Delayed Injuries After a Car Accident: What Texas Drivers Should Know
Being in a car accident can be a very stressful and overwhelming experience, especially if you experience delayed injuries. These are injuries that don’t appear right away but rather develop hours, days, or even weeks after the accident. Delayed injuries are quite common after car wrecks because of the adrenaline and shock that the body experiences.
Having a strong understanding of delayed injuries is important for both the physical recovery and legal aspects of a car accident in Texas. Consulting with a car wreck attorney who specializes in delayed car accident injuries is an excellent way to ensure you fully understand your rights and options.
Why Injuries Can Be Delayed After a Car Accident
When someone is involved in a car accident, the body releases adrenaline into the bloodstream. It does this because the body perceives the crash as a threat and triggers a fight-or-flight response. As your adrenaline increases, it can mask pain from injuries, meaning you may not feel them right away. Plus, inflammation from internal injuries and soft tissue damage can worsen over time, causing symptoms that aren’t noticeable at first.
Everyone is different and has varying reactions to trauma and stress. It’s completely normal to experience symptoms days or even weeks after an accident. That’s why it’s so important to get medical attention immediately after a crash. Medical imaging scans and diagnostic tests can spot injuries that you may not realize you have. Plus, ongoing medical treatment can help document your condition if symptoms worsen over time.
Common Types of Delayed Injuries After Car Accidents
There are many types of car accident injuries that can fall into the delayed category. Being familiar with these injuries can help you take quick action if you were to notice symptoms days or weeks later. Anytime you think you may have been injured, it’s best to act right away by seeking medical attention and contacting a car collision lawyer.
Soft Tissue Injuries
Soft tissue injuries are those that impact your muscles, ligaments, or tendons. You may feel pain or stiffness as you try to move or bend. Whiplash is one injury that falls into this category. Severe soft tissue injuries can even lead to limited mobility. Other common examples include muscle strains, ligament sprains, tendon tears, and contusions (bruising).
Head and Brain Injuries
Head and brain injuries are some of the most serious because they can affect cognitive function, memory, and overall quality of life. Even minor concussions can result in long-term complications, especially if you don’t seek treatment. Mild traumatic brain injuries are common in car accidents that involve sudden impacts or violent head movement.
Back and Spine Injuries
Many types of back and spine injuries don’t come with immediate symptoms like pain or stiffness. A herniated or bulging disc can take days or weeks before you notice symptoms. As swelling becomes worse and pressure builds around the spine, you may start to experience pain, numbness, or tingling sensations. You may also have weakness in your arms or legs. The sooner you receive treatment for back and spine injuries, the easier it is to manage symptoms and achieve the fullest recovery possible.
Internal Injuries
The internal injuries that can occur during a car accident are very dangerous because many are not immediately visible. If you have any type of internal bleeding, it requires professional medical care right away to avoid potentially life-threatening complications. A doctor can order imaging tests and perform diagnostic exams and may even have you admitted for observation.
Psychological and Emotional Injuries
The psychological and emotional injuries that can occur after a car accident can be just as serious as the physical injuries. Conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may develop in the days or weeks following an accident, impacting your ability to sleep, regulate emotions, and carry out everyday tasks. Anxiety or depression may also set in, making it difficult to return to normal routines or feel safe and secure behind the wheel. Seeking mental health support is a crucial part of the recovery process and can help properly document injuries sustained in the accident.
Delayed Injuries in Rear-End, Side-Impact, and High-Speed Crashes
Different types of automobile accidents might cause different types of delayed injuries. Whiplash and other soft tissue injuries are typical results of rear-end collisions and might manifest gradually over many days. The tremendous force of a side-impact crash may damage vital organs as well as the back and neck. Head trauma and spinal cord injury are among the most common severe injuries sustained in high-speed accidents.
How Delayed Injuries Can Affect Daily Life
Even though they may not show up right away after a vehicle collision, delayed injuries can subtly interfere with everyday living. Over time, regular tasks like working, driving, or exercising may become more challenging due to persistent pain or discomfort. Negative effects on productivity and mood can result from injuries that make it difficult to focus and sleep well. Schedules and personal duties might be further burdened by ongoing medical visits and treatment. You can make better treatment, job accommodation, and long-term recovery planning choices when these implications are recognized early.
Common Myths About Delayed Injuries
Misconception number one: If you don’t feel hurt, you must not have any injuries. However, this assumption couldn’t be farther from the truth. Some delayed injuries can take weeks to appear, such as herniated discs or traumatic brain injuries. Another common misconception stems from assuming pain must be immediate for an injury to be serious. Just because you don’t feel pain right away doesn’t mean a delayed injury won’t cause significant discomfort later. For example, if you were to suffer a herniated disc, the pain can become severe and even debilitating over time.
Signs and Symptoms Texas Drivers Should Watch For
The best thing to do after a car accident is to go to the hospital for an evaluation. Even if you don’t feel any pain or notice any symptoms, getting medical documentation of injuries is critical. You can provide this information to a car accident attorney, who may advise you to seek additional treatment, especially if you start noticing symptoms later on.
Here are the main symptoms to watch for that could indicate one or more delayed injuries:
- Headaches that worsen over time: concussions, traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), internal bleeding
- Neck, shoulder, or back pain: whiplash, herniated discs, muscle or ligament strains
- Numbness or tingling: nerve compression, spinal cord injuries, herniated discs
- Dizziness or balance problems: concussions, inner ear damage, traumatic brain injuries
- Fatigue or sleep issues: traumatic brain injuries, internal injuries, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Mood changes or memory problems: concussions, traumatic brain injuries, PTSD
What to Do If Symptoms Appear Days or Weeks Later
When seeking medical attention for delayed symptoms, make sure to let your doctor know about the car accident. Be as thorough as you can and bring along any previous medical documents related to the wreck. This will help the doctor have a better understanding of your condition, which can help ensure you receive the most appropriate treatment. To keep all medical documents neatly organized, consider keeping copies in one secure place. Follow all treatment recommendations so you can clearly document your recovery if your condition worsens.
How Delayed Injuries Affect Texas Car Accident Claims
Claims involving delayed injuries sustained in automobile accidents rely heavily on medical records, along with imaging studies and subsequent appointments, to prove that the accident was the direct cause of the injuries. Insurance companies could try to claim the injury was unrelated or preexisting if the medical records are inconsistent. This is why it’s so important to seek medical attention right after the accident and as necessary if you experience delayed symptoms.
Plus, how responsibility and compensation are assessed could be affected by the interval between the onset of symptoms and the start of treatment. Even if the injuries are valid, insurers may be concerned if they are reported too late. An experienced car collision attorney will be able to anticipate these challenges and effectively protect your claim.
Texas’ Comparative Negligence Rule and Delayed Injuries
The Texas’ modified comparative negligence rule means that people involved in car accidents are only allowed to recover compensation if they are 50% or less at fault. Proper medical documentation of delayed symptoms helps protect against unfair fault allocation and strengthens the connection between the accident and the injury.
Can You Still File a Claim for Delayed Injuries in Texas?
Assuming you take the necessary steps within the specified time frame, it is possible to pursue legal action in Texas over delayed injuries. The statute of limitations for filing a personal injury claim after a vehicle accident in the Lone Star State is two years. Claims may still be acceptable even if symptoms don’t show up right away if there’s medical proof that the injuries were caused by the accident. However, to safeguard your entitlement to compensation, it’s wise to seek medical care and legal counsel quickly at the onset of symptoms.
When to Speak With a Texas Car Accident Lawyer
No matter the type of car accident you’re in, it’s smart to speak with a car wreck lawyer. There are many ways to seek compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages after a vehicle accident. A lawyer can explain your legal options and what to do about any delayed injuries you may start to notice over the coming days or weeks.
Here’s what you can expect during a typical consultation with a car accident attorney:
- Case review and details
- Accident facts discussion
- Injury and symptom timeline
- Medical records evaluation
- Insurance and claim overview
- Legal options explained
- Next steps outlined
Call PM Law Firm
A lot of people involved in car accidents don’t have any noticeable symptoms at first. Whiplash, concussions, and soft tissue injuries are very common delayed injuries from car accidents, especially in crashes that involve sudden impact or rapid head movement. Listening to your body and seeking medical treatment is the best way to protect your health. Hiring a car collision attorney can help you focus on your recovery while they handle the legal aspects of your case.