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How To Handle Late-Appearing Car Accident Injuries

6 February 2015 by Richard Ramirez

If you were in a car accident, but didn't notice your injuries right away, it is not too late to file a claim against the personal injuries you sustained. It is not uncommon to not notice all of your injuries right after the accident happens. It is important to seek medical attention right away in case you have internal bleeding, but you should also see a doctor if you don't notice back pain or neck pain until later.

The Cause of Late-Appearing Injuries

You were in the middle of what was a stressful and possibly traumatic experience. You may have been running on adrenaline, and it took days or even weeks to notice the extent of your injury. This is often the cause of vehicle accident injuries that don't show up until later. When your body is running on adrenaline or endorphins, you often don't realize the extent of your injuries. Once you start relaxing, you might begin to experience pain in your head, back, shoulders, or legs. You can also have internal injuries that don't always show symptoms right away.

Soft Tissue Injuries

A common late-appearing injury to have after a car accident is called a soft tissue injury. This type of injury affects a part of your body that is not a bone, such as ligaments, tendons or muscles. Regardless of the speed you were driving, your body takes on a lot of that force. Even with a seatbelt on, your body still moves a little bit, and you may experience a soft tissue injuries. While you typically notice a bone fracture or break shortly after it occurs, soft tissue injuries can take a little more time to present themselves.

Whiplash is another very common injury, and it is also considered a soft tissue injury. Whiplash is any type of injury caused when the head and neck is thrown forward and back in a forceful motion. It is common to not notice the effects of whiplash for hours or days.

Reporting Late-Appearing Injuries

Just because it has been a week since your car accident does not mean it is too late to report your injuries. If you didn't file a claim against the other party because you assumed you weren't injured, but then your neck started hurting due to whiplash, you can still file a claim. This is another reason why you should wait until you see a doctor before filing a claim. There may be injuries that present themselves at a later date, or through routine testing your doctor performs. Contact a personal injury attorney if you believe you have a case against the person responsible for the car accident.

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