Delayed Symptoms You Should Not Ignore After a Car Crash

Victims of car accidents typically receive immediate care when it is clear that they have been seriously injured. They are either transported to a hospital or trauma center by ambulance or they recognize the need for immediate diagnosis and treatment. But some accident victims may not experience symptoms of a sustained injury until a later time, perhaps because the rush of adrenaline after the impact masks the pain. Therefore, keep in mind the following:

There are a number of symptoms stemming from auto accidents that might not manifest themselves until a later time. These delayed symptoms can be evidence that the harm you sustained was more severe than you originally thought. The following are common signals of underlying injuries:

• Back pain — Damage to a disk or a vertebra can initially feel like something that will clear up over time. Such injuries, however, often do not heal on their own and only become worse as time goes on. This can make the eventual treatment and your chances of a full recovery more complicated.
• Neck pain — Your neck may simply feel sore following an accident. But this can be a sign of more serious harm that has been done to your spinal cord. If left untreated, this can lead to permanent damage or even to paralysis.
• Headaches —You might think that headaches are a short-term problem after a cranial blow. However, they can be symptoms of a concussion or what is often referred to as a mild traumatic brain injury, which can have devastating effects.
• Numbness and tingling — What may seem like a minor twinge can, in fact, be a sign of nerve damage. Failing to deal with the issue immediately can make the problem more long-lasting.

Delayed injury symptoms such as these should not be brushed off as minor discomfort. They are most likely signs of a problem that has been left untreated and may now have become worse as a result.

Failing to immediately seek medical care after a car accident can hurt your chances of recovering fair damages. This is due to the fact that the defendant’s attorneys can claim that you were injured through some event that occurred in between the accident and the time you first sought medical care.

The attorneys at Feinberg & Alban in Boston, Massachusetts regularly assist the victims of car accidents. We will take immediate action to help you obtain the compensation you need and deserve. Contact us online or by telephone at 617-232-5950 today.