Automobile accidents can cause injuries that are immediately apparent, such as major bone fractures and lacerations. However, in some cases, car accident injuries are not obvious and may have delayed symptoms. This is why it is essential to see a doctor without delay after an auto accident in Texas for prompt injury diagnosis and treatment.
The Importance of Prompt Medical Care
Many injuries – including serious and life-threatening injuries – have hidden or delayed symptoms. A traumatic brain injury, for example, may not show symptoms until the damage is severe. The adrenaline from an auto accident can mask pain and other signs of injury. This is why it is recommended to seek immediate medical care after a car accident, even if you initially feel fine. A doctor can run tests to detect and diagnose a hidden injury.
Headaches
A headache in the hours or days following a car accident could point to a serious injury, such as a concussion, a serious brain injury or whiplash. Do not dismiss a headache as normal after a crash, especially if you bumped your head in the collision. If the headache is severe or persistent, go to a hospital right away for medical testing.
Back Pain
Back and spinal cord injuries do not always show immediate symptoms. It can take time to recognize back pain caused by an injury such as a spinal fracture, spinal concussion, pinched nerve, or herniated, slipped or ruptured disk. If you experience back pain or tingling or numbness anywhere in the body, see a doctor for a potential spine injury.
Neck Pain
Pain when you move your head or neck after an auto accident could point to whiplash or another type of neck injury. The forces of a car accident can whip the head rapidly forward and backward, leading to tears, sprains or strains of the soft tissues. A car crash could also cause more severe neck injuries, such as cervical spine damage.
Abdominal Pain
Internal injuries can take time to become severe enough to show outward symptoms. If you notice abdominal pain, swelling, bruising, or feelings of dizziness after a car accident, see your doctor right away for potential internal damage. You may have internal bleeding or trauma to your internal organs. Delaying medical care could result in fatal hemorrhaging or organ failure.
Emotional Changes
Not all injury symptoms are physical. Emotional, behavioral, and personality changes after a car accident could also be signs of an injury, such as a brain injury or psychological condition like post-traumatic stress disorder. If you are feeling unusually irritable, angry, aggressive, anxious, depressed, confused, or disoriented, see a doctor about a potential injury.
Can You Still Recover Compensation for an Injury With Delayed Symptoms?
If you experience delayed injury symptoms after an auto accident, get medical treatment as soon as possible. Document your medical care by keeping copies of your records and bills. Proving a delayed injury case can be difficult, as an insurance company may try to argue that the injuries you are claiming were caused by something other than the car accident, or are not as serious as you claim since you were able to delay care.
You can protect your rights by hiring a Laredo car accident lawyer to represent you. You are still eligible for financial compensation even if you did not discover your injuries right away. Your attorney can help you establish the existence of your injuries using healthcare documentation and medical experts. With an experienced attorney by your side, you can seek fair compensation for delayed auto accident injuries.