a car accident. Even if you don’t think you have been badly hurt, a doctor can examine you to determine whether you have sustained internal injuries. They can also prescribe a course of treatment to prevent any injuries you’ve sustained from worsening. Not only is getting the medical help you need important for your health, but also to document your case.

Failure to obtain prompt medical attention can lead the insurance company to argue that your injuries are not as severe as you claim in an attempt to reduce your compensation. They might also try to argue that your injuries were not caused by the car accident, but by some other event. In these cases, it’s essential to have a skillful personal injury attorney who can help prove your delayed injuries after a car accident — and assist you with obtaining compensation for the economic and non-economic damages you suffered. In some delayed injury cases, a medical expert witness may be brought in to help establish the link between the accident and your injuries.

Documentation of your injuries is key in a personal injury claim. If you did not go to the emergency room right after the accident, seek medical attention as soon as you notice symptoms. Be sure to follow up with all appointments and medical treatments — any gap in your treatment can potentially harm your case and reduce your compensation. You should also keep a journal to track how your injuries affect your daily life and livelihood.

Contact an Experienced Washington Personal Injury Attorney

If you have sustained delayed injuries after a car accident, an experienced personal injury attorney can help you secure the compensation you deserve. With locations in Burien and Bellevue, Herron Law Office, PLLC is dedicated to helping Washington car accident victims secure justice in their cases.

If you’ve been hurt in a car accident caused by someone else’s negligence, we welcome you to contact us for a consultation to discuss your case by calling (425) 600-2580.