After a car crash, it’s common for one to realize that he/she has suffered from injuries. However, most car accident victims walk away unharmed, without any sign of injury or pain on their bodies. They go ahead and file their property damage claims and forget about the car accident, only to find later they have started experiencing pain in some parts of their bodies. This means that your injuries have appeared late following the car accident. In such a situation, what should one do? Can you file a separate claim for your personal injury claim later? The answer is a resonant yes. Following a car accident, even if you don’t notice any injury symptoms, it’s better to monitor your body through thorough checkups. This will be good for your general wellbeing and also as a way to protect your legal rights.
Types Of Injuries That Appear Late Following An Accident
When your car accident injuries appear late, it makes it hard for you to get compensation. The reason is that it will be extremely hard to convince the insurance company that the injuries relate to the car crash caused by their insured. However, with the best Anchorage Alaska attorneys, you have whatever it takes to ensure you get compensated if the injuries emanated from the car crash. Some of the most common injuries that tend to delay after a car crash include:
- Soft tissue injuries: These are injuries that may result from your body parts other than the bones. These include your ligaments or tendons. One of the most common soft tissue injuries that tend to appear late is whiplash- neck injury. While most of these injuries take a few months to heal, some people have reported neck pain even after ten years.
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PSTD): In most car crash victims, PSTD symptoms may appear within the first months. However, some have taken years to be fully diagnosed with the problem. Worse enough, these symptoms may ease and later appear if what triggered the trauma memories is repeated. Some of the symptoms that tend to be ignored include feelings of hopelessness, mood swings, or even lack of appetite.
- Concussions: This is an injury that affects the brain. It results from a blow in the head. At the onset, the injury may have minor symptoms such as headaches. One may think it’s a normal body issue, either due to fatigue. According to the Mayo Clinic, a concussion may persist even for a year.
- Back pain: The slightest back discomfort after a car accident could mean a lot. Injuries from back pain may result in spinal cord injuries or other serious injuries that may leave you temporary or permanently disabled. Back pain symptoms may include stiffness, numbness, or spasms. While some victims have these symptoms present in hours or days after the crash, others take months to start experiencing the symptoms.
What To Do If Injuries Take Long To Appear
During a car accident, your body generates adrenaline and endorphins. These chemicals mask pain and the car accident injuries fail to show up immediately. Having no pain doesn’t mean that you never suffered from injuries. After a car accident, the only way to ensure you are safe is to:
- Visit your doctor for a regular checkup: Never ignore any sign of discomfort. A skilled doctor should be in a position to tell whether there is imminent danger, even if you feel no pain or little discomfort. Besides, you get advice on the red flags to check. Make sure to keep records of the doctor’s visits and write down any information you get about any sign of injury. This will be used up when makinga claim for the injuries.
- Don’t rush to settle your car accident claim: The at-fault driver’s insurance company will seem interested to help you get compensated. Don’t agree until you have received a clear medical note from your doctor that you’re safe. Also, signing the release of liability form too early will keep you from ascertaining your injuries. There is no harm in waiting for a full manifestation of the injuries that may appear late. Your lawyer will guide you on what to do to ensure you get the insurance company to pay for your medical expenses.
Get Legal Help
If your injuries have appeared late after a car crash, you may consider hiring an experienced personal injury lawyer to protect your rights. If you wait too long to visit your doctor and later claim to have suffered injuries from the car accident, it will be hard for the insurance adjuster to settle your claim. A good lawyer will help you to obtain a successful claim process. Failure to seek medical care may cause you long term medical issues, and you will not get the compensation you deserve.
