This scenario is all too common to the author. You’re rear-ended in a car wreck. Sitting at a stop sign minding your own business and someone rams into you. Although you think it was a low impact , the initial shock has you a little dazed and confused, but it doesn’t seem they caused any significant injury.
Your head jerked back and forth and the bumper is done, but no real pain you can feel at the scene. There are plenty of myths out there about personal injury attorneys and fraudulent clients seeking a payday. That’s not you. You’re fine and whiplash seems like nonsense. Maybe sore the next week or so but nothing you need to be concerned about.
This common line of thinking can hurt your long term health and get your claim denied. We’ve seen this happen to too many people and when it finally gets to a point where the accident related pain is unbearable, there’s no chance their claim will be successful because they waited too long to seek medical treatment.
This is why one of the first things we recommend to people after being in a car wreck is to seek immediate medical attention. But what happens if you don’t? The following should help if your pain doesn’t show up for days or weeks after an accident.
What kind of symptoms can be delayed after a car crash?
If you were recently involved in an auto collision, neck or head pain isn’t something you should mess around with. Waiting to see if it goes away can have lasting consequences on your health. If any of the following symptoms arise after you’ve been in a crash, make you see a medical professional immediately.
1. Neck and Shoulder Pain. This may be a sign of whiplash. Your neck and head are thrown violently when an accident occurs. It may take days for this to show up once the body is no longer in shock trying to protect itself. This type of pain could also be from a spinal injury like a herniated disc.
2. Headaches. If you’re having headaches more than normal, you’ll want to note the location and severity of it. While it may be stress-related, it could also be a sign of several different things including a concussion, brain injury, whiplash, or even a blood clot. Headaches can also be symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after an accident.
3. Back Pain. Back pain is common after a car accident. If you are experiencing lower back pain, this is also a symptom of a whiplash related injury. There could be a sprain, herniated disc, or other soft-tissue injuries. In there is tingling or numbness, there may be a pinched nerve.
4. Burning, Numbness, Tingling, Weakness. This may indicate a herniated disc that is pinching or pressing nerves in the spine. This can cause all of these different sensations and is something you should have checked immediately.
5. Pain in the Abdominals. Internal soft-tissue injuries can be fatal if left untreated. Abdominal pain may show up several days after an accident. If there is internal bleeding, this may also be accompanied by headaches, dizziness, and bruising.
6. Emotional Pain and Suffering. No one expects to be in a car accident, even if it’s relatively minor. This can still be a jarring experience because it takes us out of our normal protected course of the day. Accidents, especially serious ones, can cause crash victims to experience depression, anxiety, and PTSD. It could be related to the accident or it could be triggering a past event. Mood and personality changes like irritability can be common after an accident, especially if there is a brain injury.
What should I do if the insurance company is calling me?
If you find yourself in the above situation, we recommend a couple of things. Most importantly, you need to go see a doctor. Next, make sure that you aren’t signing any releases or accepting any money from the insurance company yet. You want to make sure that you can determine the extent of your injuries.
Once you sign a release and accept money for your injuries from the insurance company, you won’t have the right to seek compensation if you’re still injured.
Finally, we recommend meeting with a knowledgeable Sacramento car accident attorney to help you fully evaluate your personal injury damages . They will be able to protect you from any tricks (19) the insurance company might try to play to deny or diminish your claim.
Sacramento Car Accident Lawyer
My name is Dan Hanecak and I am a Sacramento personal injury attorney. I know from experience it’s easy to think you aren’t injured from a car wreck. It disrupts your schedule and your life. But ask yourself this—would you rather go through the inconvenience and get yourself treated now and be compensated for your pain or wait 10 years, have worse pain, and not get treated? I understand it’s an oversimplification, but many times it isn’t. Your health is always the top priority.
Please feel free to give me a call at (916) 619-5452 and I will go over your case with you. I will give you free and friendly advice and help you determine your next step. Or, if you prefer, we have a form you can fill out online and I will give you a call personally.
