Car accidents are traumatic events that can lead to catastrophic injuries. However, in some cases, the injuries may not show up right away after the crash. Survivors may start to notice bruises or other types of injuries manifest days or even weeks after the incident. It's crucial for the affected parties to monitor their symptoms and receive medical help immediately.
Schuerger Shunnarah Trial Attorneys have extensive experience successfully representing victims with late-appearing injuries and fighting for the compensation they deserve. They can help the injured parties in Nashville, Tennessee, by assessing their case and guiding them on their legal options.
What Are the Different Types of Delayed Car Accident Injuries?
The most common types of delayed car accident injuries include the following:
Soft Tissue Injuries
A car accident can cause severe damage to the muscles, tendons, and ligaments due to the force of the impact. These types of injuries are often referred to as soft tissue injuries, and they can adversely impact the victim's life.
Whiplash is one of the most common types of soft tissue injuries. It occurs due to the rapid back-and-forth neck movement, similar to the cracking of a whip. Rear-end collisions or sudden braking can lead to these types of injuries.
Soft tissue injuries can cause serious pain, discomfort, swelling, and loss of mobility. However, these symptoms can take time to manifest, which is why the affected party needs to monitor any changes in their health.
Since a soft tissue injury doesn't appear on diagnostic tests, such as an X-ray, it can be challenging to diagnose and document. When the victim starts to feel pain or discomfort a few days or weeks after their car accident, they should seek medical attention.
Concussions
A concussion can occur when the brain smashes against the inside of the skull due to a jolting force. It can be serious, and if not treated immediately, it can lead to severe repercussions, turning the victim's life upside down.
After a car accident, the victim may experience the following symptoms of a concussion:
Disorientation
Loss of consciousness
Headaches
Inability to concentrate
Nausea and dizziness
Abnormal sleep patterns
A concussion may be the first sign of serious brain injuries. It's important for the injured victims not to take the symptoms mentioned above lightly and seek immediate medical treatment.
Back Injuries
The spinal cord is a person's central support structure, connecting different parts of the musculoskeletal system. It has three natural curves and consists of 33 stacked vertebrae, facet joints, intervertebral disks, nerves, muscles, and soft tissues.
An individual's spine allows the free movement of the back, neck, and head. It is also responsible for sending motor commands and sensory information to the brain.
A car accident can cause damage to the spine, resulting in back injuries. This can lead to pain and discomfort. There are also other symptoms of spinal cord injuries, some of which include the following:
Pressure in the neck or head
Weakness, incoordination, or paralysis
Body stiffness and reduced mobility
Difficulty with balance and walking
Numbness and Tingling Sensations
Depending on the severity and nature of the car accident injuries, the victim may experience numbness and tingling sensations in the back, arms, legs, hands, and feet. It can occur for many reasons, including severed nerves and the pressure from nerve compression, herniated discs, and damage to the muscles, bones, or ligaments.
Numbness and tingling sensations are the body's first response after a serious car accident. Other symptoms, such as extreme pain, muscle weakness, pricking sensations, and muscle twitches, might soon follow.
What If My Accident Injuries Don't Show up Right Away After the Car Crash?
After a car accident, it is crucial for the affected parties to visit a medical professional for a quick checkup.
Although some injuries may take time to manifest, going to a doctor is a great way to identify any potential injuries earlier on. Early detection can help prevent injuries from worsening or leading to medical complications.
Even if the victim feels fine following their car accident, a medical professional can guide them on the symptoms or signs of potential injuries they should look out for. This is important in determining delayed injuries after the car crash.
Seeking medical assistance immediately after a car crash helps with early detection and protects an individual's personal injury case. It documents the victim's visit to the medical provider, which is essential when pursuing a claim or a lawsuit against the other driver's insurance company.
Recovering compensation can be challenging, and the insurers will dig for reasons to pin the blame on the car accident victim to avoid payouts.
Waiting too long before seeking medical treatment can prompt the other driver's insurance company to use that against the victim, resulting in a claim denial. Schuerger Shunnarah Trial Attorneys can also answer questions like How do preexisting conditions affect personal injury claims?
Injured Victims Should Not Settle Immediately After Their Car Accidents
After a car accident, the at-fault party's insurance company might reach out to the injured victim and offer some money. Most affected parties accept the initial settlement offer, only to find later that their damages are much greater than the compensation they've received.
However, since the injured victims have already accepted the settlement offer, the signed agreement bars them from recovering further compensation for the damages incurred.
It's essential for the affected parties to seek medical attention and receive a full evaluation by a qualified medical professional. The doctor may also guide the injured victim in monitoring the symptoms of delayed injuries. This can help identify the extent of the injuries, which is crucial in calculating the damages.
After determining the extent of the injuries following the crash, the injured victim should pursue a car accident claim. Handling the insurance company can be stressful, which is why the affected party needs to reach out to aggressive personal injury lawyers for legal representation.
Delayed Injuries Make the Claims Process Difficult. Schuerger Shunnarah Trial Attorneys Can Help!
Those who have suffered injuries following a car accident in Nashville, Tennessee, should call to schedule a free consultation with Schuerger Shunnarah Trial Attorneys, as they may be eligible for compensation. They can also give insight on what the components of an ime are.
The car accident lawyer at Schuerger Shunnarah Trial Attorneys can help the injured victims by assessing the facts surrounding their case, gathering the necessary evidence to build a strong personal injury claim, and negotiating a fair settlement with the at-fault party's insurance company.