In the aftermath of a car accident, you may not notice if you are suffering from symptoms of an injury. The shock of the accident can mask some symptoms for a few hours or days. Some injuries may not present symptoms for a few days after the crash. If you do not go to the emergency room after a car accident, can you still collect compensation for delayed symptoms?
Common Symptoms After A Car Accident
You cannot base your symptoms on another person’s experience. Two people with the same injuries may experience symptoms differently based on a variety of factors. Therefore, it is always best to have a physical after a car accident.
Some of the common symptoms that you might begin to notice after a car accident include:
- Aches and Swelling — Swollen muscles can cause aches and pains throughout your body. However, these pains could indicate a more serious injury, such as the torn ligaments, dislocations, or internal injuries.
- Headaches — Headaches are also common after a car accident and can indicate a variety of injuries. Whiplash, concussions, traumatic brain injury, and other conditions have headaches as a symptom.
- Abdominal Swelling — Never ignore abdominal swelling after an accident. Abdominal swelling could be an indication of seat belt syndrome, a potentially life-threatening condition. Swelling and bruising in the abdomen can also indicate internal bleeding.
- Back Pain — Back pain can indicate a spinal cord injury. The pain may be accompanied by numbness or tingling in certain areas of the body. Back pain may also indicate injury to the nerves, discs, or tissue in the spinal column.
- Vomiting or Persistent Nausea — These symptoms can indicate a variety of injuries including brain injuries and internal organ damage.
If you experience any unexplained symptoms after a car accident, do not delay medical care. Your delay in medical care can harm your health, but it can also jeopardize your car accident claim. The insurance company may attempt to claim that your injuries were not sustained in the car accident because you did not seek medical care immediately after the crash.
What Happens if I Did Not Seek Immediate Medical Treatment?
While it is usually a wise choice to see a doctor as soon as possible after a car accident, it is not required to recover compensation. You can still recover money for your car accident claim even if you did not go to the emergency room or you waited to see a doctor until your symptoms persisted or increased in severity. However, you may have a tougher fight with the insurance company to prove injuries sustained in the car accident caused the delayed symptoms.
If you experienced delayed symptoms after a car crash, see a doctor immediately. As soon as possible, contact our New Orleans car accident attorney to discuss your delayed symptoms and your legal options for recovering compensation for injuries.
Contact a New Orleans Car Accident Attorney for Help
Delayed symptoms may indicate a serious car accident injury. To protect your right to receive compensation for your injuries and damages, contact Attorney Fred Olinde of The Olinde Firm. Call our office at (504) 587-1440 or 1-800-587-1889 to request a free consultation with a New Orleans car accident attorney.