Gibbs & Sellers

“WHERE RESULTS MATTER”

 

Call To Arrange A Free Consultation

What crash victims can do with delayed pain

On Behalf of | May 1, 2020 | Car Accidents

You were in an auto accident somewhere in Alabama, and maybe your injuries didn’t seem so bad at first. But days or weeks later, you started to notice problems. This isn’t uncommon as many injuries will only appear after a delay. The important thing is to recognize these as injuries stemming from the crash and to know how you can be compensated for all injuries, delayed or not.

Knowing the symptoms of delayed injuries

One of the most common symptoms after a car crash is neck and shoulder pain, which could mean that a person suffered whiplash or a herniated disc. Both conditions also lead to back pain. In the case of a herniated disc, you may even feel tingling or numbness in the back; this would be because the disc is pinching or pressing up against a nerve. If you feel only back pain, this may be a sign of a sprain or a soft-tissue injury.

Abdominal pain can be another delayed symptom, this time of internal bleeding. It can be accompanied by deep bruising in the abdomen, dizziness and headaches. This, like with any of the delayed conditions you discover, requires immediate medical attention.

You may suffer from headaches, which can point to a concussion, a blood clot, whiplash or even post-traumatic stress disorder. PTSD, depression and anxiety can all appear as a result of emotional trauma.

Waiting for maximum medical improvement

If you settle too soon and sign a release of liability form with the other driver’s auto insurance company, you may miss out on compensation for delayed injuries. This is why it’s good to wait until you have reached maximum medical improvement. Then, you can undergo a complete medical evaluation and get an estimate of future medical costs.

Seek help from an experienced attorney

There’s only so much you can do alone, though. Rather than guess about the value of your personal injury claim, you may want a lawyer to evaluate it. After determining a fair amount in damages, the lawyer may negotiate on your behalf for a settlement out of court.