Delayed Onset Injuries After Car Accidents

After a Nevada car accident, although you might feel fine, you shouldn’t assume you are. Due to shock, you might be severely injured yet be completely unaware of it; even after your initial rush of adrenaline wears off, you could still have injuries that don’t cause pain for hours, days, or weeks.

Recognizing Late-Onset Injuries

Many delayed onset injuries can be detected during a comprehensive medical examination, well before symptoms set in. You should always see a doctor on the day of a crash, as your personal health is the highest priority. However, experienced physicians can miss certain injuries from time to time, so keep an eye on any symptoms that may manifest later, and seek treatment if you notice anything abnormal.

• Whiplash: Whiplash and other strains are some of the most common injuries after an accident of any scale, usually manifesting as neck and shoulder pain or stiffness. These soft-tissue injuries can be serious and should never be overlooked, especially in cases of whiplash in children, but they’re commonly difficult for doctors to diagnose. Usually, you’ll only know you have whiplash once symptoms manifest, but an experienced chiropractor, MRI, or x-ray can often detect whiplash earlier than that.
• Spinal Damage: A herniated disk, pinched nerve, or other spinal injury is usually distinguished by a lingering numbness or tingling sensation in the arms, hands, or other limbs, which is accompanied by back pain or stiffness. Without the assistance of an x-ray, spinal injuries are often overlooked until patients complain about these telltale symptoms.
• Internal Bleeding: Deep bruising, darkened skin, dizziness, fainting, and headaches can be symptoms that your internal organs have ruptured, causing bleeding into your skin. If you notice any of these symptoms hours or even days after a traumatic event, seek emergency treatment immediately, as internal bleeding can become a life-threatening condition.
• Concussions: Symptoms of confusion, headaches, and loss of coordination could be a sign of a concussion, or in more severe cases, of a traumatic brain injury. Cognitive symptoms can be challenging to self-diagnose, so you might not realize you have a concussion until someone informs you that you seem confused or a physician evaluates you.
• Emotional Trauma: Emotional trauma can be a serious, yet subtle, byproduct of a crash. Vehicle-related anxieties, general pain and suffering, stress over legal processes and medical costs, and depression can set in at any time after an accident; you deserve treatment and compensation for mental ailments just as with any physical injury.

Getting Compensation for Delayed Onset Injuries

Insurance companies tend to pressure accident victims to sign a release of liability or agree to a quick, simple settlement offer, especially before they’ve had the chance to speak with an attorney. You should never agree to these types of deals hastily, as they can bar you from seeking further compensation if you later realize you’re more injured than you thought. Aaron Law Group’s accident lawyers in Las Vegas, Nevada can help you avoid dishonest insurance practices. If you’ve been hurt in a car accident but realize you have delayed onset injuries, call us at (702) 550-1111 to schedule a free consultation and discuss your options in a no-pressure environment with a compassionate, experienced attorney.