Head trauma, broken bones, and bruises come to mind when you think about car accident injuries. If you were fortunate enough to walk away from an accident without a scratch consider yourself lucky! Still, you should always go to the hospital or seek professional medical attention. 

All accident-related injuries are not immediately apparent. Some can remain hidden for weeks. Not seeking medical treatment following an accident, even if you don’t think you’re injured, can wind up being a very costly mistake. 

 

Minor Accidents Can Still Mean Major Injuries 

It doesn’t matter if you were involved in a low-speed collision or if you walked away with little damage to your car. Even what appears to be a “small accident” can cause permanent soft tissue injuries. 

Do not assume that just because you walked away you’re okay. Leave that determination up to medical professionals. You might not feel like you’re injured but don’t take any chances, especially considering some injuries are not always obvious right away.

 

Minor Injuries Can Be More Serious Than You Realize

Sometimes what you think is just a minor injury turns out to be much worse than you expected. You may only be experiencing mild pain or discomfort now, but what happens if that pain hasn’t gone away in two weeks, or gets even worse?

Seeking medical treatment now ensures you are covered for future treatment if your injury ends up being more serious than you initially thought it was. 

 

Hidden Injuries Can Take Weeks To Show Symptoms

There could be “unseen” injuries waiting to bring you pain. Soft tissue injuries, such as whiplash, are common in accidents. 

Imagine a whip snapping. The rope curls at the end and quickly snaps back. In a rear-impact car accident, your neck does the same thing. Ouch, right? 

Many people downplay the seriousness of whiplash and other soft tissue injuries. Did you know the symptoms experienced after whiplash can last a lifetime? They can be chronic and debilitating. 

The problem with some injuries is the symptoms do not always show themselves immediately after an accident. It can take several weeks for symptoms to manifest. Often, because of the delayed onset, people don’t even realize the symptoms they’re experiencing are related to the accident they had weeks ago. 

Symptoms to look out for that could be tied to a hidden accident-related injury include:

 

  • Swelling/Inflammation 
  • Back pain
  • Neck pain/stiffness
  • Headaches
  • Ringing in the ears
  • Fatigue
  • Pain when moving the affected body part
  • Cognitive impairment (trouble concentrating or remembering information)
  • Hallucinations
  • Mood irregularities 
  • Sleep disturbances or difficulties 

If you were in an accident and have been experiencing any of the symptoms above you should seek medical attention immediately. 

 

Protect Yourself from Legal Doubt 

Not going to the hospital or seeking professional medical care after a car accident has legal consequences. If you delay seeking medical attention you could adversely affect the value of any personal injury claim later arising from the accident.

If you file a personal injury lawsuit to recover your losses the insurance company can use your delay in treatment to discredit your claim. They will use anything they can against you to keep your settlement as low as possible or to deny your claim altogether. To keep this from happening you should have an experienced personal injury attorney at your side. 

 

Get The Compensation You Deserve – Contact Verhine Law Today!

If you’ve been injured in an accident it’s crucial that you act quickly. Time is not on your side. To protect your legal rights and make sure you get the best settlement possible you should consult with an attorney right away. 

The experienced team at Verhine Law is ready to help you get the compensation you deserve. Call 601-GET-HELP (438-4357) or contact us online for your FREE case evaluation now!