Delayed Pain After An Accident: Can You Still Receive Compensation?

Car accidents may happen no matter how careful drivers are on the road. These incidents normally leave people with various injuries, including minor trauma that could result in delayed pain. In reality, delayed pain after an accident is more common than we think.

Medical experts say it’s normal for patients involved in car accidents to experience a spike in their adrenaline levels, which causes their bodies to mask their pain. 

While authorities strongly advise anyone involved in car crashes to get immediate medical help, only those with visible severe injuries are rushed to the hospital. Victims with less obvious trauma often walk away from the incident, thinking they came out okay.

In these situations, patients with delayed neck pain after an accident will have to spend more money on medical bills than those who received first aid treatment. Luckily, they can still be entitled to compensation. 

Victims can file a claim for delayed pain if they know how to build a strong case. Find out the common types of delayed pain and how to file for compensation months after the incident through this blog.

What Delayed Pain Looks Like

It’s not uncommon for people involved in violent car accidents to feel shaken after the incident. And unless they’ve sustained a broken bone or a severe head wound, they often assume they were unscathed. 

But once their adrenaline rush wears off, their bodies will start to feel the symptoms of their untreated injury. 

Truthfully, no two car accidents are the same. The symptoms of delayed pain will vary from one case to another. But typically, patients can expect some of the following symptoms:

• Dizziness
• Headaches
• Nausea
• Severe disorientation
• Fainting
• Numbness

Suppose you or anyone you know who was recently involved in a car accident starts to feel one of the symptoms above. In that case, we suggest seeking immediate medical care. 

Three Common Types of Delayed Pain After A Car Accident

Admittedly, these symptoms can be caused by a variety of injuries. But typically, medical experts have observed three common types of delayed pain. 

Concussion

A concussion is a brain injury caused by the brain slamming against the skull. Be it mild or severe, concussions can have lasting effects on patients. 

Furthermore, their symptoms aren’t always noticeable. It may take victims a day or two to start feeling symptoms of headaches, dizziness, and sensitivity to light. Patients with concussions need to receive treatment as soon as possible so that their brains can heal properly.

Whiplash

Whiplash is a common occurrence in rear-end collisions. The impact of the crash causes their heads to whip forward and back, leading to sprains and other injuries related to the spinal cord. 

Like the symptoms of concussion, the signs of whiplash are not immediately noticeable. Patients often complain of severe neck pain lasting for days or months.

Back Injuries

Back injuries like a pinched nerve or a herniated disc will take hours before exhibiting symptoms. Even if victims report no sign of back pain, the symptoms may appear later on. Additionally, the stress of the incident itself can make it difficult for patients to assess their physical and emotional well-being. 

Hence, they must receive a proper medical assessment to prevent delayed treatment, which can lead to life-changing complications.

How Delayed Pain Affects Compensation Claim

Treatment for delayed rib pain after a car accident can increase your potential claim. But you can only be compensated if you get medical attention within weeks after the incident. 

The longer your injuries are untreated, the harder it is to build a case for personal injury. Remember, you must prove that your delayed pain correlates to the recent accident. So, as soon as you start noticing symptoms of delayed pain after an injury, we suggest going straight to a doctor. 

Aside from this, you also need to consider the release of liability. The injured party in car accidents is typically asked to sign a release of liability form after filing a claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance company.

The form ends all future claims related to the accident. And suppose the injured party signs the document before they realize the true extent of their injuries. In that case, they’re no longer entitled to compensation for future medical treatment. 

Ultimately, timing matters when filing for a delayed pain claim. If you settle too early, you won’t be able to get compensated for delayed pain after the accident. But if you wait too long, proving the correlation will be challenging.

With this in mind, we highly suggest contacting a personal injury lawyer to help you out. 

Having a legal representative by your side means you no longer have to worry about going through the complex legal process alone. They’ll help you compile all the evidence you need to prove an injury and ensure that you file your claim promptly.

Strengthen Your Claim With A Solid Case

Car accidents can be traumatic experiences for victims and their families. And the idea of going through the rigorous process of filing for compensation without the help of a personal injury attorney will only add more unnecessary emotional stress.

But with the help of a legal representative, they no longer have to go through this difficult time alone. Adamson Ahdoot’s team of experienced lawyers will ensure that the victim’s rights and privileges are upheld in court. 

Adamson Ahdoot is a full-service civil litigation firm with over 100 years of combined legal experience handling personal injury cases. With our help, you can trust that the best lawyers will handle your case with the intimacy and attention to detail of a boutique firm, with the expertise of a larger one.

Our firm is committed to putting people first. We proudly serve a diverse clientele with their car accident cases in California and offer free English and Spanish consultations. Call us at (800) 310-1606 today to schedule your free consultation.