Types of Late-Appearing Car Accident Injuries: Identify Them

Some car accident injuries appear later than directly after the accident. Sometimes injuries appear days or even weeks later. These wounds can impact the body internally and result in costly medical bills and time off from work. Possibly even more so than an obvious wound because the victim will not acquire medical help as soon as he or she should.

Following a car accident, your first thought may be to assess the damage to your vehicle and settle quickly so you can move on with your life. However, settling too quickly can cost you much-needed compensation. Before you accept any monetary compensation from an insurance company or at-fault party for a serious accident, contact Colorado injury attorneys to determine your next steps.

Types of Late-Appearing Injuries

One common type of late-appearing car accident injury is whiplash, which is a type of soft tissue injury. According to the Spine Research Institute of San Diego, it is estimated that about three million people in the United States suffer from whiplash every year.

Whiplash can affect not only the neck, but the spine and other neural pathways as well, causing symptoms such as:

  • dizziness;
  • Stiffness;
  • headaches;
  • mobility problems;
  • muscle spasms; and
  • weakness.

Whiplash can be successfully treated by a chiropractor or physical therapist.

A concussion can be a part of possible car accident injuries and can occur if the head hits a hard surface from the impact of the accident, such as in a rear-end collision.

Common signs of a concussion include:

  • vision problems;
  • headaches;
  • memory loss;
  • vomiting;
  • irritability;
  • loss of coordination or balance;
  • depression; and
  • sleep problems.

Unconsciousness does not have to occur for a concussion to take place.

Invisible wounds may include emotional trauma. This can be especially difficult to diagnose, as it can come on slowly over the course of months or years after the accident.

A traumatic accident can lead to post-traumatic stress disorder, which can cause:

  • anxiety;
  • depression;
  • insomnia; and
  • flashbacks stemming from the accident.

What to Do After an Accident

A thorough medical examination after the accident can identify any internal damage using looking for look for car accident injuries such a spinal and head trauma:

  • X-rays;
  • MRIs; and
  • CT scans.

If you experience any pain, be sure to inform the doctor so it can be reviewed. Even mild pain can lead to bodily damage down the road if not treated properly.

Contact a Colorado injury attorney following a car accident to assess your situation and determine your right to compensation. A lawyer will advise you of the next steps to take. Do not settle your case until your lawyer advises you to do so.

You may feel pressured to do so by insurance companies, but be patient and wait until you have a better idea of the extent of your injuries. Nobody but you knows how you feel. You may need to wait several weeks and see if any late-appearing injuries occur.

Contacting a Colorado Injury Attorney

Invisible wounds, particularly brain injuries, can come on days or weeks later. Preserve your rights by contacting an injury attorney at D.J. Banovitz, Personal Injury Law. Call (303) 300-5060 to schedule an appointment to review your case and resultant car accident injuries, and check out our free injury book.

D.J. Banovitz’ career has always concentrated on trial practice and he has litigated hundreds of cases. His passion and sole career focus has been to seek justice for people suffering from personal injuries as the result of someone else’s negligence. The hallmark of the Law Office of D.J. Banovitz, is the total commitment to professionalism, quality, and personalized care of your injury case. D.J. has dedicated his professional life to helping those most in need and is a proud and active member of the Colorado Trial Lawyers Association. His experience includes volunteering for Colorado Rural Legal Services in Montrose, the Colorado Aids Project, consumer law, family law, criminal defense, and Alternative Defense Counsel for juveniles in Denver.