Available 24/7
Car accident injuries don’t always appear right away. They can be delayed. SC car accident victims need to know how long after an accident the signs of injury can appear.
The experienced Columbia car accident lawyers at Shealey Law Firm explain what you need to know.
How Long After a Car Accident Can Injuries Appear?
Car accident injuries can appear hours, days, or weeks after an accident. You may notice symptoms that worsen or new symptoms that appear. With time passing, you may think that symptoms are unrelated to the accident or that they’re not serious. However, delayed symptoms of car accident injuries are common.
Serious injuries can have delayed symptoms
Even serious injuries like internal bleeding and organ damage may not show symptoms for hours or days. It may take time for blood pressure to drop, or for pooling or pressure to become noticeable. Bleeding from internal organs, such as the spleen, can go undetected for more than a week.
Why Some Car Accident Injuries Don’t Show Up Right Away
There are several reasons that injuries don’t show up right away:
- Adrenaline. The adrenaline surge after an accident can mask injuries.
- Inflammation. Pain and swelling can increase slowly in response to an injury.
- Chemical balance. Injuries can alter brain chemistry in ways that become more apparent over time.
- Cognition. You may not notice cognitive issues until you try to look at a screen or concentrate on your work.
- Symptoms overlap. Whiplash can cause muscle stiffness that contributes to headaches and prolonged concussion pain.
- Disorientation. A car accident can be disorienting. The confusion can make it difficult to evaluate symptoms.
All these factors can hide car accident symptoms for hours, days or weeks.
Common Delayed Symptoms to Watch For
Here are some common delayed symptoms to watch for after a car accident:
- Abdominal pain. Worsening abdominal pain can signal internal bleeding or organ damage.
- Cognitive changes. Confusion, difficulty processing information, and trouble concentrating.
- Shortness of breath. Can indicate restricted oxygen intake, rib injury, or nervous system trauma.
- Blood in urine. May indicate kidney or bladder injury.
- Throbbing pain. It can be a sign of bone fracture or deep tissue damage.
- Nausea. A common concussion symptom, and also a sign of psychological trauma from the accident.
- Dizziness, fainting. May be a sign of internal injury, shock, or neurological damage.
- Speech changes. Trouble forming words or slurred speech can mean brain injury.
- Bruising. Deep tissue damage can take time to cause bruising on the surface.
- Radiating pain. May signal back injury.
- Sensitivity to light. A sign of brain trauma or eye injury.
Any changing, unusual, painful, or uncomfortable symptoms may be signs of car accident injury.
Why Adrenaline Masks Pain After a Crash
Adrenaline is a hormone. Your adrenal glands produce it, along with other vital hormones that control metabolism and the stress response.
Adrenaline helps the body react to stressful situations. It makes the heart beat faster. It breaks down energy stores for immediate use. It lowers pain sensitivity, improves oxygen intake, and sharpens vision.
The fight-or-flight response can block pain perception and processing. Your body prioritizes survival, such as blood flow and cognition, so you can identify and respond to the threat. This masking can temporarily hide the pain of car accident injuries. When hormone levels return to normal, injury symptoms become apparent.
How Waiting to Seek Treatment Can Hurt Your Health and Your Claim
An important part of any car accident claim is proving that your injuries are from the car accident. Timely medical care can be key to proving your case. Delays give the defense room to question whether the injuries are from the car accident.
Injuries follow a course of healing. Symptoms may worsen before they improve. A medical condition may change or deteriorate. That’s normal and expected. Documenting your healing is important. Changes in condition and your healing timeline can be factors in determining your compensation.
The Insurance Gap-in-Treatment Argument
The insurance company may use the gap in treatment to downplay your injuries. They may say that you should have noticed the symptoms and gotten care earlier. That may not be true, but you must refute their arguments. You must rely on medical documentation, testimony from your care providers, and other medical experts to explain your injuries and any treatment delays.
What to Do If Symptoms Appear Days Later
If medical symptoms appear hours, days, or weeks after your car accident, get medical attention right away. This is because your injuries may be serious, and because immediate documentation is important to your case. Don’t assume that your symptoms will improve on their own or that they are minor. Timely medical care is important for healing. Plus, it fully documents the pain and suffering related to the accident.
When to Talk to a Columbia Car Accident Lawyer
If you sought medical attention for car accident injuries, you should talk to a Columbia car accident lawyer. If you have delayed injuries or if injuries are more serious than you first realized, an attorney can help with your case.
Shealey Law Firm represents car accident victims. We handle cases involving delayed car accident injury symptoms. Call or message us now.