If you were recently involved in a collision, you may have felt perfectly fine after. You may have followed the standard protocol of exchanging insurance information with the other driver and waiting for the police to arrive. You may have then carried on with your day.
If you haven't already received medical attention, it's important that you do so promptly. Crash-related injuries don't always produce symptoms or pain immediately after a crash. This may be due to the adrenaline and shock of being involved in a crash, which can mask physical pain.
4 types of delayed car accident injuries
Some injuries also take several days to produce any pain or discomfort. These injuries often include:
- Whiplash: This often occurs in rear-end collisions, even at low impact. Your head snaps forward and backward in a whip-like motion and causes damage to the soft tissue in the neck. The delayed symptoms may include neck stiffness, neck pain, dizziness, and tingling in the arms and limbs.
- Back and spine injuries: Damage to the vertebrae and discs in the spine can lead to tingling, burning and pain in the limbs, back pain, and even sciatica (nerve pain that shoots down the legs).
- Soft tissue injuries: Injuries to the muscles or joints may not produce any immediate pain, especially when adrenaline is released in the body. Delayed symptoms may include pain, inflammation, swelling and bruising.
- Mild traumatic brain injuries: Mild concussions often produce symptoms days later, even if a crash victim doesn't lose consciousness.
In some cases, crash victims may report one noticeable injury at the scene of a crash. Noticeable injuries may include lacerations, broken bones and contusions. Days later, any of the other injuries mentioned above may start to produce symptoms. That's why it's important to bring any additional symptoms to the attention of your doctor and attorney in order to get a full scope on how much treatment and recovery you will need.
What can I expect from my car accident claim?
If you sought medical attention promptly after a crash, then you're already ahead of the game. Getting prompt medical attention can make it difficult for insurance companies to argue that your injuries are exaggerated or you waited too long to see a doctor.
If you didn't seek immediate medical attention, but did so when you started experiencing injury symptoms, it's not game over. It's best to speak to an experienced Delaware car accident attorney who can help you piece together a solid claim and deal with the insurance companies on your behalf.
The attorneys at the Law Office of Edward C. Gill, P.A. have a wealth of legal knowledge and experience handling car accident claims and helping crash victims get compensated to the fullest extent. This includes compensation for medical expenses, wage loss, and property loss or damage, as well as pain and suffering.
To get started, contact us online and schedule your free legal consultation.