If you feel fine and healthy after a car accident you are probably counting your lucky stars. However, it is possible that you are hurt and your symptoms simply have not presented themselves yet. Many individuals experience symptoms days, weeks, or even months after the accident. This can create a complex situation in terms of pursuing compensation and damages. If you have been in a car accident and your injuries don’t appear immediately, it is important that you understand how to handle the situation and approach any legal action. Reach out to a skillful Kane County car accident lawyer for more information and legal advice.

What Injuries May Not Appear Right Away?

While many ailments are obvious and visible, certain types of injuries are more likely to show symptoms over time. Injuries that may not appear immediately after a car accident can include the following.

  1. Whiplash: Whiplash is one of the most common injuries after an accident, especially a rear-end collision. Symptoms like neck pain, stiffness, headaches, dizziness, etc. may take several hours or days to appear.
  2. Brain injuries: Concussions and other TBIs (traumatic brain injuries) may go unnoticed for a period after the crash. However, over time the individual may begin to get headaches, dizziness, memory problems, nausea, and more.
  3. Soft tissue injuries: Soft tissue injuries like strains and sprains may not hurt right away but could be present. Swelling and pain in the feet, ankles, knees, wrists, elbows, and shoulders commonly develop in the days following an accident.
  4. Internal injuries: Injuries to internal organs or internal bleeding or bruising can be difficult to detect but life-threatening if not discovered early.

The above and more can be severe and painful but not apparent until days or weeks after the accident.

What if My Car Accident Injuries Don’t Appear Immediately?

If you have been involved in a car accident and do not feel any immediate pain or discomfort it is still crucial that you take certain steps. First, see a doctor right away, even if you don’t feel hurt. A doctor can do a thorough examination and order any necessary tests to identify hidden injuries.

It is also important to pay attention to how you feel in the days and weeks following the accident. Get medical help immediately if you begin to experience symptoms like pain, discomfort, swelling, or anything unusual.

Document everything over the next days and weeks. Keep a record of symptoms you begin to experience no matter how trivial they seem. This documentation will prove beneficial when pursuing a claim or lawsuit.

If you do decide to pursue legal action, work with an experienced personal injury lawyer. Use evidence from your original medical evaluation and all other appointments, your personal notes about your symptoms, and testimony from medical professionals to link the accident to your injuries. Establishing this connection is crucial in ensuring you can be properly compensated. Reach out to an experienced attorney for more information today.