Legal Review: What If My Car Accident Injuries Do Not Appear Right Away?

A vehicle accident may be a terrifying and stressful event.

Despite your efforts to take every precaution and drive cautiously, an accident might occur due to the irresponsible behavior of another driver. When the other party is at fault, it is a sensible decision to seek financial compensation for your losses. Although monetary compensation may not be enough to compensate you for your trauma, it can help alleviate the financial burden you may be experiencing as a result of the tragedy.

During a car accident, a lot of force is generated, which leads to various injuries. Even minor accidents such as a fender bender can lead to enough force being developed that it may cause harm to the people involved. However, at times, the injuries do not appear right away, nor does the injured individual feel the pain or realize the intensity of his or her injuries at the time.

There are various reasons why the injured party may not notice the pain or the trauma right away. One of the main reasons is the release of endorphins and adrenaline in the body during an accident. Adrenaline is your body’s immediate response to a potentially dangerous situation. The release of adrenaline causes your body to go into a heightened state of survival, and the person feels extremely invigorated, excited, and alert. However, due to its release, your perception of pain is lowered. Endorphins are also released during such states, and they too act as analgesics, i.e., they reduce pain perception. Due to this response, the injured party may fail to recognize and realize any injuries incurred.

Apart from the immediate hormonal response, other reasons cause your injuries to show up later. The main cause is the nature of the injury itself. “Soft tissue injuries are one of the most common types of injuries in car accidents, but they don’t always manifest right away,” explains Rich Godshall from Ostroff Injury Law. “Often, the car will come to a sudden stop and the passengers will be thrust in a certain direction, often striking something within the car. Due to the violent force of these impacts, the soft tissues of the body are often damaged.”

Soft tissue injuries are injuries to the muscles, tendons and ligaments. Whiplash, an injury of the neck muscles when the head is suddenly thrown forward and then back with force, is a form of soft tissue injury. However, soft tissue injuries do not appear right away. Pain, swelling, stiffness and inflammation may occur sometime after the accident. These injuries are also not visible on an X-Ray. Due to this, they are difficult to prove, but you must take note of  your symptoms and visit a doctor if you have any pain or swelling after an accident.

Another form of injury that is not manifested right away but may be dangerous is a concussion. Usually, your brain is surrounded by cerebrospinal fluid that acts as a shock absorber and cushion and saves your brain from injuries. However, during accidents, an impact to the head may cause your brain to strike the inside of your skull. This impact can cause you to temporarily lose normal brain function and develop into a more severe condition. The signs do not show up immediately, and the patient needs to be tested for them. Some signs and symptoms of a concussion are confusion, blurred vision, headache, nausea, dizziness, inability to recall information and more. If you develop any of these symptoms after a car accident, you must be taken to a medical professional immediately.

Car accident cases are intricate cases, and the compensation depends on the circumstances around the accident. A legal notice is usually sent to the insurance company of the car of the driver at fault. These companies tend to defend their cases very strongly and will try their best to get you to settle for less than what you deserve. You should not settle right away and you should closely monitor your signs and symptoms after such an accident. It is best to visit a doctor and receive a proper medical checkup before filing for any claims.