The National Safety Council estimates that there were approximately 5,200,000 medically consulted injuries from car accidents in the year 2022. These injuries can often be dramatic and demanding, such as broken bones or traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), and many seek immediate treatment for life-threatening injuries. However, these may overshadow more subtle, but equally disruptive injuries with delayed symptoms.
People may walk away after car accidents and assume themselves uninjured due to the adrenaline in their system and the stress of the moment. In doing so, they may ignore serious injuries and may not seek proper compensation for their injuries.
Consider speaking with a skilled New Hampshire personal injury attorney from Friedman & Bresaw, PLLC for more information on injuries with delayed symptoms after car accidents. Contact the office for a consultation by calling (603) 707-4800.
What Are Delayed Injury Symptoms?
While many injuries may be immediately obvious, others have much subtler symptoms. The symptoms of these injuries may not make themselves evident until days or even weeks after car accidents. Delayed symptoms should not be ignored or dismissed, as they may be signs of serious injuries that were not evident after the crash.
Understanding the body’s reactions to high-stress situations can help clarify why addressing these delayed symptoms is important. Minor injuries could be exacerbated with movement, and sometimes the body does not immediately register the pain for certain injuries. Documenting and getting medical attention for these delayed symptoms after car accidents may help build a personal injury case.
Symptoms to Look For After Car Accidents
Each car accident is unique and may present specific challenges, however there are many commonalities between delayed injury symptoms. Knowing what signs to watch for can help an individual accurately address injuries and seek proper care. Additionally, documenting this pain and understanding when and where it began may help contribute to a case for compensation. Many people fail to realize that the pains and symptoms they are feeling are connected to a car accident, and may miss out on certain compensatory benefits.
For more information on addressing delayed symptoms after car accidents, consider speaking with a skilled personal injury lawyer from Friedman & Bresaw, PLLC.
Neck and Back Pain
One of the most prevalent delayed symptoms after car accidents is prolonged neck and back pain. These are often symptoms of whiplash, due to extreme strain on the neck muscles and spine during a car accident, such as injuries from an airbag. Spinal injuries may also be a possible source of this kind of pain. Neck and back pain may take days to surface after car accidents, or it may grow from dull aches and pains to something more serious. Addressing this soreness early may help identify the source of the pain.
Memory Loss and Concentration Issues
Paying attention to mental acuity after car accidents may help reveal other delayed symptoms of injuries. Quick changes in acceleration can damage the soft tissue of the brain by colliding with the inside of the skull. Even with seatbelts and other protective devices, car accidents can still lead to traumatic brain injuries (TBIs).
These injuries range in severity, from concussions to contusions, to hemorrhaging. While some of the more severe TBIs may be immediately evident, the symptoms of a concussion may not be immediately apparent. Difficulty concentrating on tasks, trouble with memory, or simple brain fog may be a sign of a traumatic brain injury.
Abdominal Pain
Additionally, the abdomen is filled with many vital organs and soft tissues. A collision with the steering wheel or catching on an improperly secured seatbelt could damage these tissues. However, this damage may not be immediately evident. Slow deterioration in the abdomen could lead to delayed symptoms of abdominal pain and other discomfort. These symptoms may be a sign of damaged internal organs or internal bleeding.
Headaches or Dizziness
After car accidents, some people may find themselves with recurring headaches or dizziness. Similar to memory loss and concentration issues, headaches may signal a head injury of some sort. If headaches are accompanied by nausea, these delayed symptoms may point to a more severe TBI or concussion. Headaches or dizziness may not occur until some time after car accidents, and recording these symptoms may be a part of building a personal injury case.
Emotional and Psychological Changes
The trauma of a car accident may also have a significant impact on the emotional and mental state of the victim, according to Mayo Clinic. After car accidents, victims may find themselves experiencing the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). These may include altered moods, panic attacks, depression, nightmares, and flashbacks to the original trauma. These delayed symptoms, while not tangible things, are often just as significant as physical pain. Understanding and addressing these trauma responses may help speed recovery and help recover a sense of normalcy.
Seeking Medical Treatment for Delayed Symptoms
Seeking medical attention after car accidents is not only recommended for a person’s health and well-being, but it also may provide additional legal legitimacy to a personal injury case.
When it comes to injuries with delayed symptoms, the injury itself may not be evident. As with internal bleeding, the victim may not be aware that they are injured despite their discomfort. However, a medical professional may be able to assess and identify injuries that are not obvious to the average person. Seeking prompt treatment may help avert further suffering and may help prevent more permanent damage.
Additionally, medical bills and receipts can be tangible proof to the courts of the individual’s suffering. When determining compensation amounts, courts may take damages into account, including property damage, lost wages, and medical damages. Having a clear record of which injuries were treated when and how much was spent may help build a strong case to present to the courts.
Contact a New Hampshire Personal Injury Attorney Today
Many people find themselves shaken after car accidents, trying to manage the financial struggle, legal complications, as well as the emotional strain of injuries and trauma. For those trying to seek compensation for injuries with delayed symptoms after car accidents, navigating additional legal complexities can be challenging and frustrating, as such endeavors may require an in-depth understanding of New Hampshire state laws for injuries and car accidents.
A skilled personal injury attorney from Friedman & Bresaw, PLLC may be able to help clarify the details of a car accident case and could help pursue compensation. Consider scheduling an appointment today by calling the office at (603) 707-4800.
