After a Car Accident, you may be left thinking the worst is over.
And you may even be counting your blessings for your well-being.
But delayed symptoms from car accident injuries occur and can cost car victims thousands of dollars in settlement recovery. Furthermore, it could take weeks for debilitating symptoms to develop.
If this happens, you are already at a disadvantage with the defendant’s insurance company. They will argue that your neglect to treat immediately proves that you are not that injured.
It’s likely that they will use this excuse to diminish any value placed on your personal injury claim. Don’t let them have the upper hand; if you’re injured in a car accident through no fault of your own, seek medical attention no matter what.
Why Some Injuries Are Not Immediately Obvious
Adrenaline, among other things, play a big role in injuries not appearing immediately after an accident. In fact, it is the body’s production of adrenaline that can mask pain and delay symptoms.
However, sometimes it’s not the adrenaline but the type of injury sustained. Soft tissue injuries such as sprains develop gradually as inflammation sets.
Other times, it’s not soft tissue but internal injuries that are hidden. These can include damage to organs, blood vessels, or muscles and may not cause initial pain.
Finally, brain injury can be subtle and almost impossible to immediately detect, but will worsen over time.
Common Signs of Delayed Injury Symptoms
Here are some of the most common symptoms of delayed Injuries that can occur over days or weeks after an accident:
Headaches – these can worsen or persist and be the result of concussion
Numbness and Tingling – sensations in the arms, legs, hand and feet can be linked to nerve and even spinal cord injury
Neck or Back Pain – soreness and stiffness in these areas can be due to whiplash and develop into persistent pain.
Emotional Changes – even emotional changes can be the sign of a concussion or sustained injury to the head.
How Delayed Injury Impacts Your Claim
In a Florida car accident, all drivers qualify for $10,000 of Personal Injury Protection or PIP insurance. This covers 80% of reasonable medical expenses up to the coverage limits resulting from injuries sustained.
However, you must get medical treatment within fourteen (14) days of your car accident. If not, you will not qualify for PIP coverage.
This means that if you delay getting medical treatment due to delayed injuries you will not be entitled to PIP.
Furthermore, should you pursue an injury claim with the at fault party’s insurance company, they may not respond favorably; or take your case seriously due to your delaying medical treatment.
When to see a Doctor if you have a Delayed Injury
It is important to seek medical treatment immediately after a car accident even if you are unsure of your injuries. A doctor will document your accident even if your initial symptoms seem minor. In this way, you will also be assured not to lose your PIP benefits should you need them later due to a delayed injury; and in this way you will be withing the 14-day timeline required by law.
When to hire a Personal Injury Attorney
Accident victims, especially those with delayed injuries, often don’t know what it takes for just to prevail in the aftermath. They may not know everything that needs to be done or simply may not have the dedicated time it takes.
For, filing claims and dealing with insurance companies after an accident can be an exhausting and unrewarding process. Therefore, hiring an experienced personal injury firm is an important and much needed step to take.
Graver Law Personal Injury Attorneys know how difficult it can be to deal with these insurance companies after an accident. Don’t decide to do it alone. Allow Graver Law Personal Injury Attorneys to fight on your behalf to earn the full amount of compensation available for your losses; and peace of mind.
A personal injury firm like Graver Law Personal Injury Attorneys will make sure that you have all of the resources you need to succeed. They will always work on a contingency basis and do not get paid unless you win.
Contact Graver Law Personal Injury Attorneys today to schedule your free car accident case consultation at 561-228-7820 or toll free at 1-888-Graver-3.
