What If I Find Out I’m Injured After Filing a Claim?

Car accidents can cause a variety of damages, but none quite so distressing as personal injuries, which can be felt for days, weeks, or even years after a crash. Everyone deserves compensation for their suffering, but if you only grow aware of your injuries after filing a claim with an insurance company, securing recoveries can become difficult.

If you attempt to file for more damages after making your initial claim, insurance adjusters will often doubt the validity of your claim, questioning whether your injuries stemmed from the accident. Regardless of their suspicion, you can still file a claim against the at-fault driver to seek compensation for your injuries.

Many Injuries Are Only Noticeable Later On

The first question most insurance adjusters will ask you when you try to file another claim is, “if you were hurt in the crash, why didn’t you report it immediately?” However, there are a variety of reasons that you might not be aware of your injuries at the time of an accident.

• Shock. In response to stressful events like car accidents, your body releases adrenaline and enters shock. You might feel energetic and pain-free during and after the crash, yet still have a serious injury, with pain that will only set in later. For this reason, it’s essential that you see a doctor after an accident, even if it was a low-speed collision or you feel fine.

• Injuries with delayed symptoms. Even after your shock response wears off and you can feel pain normally, some injuries won’t cause any pain or side effects until days or even weeks later, such as concussions, internal bleeding, and brain injuries.
• Injuries that are difficult for a doctor to detect. Many injuries, such as internal bleeding, might not cause immediate symptoms, but a doctor can still diagnose them during an examination. Whiplash on the other hand, despite being the most common accident-related injury, is invisible to x-rays and often can’t be diagnosed until stiffness and pain manifest. Remember, even after seeing a physician, you might have unknown injuries.

How Long Do I Have to File My Claim?

After an accident, Nevada’s statute of limitations states that you’ll have two years to file for personal injury claims. However, even if it’s been two years from the date of your accident, you might have more time. The discovery rule clarifies that the two-year count on your claim only begins on the day where you discovered (or should have discovered with due diligence) that you were injured. 

This means that if you suffered an injury that was impossible to detect for weeks or even months after an accident, such as a degenerative spinal injury, the countdown on the statute of limitations will only begin once you realize you’re injured.

Get Help From a Nevada Car Accident Attorney

Filing a new claim in Las Vegas after making an earlier one can be a challenging process, especially with uncooperative insurance adjusters doubting you. Aaron Law Group’s experienced auto accident attorneys are an invaluable asset and can ensure you receive a fair settlement. If you have newfound injuries after filing your claim, please, don’t hesitate—contact us today at (702) 550-1111 for a free consultation.