Hidden injuries from a car accident often take hours, weeks, or days after the collision to appear. If your abdomen suddenly becomes painfully swollen, you have persistent soreness or stiffness in your shoulders or neck, or you experience chronic headaches that worsen over time, you should seek medical attention right away.
These are just some of the delayed injury symptoms to look for after a car wreck. Not every serious injury shows up immediately after the wreck, which is why having a thorough examination is so important. You could risk permanent disability or life-threatening harm if you let a delayed injury go without treatment.
What Causes Delayed Injury?
Some injuries take time to manifest to the point where they’re painful or noticeable. For example, internal bleeding may be a slow trickle that builds up over time until the point where you could become septic.
An over-strained ligament or tendon may also not present right away. But the next day, you may be unable to move a joint or turn your head. Swelling from strained muscles doesn’t happen right away, either – you may wake up to a giant ankle or wrist in the morning.
Can You Have Symptoms Months After a Car Accident?
It is possible to experience symptoms several months after a crash. Muscle and soft tissue damage are some of the more common types of car accident injuries that present delayed symptoms. If you already have stiff or sore muscles, aches, and pains, you may not notice the new injury until you’ve moved around so much that you’ve exacerbated it.
For example, if you suffered a herniated disc in a car wreck but weren’t diagnosed, the tear in the disc could keep growing. You may not feel the pain at first because the damage is minor. But over time, the tear grows, and the inner part of your disc starts touching your spinal cord, causing severe pain and difficulty moving.
What Are Some Delayed Injury Symptoms?
Some of the more common indications of a delayed injury include:
- Arm or shoulder pain and stiffness
- Pain in the legs
- Irritability or mood swings
- Sudden changes in personality
- Difficulty sleeping or insomnia
- Swelling in the abdomen
- Ringing in the ears
- Increasingly limited range of motion
What Are the Most Common Delayed Injuries from a Car Wreck?
Many of the symptoms listed above indicate one of these common delayed injuries from a car wreck:
- Soft tissue damage, or damage to muscles, ligaments, and tendons
- Hairline fractures which can worsen if not treated promptly
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI) which can cause permanent brain damage
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Any sudden physical changes in the days, weeks, or even months after a car accident could be a sign of crash-related damage. A doctor can evaluate your condition and determine how your injury or symptoms developed.
What Should I Do After a Car Accident?
Always seek medical attention after a car crash. If you don’t have to ride in an ambulance to the hospital, then follow up on your own as soon as possible. A prompt diagnosis can save your life if it’s a case of internal bleeding. For other conditions, like a hairline fracture or brain injury, getting a diagnosis right away puts you in a better position for healing and recovery. It may also help you prevent re-injury.
Can I Be Compensated for Injuries That Show Up Later?
To get compensation in a car accident claim, your Georgia car accident lawyer must prove that your injuries were caused by the wreck and that another party was responsible for the collision.
Proving your injuries were due to the wreck is easier when you have medical records from an examination right after the crash, like from the hospital or emergency responders. If you don’t go to the doctor until a week or two after the wreck, then the defense will claim any other reason except the car accident for the injury.
That being said, doctors know that many car accident injuries present delayed symptoms, and they may be able to indicate that on your medical records. However, since a defense lawyer will likely contest your records, it’s best to have your own legal representative to support your side.
Should I Accept the Insurance Company’s Initial Settlement Offer?
It can take some time to know the full extent of your injuries and financial losses. An insurance company’s initial settlement offer is likely far less than your case is truly worth. A lawyer can properly value your claim and advise you of its estimated maximum value – even if you have delayed injury symptoms that prevented you from seeking immediate medical care.
How Long Do I Have to File an Accident Claim Against the At-Fault Driver?
The Georgia statute of limitations for filing a car accident suit against the negligent party is two years from the date of the crash. Even if you don’t develop injury symptoms until months after the collision, you may still be bound by that two-year limit. An experienced car accident attorney can help you determine and meet any deadlines that might apply to your case.
Contact a Georgia Car Accident Lawyer
If you didn’t file a car accident claim right away, and now you’ve been diagnosed with an injury stemming from the collision, you may be wondering what your options are. Each case is unique, but at Sherrod & Bernard, P.C., we are ready to evaluate your claim and investigate all legal options. We can provide insightful and skilled legal advice to help you seek the highest possible settlement for your car accident injuries, even if your symptoms didn’t show up right away. Contact us today for a free consultation with a Georgia car accident lawyer.
