Delayed Car Accident Injuries

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Delayed Car Accident Injuries

Car accidents can be very traumatic, even if they are minor rear-end collisions. These accidents affect both the victim’s mental and physical well-being. For smaller accidents, victims may not become aware of their physical injuries until some time after the accident. There are various reasons as to why your body cannot instantly process the physical injuries instantly after an accident. Thus, it is very important for a victim to monitor their physical state after the accident even if they believe that they are well.

The Adrenaline and Endorphin Effect

Your brain tends to produce adrenaline and endorphins after a traumatic event in an effort to protect your body. Then, your brain is rushed with the necessary energy to continue what it needs to do to find a safe haven. This has the combined effect of blocking any pain that you may be feeling at the time, making it difficult to identify any injuries that you may have suffered. This is similar to athletes who do not even notice their sports injuries until well after their game is finished.

Soft Tissue Damage

Soft tissue damage is any injury to any part of the body that is not bone, including muscles, tendons, and ligaments. This sort of damage may not show right away. In some cases, it takes days or even weeks for soft tissue damage to become apparent. Since soft tissue damage does not affect the bones, any damage to soft tissue will be hard to diagnose without any symptoms. The x-ray diagnosis method for car accidents is used to check for bone damage, and not soft tissue damage. If left untreated, soft tissue damage will become worse and may become untreatable. Hence, it is very important to closely monitor any aches and pains, and go to the doctor as soon as any aches and pains become apparent after a car accident.

The most common soft tissue damage related to car accidents is whiplash. This injury is defined as the sudden forceful motion of your neck moving forward and then being pushed backward by your seatbelt.

Brain Damage

Aside for aches and pains, your brain may suffer damage. As your skull protects your brain, any brain swelling and excessive fluids will not be noticed with the naked eye. Thus, it is important to closely monitor the symptoms, and seek medical assistance once any soft tissue damage or brain damage becomes apparent. Common symptoms of brain damage include:

Getting Medical Attention

When you feel any discomfort, it is important to go see a doctor. If you do end up making an insurance claim against the person who caused the car accident, the insurance adjuster will ask to see your medical documentation, including any medical reports from doctors that you have visited following the accident. Additionally, if you wait too long to see a doctor, your injuries may disappear. Or even worse, your injuries will become aggravated, leading to more pain than you would have otherwise suffered from if you have been treated.

Consulting an Attorney

Before you settle with a car insurance company, you should consult a personal injury attorney to determine whether you are being offered a good settlement. Moreover, an attorney can help you negotiate your settlement. Insurance companies prey on victims who do not know their rights and attempt to settle for a lesser amount.

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Last Modified: 07-30-2015 02:45 PM PDT

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