Delayed Injuries After a Car Accident

It is common for automobile accident victims to assume they are okay if they do not immediately notice the signs of an injury. However, many common car accident injuries do not show signs or symptoms right away. It is critical to seek medical attention straightaway after an automobile accident in Connecticut, even if you initially feel fine. You may have a delayed injury.

Common Types of Delayed Injuries After a Car Accident

When a car accident occurs, the body’s reaction to the collision is often to produce adrenaline, which can have a masking effect for pain and other injury symptoms. Hours later, after the adrenaline wears off, the victim may finally notice signs of injury. In other cases, an injury may start as minor but worsen and show symptoms over the next few hours or days.

Common delayed car accident injuries include:

• Neck injuries: whiplash and other injuries affecting the soft tissues of the neck, such as muscle strains or sprains, can occur from the head and neck snapping rapidly backward and forward in the crash.

• Back injuries: damage to the spinal cord or its disks, such as a slipped disk or nerve injury, can eventually cause back pain, chronic pain and stiffness.

• Head injuries: traumatic brain injuries may not show symptoms until the injury worsens or you have returned to your daily life. You may then notice issues such as blurred vision, headaches, nausea, or confusion.

• Internal injuries: internal organs could suffer damage in a car accident that is not immediately apparent. As the injury worsens, you may notice abdominal pain, swelling or bruising that could be indicative of internal bleeding or an organ injury.

• Soft-tissue injuries: various types of damage or injury to the muscles, tendons or ligaments may arise anywhere in the body after suffering physical trauma in a car accident.

Physical injuries are not the only possibility for delayed injuries after a car accident in Connecticut. You may also notice signs of emotional or psychological harm from the crash, such as symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. These symptoms include depression, anxiety, flashbacks, nightmares, and a phobia of cars or driving.

Possible Symptoms of a Delayed Car Accident Injury

In the days following an automobile accident, you should be on the lookout for potential signs of an injury. Common delayed injury symptoms include:

• Persistent headaches
• Neck pain or stiffness
• Back pain
• Tingling or numbness anywhere in the body
• Abdominal pain or bruising
• Constant nausea
• Dizziness
• Confusion or disorientation
• Memory loss
• Trouble concentrating
• Personality or mood changes
• Fatigue
• Trouble sleeping

Every individual is unique. Anything irregular could be a warning sign. Seek medical attention right away if you notice anything amiss.

What to Do if You Notice a Delayed Injury After a Car Accident in Connecticut

You can still recover financial compensation if you experience the delayed discovery of an injury after a car accident in Connecticut. However, a car insurance company may make it more difficult for you to recover fair compensation. An insurer may allege that your injury was pre-existing, for example, or caused by something other than the crash.

You can strengthen your claim by going to the hospital after any car accident, no matter how minor. A doctor can conduct a physical exam and medical tests to promptly diagnose a hidden or delayed injury. Protect your legal rights as a victim with delayed injuries by hiring a New Haven car accident attorney to represent you. A lawyer can help you prove your injuries and their connection to the auto accident.