Car accidents cause over 4 million injuries every year in the United States. Unfortunately, many of those are permanent injuries that range from mild annoyances to life-changing disabilities. Some injuries appear immediately, but others might show up anywhere from several days to several weeks or even longer after an accident.

If you’ve been in a car accident and you’re wondering, “What if my car accident injuries appear late?” you’ve got good reason to be concerned. Here are some of the most common delayed injuries from car accidents and symptoms that should prompt you to see a doctor.

Delayed Injuries Common in Car Accidents

You’ll notice the most acute injuries like broken bones, lacerations, and injuries from the seat belt within minutes to a couple of days. However, some distinct types of car accident injuries can take up to several weeks to appear.

Brain Injuries

If a doctor examines you after a car accident, a concussion will be one of the injuries he’ll want to rule out. Concussions occur when your brain slams against the inside of your skull. Symptoms tend to show up right away, but sometimes brain injuries like concussions or bleeding can take several days or more to appear.

Symptoms to watch for:

• Headaches

• Dizziness or fainting

• Confusion

• Behavioral changes

• Mood swings

• Slurred or difficult speech

• Vision or hearing problems

These symptoms can indicate other types of illness and injury, but they could also be signs of brain trauma. The faster you get treatment, the better the chance you’ll have at a good outcome. 

Internal Bleeding

If you’re asking yourself, “What if my car accident injuries appear late?” and you’re suddenly having abdominal pain, you should see a doctor immediately. Internal bleeding can take days to become apparent if the blood loss is slow.

Symptoms to watch for:

• Abdominal pain

• New dark or purple bruising

• Dizziness or fainting

• Vomiting blood or passing blood into the toilet

Contact a doctor immediately if you develop any of these symptoms after a car accident.

Whiplash and Other Spinal Injuries

Whiplash typically occurs when your head snaps backward against the seat of your car. The most common occurrence is when you’re hit from behind, though it can happen in other types of accidents, too. Whiplash is the most common neck injury from a car accident.

Neck and back injuries caused by car accident impact are common. While many of these injuries show up instantly, some can take weeks to emerge.

Symptoms to watch for:

• Tingling or numbness in the extremities (for whiplash, this usually occurs in the fingers and hands)

• Stiff and sore neck

• Headaches

• Blurred vision

• Back pain and stiffness

How to File an Insurance Claim

You’re probably asking yourself, “What if my car accident injuries appear late? Will it be too late to file a claim?”

Unfortunately, insurance companies may deny claims filed after too much time has passed since the accident. You can help yourself avoid this problem if you’re in a car accident by remembering three things:

• Make sure there’s a police report

• Get a thorough medical examination as soon as possible, even if you feel fine

• Wait to sign an insurance release form

Call the Police

An official police report of the accident will simplify all insurance claims and future paperwork. Get a copy of the crash report for your records. 

Get a Medical Examination Immediately

Get a thorough exam, even if you don’t think you’re injured. Adrenalin can cause stress-induced analgesia that tricks you into not noticing the pain response in your body. You might not feel injuries until you calm down and its effects wear off.

A doctor can also catch signs of some injuries you might not know you have. An exam will let you begin treatment immediately, making many injuries easier to tolerate with shorter recovery periods. This exam will also help you file an insurance claim if delayed injuries appear. 

Don’t Sign an Insurance Release Too Soon

After an accident, the insurance company responsible will probably want to settle with you as fast as possible. 

Never settle anything until you’ve been examined by a physician and waited to ensure you don’t have any hidden or delayed problems. Signing the release waives your right to compensation for any injuries that show up after you sign the form.

Let Selingo Guagliardo Help with Your Injury Claim

No matter when your injuries appear, you should get the compensation you deserve. If you’ve been in an accident, contact a car accident lawyer in Kingston, PA, today to talk about your options.