Can a Car Accident Cause Internal Injuries That Don’t Show Up Right Away?

If you’re involved in a car accident and don’t notice any injuries right away, you may think that you’ve escaped the worst possible outcomes. However, some internal injuries may take hours or days to become apparent. Internal bleeding, brain injuries, and soft tissue damage may gradually worsen, leaving you unsure of what’s happening or what you should do. This delay can keep some victims from realizing that they are seriously injured until they suddenly need emergency care.

It’s important to understand how delayed injuries occur, why they take time to show up, and why it’s so important to seek medical care after a crash in Illinois. We’re here to help. Contact Gainsberg Injury and Accident Lawyers to schedule a time to meet with our car accident lawyers now.

Why some car accident injuries don’t show symptoms right away

Although some injuries are immediately apparent after a collision, some injuries take time, often due to the body’s own response to physical trauma or the fact that the type of injury is less likely to show immediate symptoms. Contributing factors include:

• Adrenaline and shock: The body is hardwired to respond to physical trauma with adrenaline. Adrenaline blocks pain signals, so it may give accident victims false hope if they leave the accident scene with minimal pain. But once adrenaline starts to fade, pain and other symptoms may start to creep in.
• Internal bleeding: Whether or not internal bleeding shows up right away depends on the severity of the injury. Someone with severe internal bleeding may be obviously injured right away, but someone with a smaller internal bleed may not get worse for hours or even days. Bleeding inside the abdomen may initially appear mild, but start to pool within the body and cause symptoms hours later.
• Brain injuries: Brain injuries often do not show symptoms right away. Concussions and other types of brain injuries may only become obvious once an individual returns to daily life and struggles to recall important facts, concentrate on tasks, moderate their own emotions, or make decisions. In the immediate aftermath of an accident, people expect you to be a little scattered and stressed—so any immediate changes may not be attributed to a brain injury until they fail to resolve.
• Soft tissue damage: Damage to ligaments, tendons, and muscles may feel sore or painful initially. However, as the tissue swells in response to trauma, it becomes impossible to ignore the injury.
• Organ damage: Damage to internal organs can cause internal bleeding and intense pain, but how quickly these effects become apparent depends on the severity of the injury.

What are the warning signs of delayed internal injuries?

Because some injuries appear gradually, you cannot just rely on an immediate self-assessment after a car accident. It’s important to watch out for symptoms that develop after a collision. Warning signs include:

• Severe and worsening headaches
• Nausea and vomiting
• Dizziness
• Confusion
• Abdominal pain and swelling
• Deep bruising and discoloration
• Chest pain
• Difficulty breathing
• Vision problems
• Drastic changes in personality
• Difficulty forming words or sentences
• Unusual fatigue and weakness

Any of these symptoms can indicate serious internal injuries. They warrant immediate medical care and assessment.

Why you should seek medical care after an accident

The issue of delayed injuries highlights why it’s so important to seek medical care promptly after an accident, regardless of whether or not you feel injured. Early diagnosis of injuries protects your health—injuries like internal bleeding can become life-threatening if not treated immediately. Medical evaluation can catch issues that aren’t yet apparent.

Medical documentation is also a critical part of your legal claim. If you decide to take legal action against the at-fault driver later, immediate medical care ties your injuries to the accident in a way that delayed medical care doesn’t.

How do delayed injuries affect accident claims?

Linking your injuries to your car accident can be challenging if you wait days or weeks to seek medical care. Insurance companies will look at a significant delay between an accident and medical treatment, then use that to their advantage.

Insurance companies may argue that your injuries were not related to the crash and point to the delay in treatment as support for that position. As a result, they may deny liability, making it much harder for you to secure compensation.

Immediate medical care protects your health and your legal claim. If you’re not injured, prompt medical attention gives you peace of mind. If you are injured, medical care can strengthen your injury claim and help you get the necessary care.

Can I still file a claim if injuries show up later?

You can still take action against the at-fault driver if your injuries show up hours or days after your accident. Proving that the injuries are tied to the accident may be a little more challenging, but it’s not impossible—an experienced car accident lawyer can use evidence to show that the crash caused your injuries. They may also reach out to medical expert witnesses who can explain why your injuries took time to manifest.

It’s important to avoid accepting a settlement before you are certain that you are not injured. Once you settle your claim and sign a release, you generally cannot pursue additional claims arising from that accident, even if injuries appear later.

Fight for the compensation you deserve with Gainsberg Injury and Accident Lawyers

If you’ve suffered injuries in a car accident, choosing the right legal representation can make a difference in your outcome. We’re here to investigate your claim, build a strong case, and advocate for you. Find out how we can help by calling us or getting in touch online.