Certain injuries do not appear immediately after a car crash. Following a motor vehicle accident, it is fairly common to not notice the extent of your injuries until a few days or weeks later.
If you find yourself hurt in a roadway accident, seek medical attention immediately and monitor yourself for the common types of delayed injuries.
Common delayed injuries
Joint pain is a type of injury that you could notice days or weeks after a car accident. If your elbow, hip, knee, ankle or shoulder cause you pain, make sure to get a medical evaluation right away.
If you experience abdominal pain, this is a serious indicator of internal organ damage or bleeding. Failure to treat these types of symptoms may result in worsening injuries or death.
Suffering from headaches or migraines following a motor vehicle accident is a sign that you may have a concussion or other head injury. As with other delayed injuries, not getting appropriate treatment quickly can cause lasting health issues.
Shoulder, neck and back pains are common symptoms after a car accident. Make sure to monitor the severity of any pain and discomfort as serious injuries in these areas can have lasting consequences on your body.
Importance of uninterrupted treatment
Waiting after the motor vehicle accident to seek medical attention, stopping your care prematurely or taking gaps between treatments gives the other driver’s insurance company an opportunity to reduce the value of your case. The insurance adjuster evaluating your claim uses these factors to decide on the settlement amount for your injuries.
If you delay too long in getting care, the insurer will try to show that the injuries you suffered do not relate to the accident, so it is imperative that you seek medical help as soon as you notice symptoms or pain.
