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Home Car Accidents Delayed Injuries After a Car Accident

delayed injuries after a car accidentYou might not feel hurt immediately after a North Carolina car accident, but that doesn’t mean you didn’t sustain injuries. The stress and adrenaline that follow a crash can mask your pain. Some injuries, such as whiplash, soft tissue damage, or internal bleeding, sometimes don’t show symptoms until hours or days later.

Unfortunately, proving your injuries came from the collision becomes more difficult when your symptoms are delayed. The other driver or their insurance company may try to deny your claim or downplay your injuries because you didn’t report them immediately. You might struggle with medical bills and missed paychecks while fighting an uphill legal battle.

The Raleigh personal injury lawyers at Younce, Vtipil, Baznik & Banks, P.A. have helped many people hurt in North Carolina car accidents recover compensation for their delayed injuries. We know how to build strong cases based on solid medical evidence and expert opinions, even when symptoms take time to appear. Our team can help you demand fair compensation for your medical costs, lost wages, pain, and other losses from a delayed injury after a car accident. Call now or complete our contact form for a free consultation.

Can You Still Get Compensation for Delayed Injuries?

You may be able to pursue compensation for delayed injuries after a car accident. However, the process is often more complicated. The other parties involved in the crash and their insurance companies will likely question any injuries you didn’t report immediately. They may argue that your symptoms aren’t related to the collision or suggest that something else caused them. These issues can make getting a fair settlement for your medical bills, lost income, and emotional distress harder – but not impossible.

You’ll need solid documentation to overcome these challenges. Your medical records are essential. It’s critical to see a doctor as soon as symptoms appear and explain their relationship to the crash. Be specific when you talk to your doctor about when your pain began and how it has changed over time. Ask your doctor to note the likely connection between your symptoms and the accident.

Your doctors may order imaging tests like X-rays, MRIs, or CT scans to help diagnose your injuries. In some cases, you may need statements from medical experts to explain why your symptoms didn’t show up right away.

In addition to collecting medical evidence, you should document your experience and how your delayed symptoms affect your life. Write down when each symptom appeared, how it has affected your ability to work, and any tasks you can no longer perform. Witness statements from family, coworkers, or others who’ve seen your condition worsen can also strengthen your case.

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Common Delayed Injury Symptoms After a Car Accident

Some common examples of delayed injuries and symptoms after Raleigh car accidents include:

Internal Bleeding

Internal bleeding can happen when blunt force trauma from a crash damages your organs or blood vessels. You might not notice symptoms immediately, but you may develop abdominal pain, dizziness, or deep bruising over time. If left untreated, internal injuries can lead to serious complications such as organ failure or death. Don’t ignore any signs of this potentially dangerous condition.

Whiplash

Whiplash is one of the most common delayed injuries after car wrecks, especially in rear-end collisions. It occurs when your neck snaps back and forth suddenly, straining the muscles and ligaments in your neck, shoulders, and upper back. Symptoms like stiffness, headaches, and reduced range of motion may not appear for a day or more. In severe cases, the neck and shoulder pain can last for weeks or months. You may need physical therapy, chiropractic care, or other long-term treatments.

Concussions

A concussion can result from your head hitting a car’s interior in a collision or directly from the force of the crash. Symptoms of concussions may include ongoing headaches, dizziness, memory issues, and trouble concentrating. These symptoms can last for weeks, months, or even longer. Without proper treatment, they can affect your ability to work, drive, or handle daily tasks.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

PTSD symptoms like flashbacks, nightmares, anxiety, and emotional numbness can show up days or even weeks after traumatic events like a severe collision. You might also avoid driving or feel panicked in traffic. Left untreated, PTSD can interfere with your relationships, job performance, and overall well-being. Many people with PTSD need long-term mental health care and counseling to manage their symptoms.

Blood Clots

An auto accident can cause deep tissue injuries that increase your risk of developing blood clots, particularly in your legs. This risk is even higher if you’re immobilized during your recovery. Symptoms like leg swelling, warmth, or pain may not appear for several days. If a clot travels to your lungs, it can cause a life-threatening pulmonary embolism.

Delayed Bruising

Not all bruises show up right away after a collision. Deeper tissue damage may take time to surface, especially after seatbelt injuries or blunt impacts from the crash. Delayed bruising can indicate more serious underlying problems, such as muscle tears or internal bleeding. Watch for spreading discoloration, pain, or swelling. If you notice any bruises becoming worse or have other symptoms, see a doctor to rule out more severe conditions.

Why Are Symptoms Sometimes Delayed After a Car Accident?

When you’re involved in a car crash, your body naturally releases adrenaline, endorphins, and other chemicals. These compounds can mask your pain and discomfort, making it seem like you’re uninjured. As the effects of these chemicals wear off, you might start to experience delayed pain, stiffness, and other symptoms. Sometimes a muscle strain may not be felt until the next day because the body’s inflammatory response and pain signals are not triggered immediately.

Some serious injuries also take time to develop or worsen gradually. For example, you might not notice swelling from soft-tissue damage until you get out of bed the next day or even a few days after an accident. Similarly, symptoms of concussions and other brain injuries may show up as headaches, confusion, or dizziness hours after the collision. Injuries to muscles, joints, or the spine may also take time to become painful or limit your movement.

Because these delayed symptoms can have severe long-term effects, it’s vital to seek medical attention as soon as possible after you start feeling the symptoms. Prompt medical care can help your doctors identify hidden injuries, which protects your health and your legal claim.

How an Attorney Can Assist If You’ve Experienced Delayed Injuries After a Car Accident

Collecting the necessary evidence and building a strong case connecting your delayed injuries to the collision isn’t easy. It takes time, energy, resources, and skills – and it’s an effort that you don’t need to deal with on top of managing your injuries and recovery.

Our experienced Raleigh car accident attorneys can take on your legal burdens after a crash to protect your rights and help you seek full compensation for any delayed injuries you have. Once you hire us, we can:

  • Investigate your accident thoroughly – We can gather police reports, witness statements, photos, and any available video footage to show exactly how the crash happened and who caused it. This step is crucial for holding whoever caused your injuries accountable for their negligence.
  • Help you get the care you need – If you haven’t seen a medical professional yet, we can connect you with trusted providers who understand delayed injury cases.
  • Connect your injuries to the collision – Our team can work with medical experts to explain how your delayed symptoms are linked to the crash.
  • Deal with the insurance companies for you – Insurance companies will use your delayed injuries to try to undervalue or deny your claim. With our help, you won’t have to handle pushy insurance adjusters or confusing forms. We can speak for you and protect you from any underhanded tactics.
  • Organize your medical records and paperwork – We can work to ensure your treatment history supports your case and reflects the full extent of your injuries.
  • Calculate what your case is truly worth – We’ll assess your current and future medical bills, missed work, and the pain and stress your injuries have caused to maximize your potential compensation.
  • Fight for full compensation in or out of court – If the insurance company won’t offer a fair settlement, we can take your case to trial and fight for your rights.
Younce Vtipil Baznik & Banks personal injury law team

Our Raleigh Car Accident Attorneys Can Help You with Your Case

With over 90 years of combined experience, the Raleigh car accident lawyers at Younce, Vtipil, Baznik & Banks, P.A. understand your pain and what it takes to recover fair compensation. Our state-of-the-art case tracking system helps us manage your case effectively, and we pride ourselves on providing hands-on attention to every client.

We also have a proven track record of securing meaningful compensation for our clients, including a case where we recovered $1.6 million for our client through a personal injury settlement. If you need more proof of our legal excellence, here’s what one recent client said about their experience with us:

“We are very grateful with this firm. They have been our lawyers for more than 17 years, always excellent service and good communication, in Spanish or English! Younce, Vtipil, attorneys at Law always fighting for the rights of their clients!! For that reason I give them 5 stars if I could I would give them more!!!!” — Javier Pintos

It’s essential to act quickly so you don’t jeopardize your right to compensation, especially if your injuries are already delayed. Call us today at 919-661-9000 or complete our contact form for a free case evaluation.

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