You might think you initially feel fine after a car accident in Alabama and forgo seeking medical treatment. But what happens if you develop injury symptoms later on? Can you still seek compensation for your injuries?
Fortunately, yes. While it’s always best to seek medical treatment as soon as possible, some injuries from car accidents may take time to show symptoms. However, knowing what to do when this happens can enable you to protect your health and your right to seek compensation.
How Long Can Car Accident Injuries Take to Appear?
Some injuries are apparent right away, particularly if they cause bleeding and immediate severe pain. But that isn’t the case for all injuries. Sometimes, injuries become painful only once swelling begins. Other times, the symptoms may be mild at first before worsening over time. Your adrenaline rush directly after an accident can mask the pain of even a serious injury.
Depending on your auto accident injuries, symptoms may take hours, days, or even weeks to appear. Regardless of when they surface, it’s crucial that you seek medical attention right away to protect your well-being and create a paper trail that documents your injury and treatment.
Common Delayed Symptoms After a Car Crash
After a car accident, you should watch for signs that could indicate you have a hidden injury. Some of the most common delayed injury symptoms include:
- Neck and shoulder pain or stiffness, often associated with whiplash and other soft-tissue injuries
- Headaches, which could indicate a traumatic brain injury
- Back pain or numbness in the extremities, which may point toward a spinal injury
- Abdominal pain or swelling, which may be due to internal organ damage
- Emotional distress, including anxiety or post-traumatic stress disorder
Even if your symptoms initially seem minor, it is important to take them seriously, as they could worsen over time or indicate a potentially life-threatening condition if left untreated.
Can I File a Claim for Injuries That Show Up Later?
You can still file an auto insurance claim for injuries that don’t appear immediately after the accident. However, seeking treatment once you notice your symptoms is key. The sooner you can have your symptoms recorded in your medical records, the easier it will be to establish a connection between your injuries and the car accident.
Challenges with Insurance and Delayed Injury Claims
Insurance companies are always looking for reasons to deny or undervalue auto accident claims. If your physical symptoms appear days or weeks after the car accident, the insurance company may claim that a separate incident caused them, and it shouldn’t be held liable. Or it may claim that because you didn’t seek immediate medical attention after the accident, your injuries can’t be that serious.
Our car accident lawyers can collect the medical evidence necessary for connecting your injuries to the accident, improving your chances of recovering the compensation you need.
Get Legal Help for Delayed Car Accident Injuries
If you were in a car accident and later developed injury symptoms like delayed pain, contact Morris, King & Hodge, P.C., for a free case review. Our car accident lawyers are ready to analyze the details of your case and explain your options for seeking compensation.
