According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the number of police-reported car accidents decreased by 22% from 2019 to 2020. Part of this decrease is a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, which significantly reduced vehicular travel in the United States for part of the year. Still, the United States recorded more than 5 million non-fatal car accidents, with over 1.5 million resulting in some form of injury.
While some car accidents lead to devastating, life-threatening injuries, other car accidents can cause relatively minor injuries, along with some property damage. Thousands of accidents occur every day, so inevitably there are some car accidents where the vehicle occupants do not suffer an injury at all. But if you are involved in a car accident, how sure can you be that you did not suffer an injury? How long after a car accident can injuries appear? If you discover your injury after the fact, can you still recover compensation from the person who caused the accident? We have answers to these questions, as well as any other concerns you have related to your case at Silva Injury Law.
Common Types Of Car Accident Injuries
A car accident injury can range from very minor to extremely severe. Some common types of car accident injuries include:
- Sprains and pulled muscles,
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI),
- Skull fractures,
- Spinal cord injuries,
- Whiplash,
- Broken bones,
- Injuries to lower extremities;
- Scrapes and bruises, and
- Concussions.
This list is not exhaustive. And it makes the point that while some injuries are obvious by nature, others can go unnoticed for some time.
Should I Seek Medical Treatment After A Car Accident?
It is not uncommon for people to go into shock or feel an overwhelming rush of adrenaline after a car accident. Emotional shock is a condition that occurs after a traumatic or frightening event when a person’s body releases adrenaline into the bloodstream. When someone is suffering from an emotional shock, they might present signs of confusion, anxiety, or disconnectedness following the accident.
Sometimes being in shock can prevent someone from realizing the pain or discomfort they are feeling in other parts of their body. That is why it is critical to seek a professional medical opinion after a car accident, even if you do not see any readily apparent injuries from the crash. Getting a prompt, accurate diagnosis can fast-track your healing process and ensure you did not sustain any injuries in the accident that have not yet appeared.
And there’s another reason to get checked over. Timely medical information will offer solid evidence of your injuries in the event your case proceeds to trial. If you do not seek medical attention until a significant period of time has passed, the opposing party will likely claim that you suffered the injury in a separate incident that happened after the accident.
How Can Delayed-onset Injuries After A Car Accident Affect My Case?
To prevail in a car accident claim, one requirement is proving that the at-fault party’s negligence was the cause of the accident that resulted in your injuries. Additionally, you need to show that you suffered injuries in that accident.
Alternatively, the at-fault party might argue that some outside force, like poor weather conditions, caused the accident instead of their own negligence. In addition, the at-fault party may claim that you were already injured prior to the accident, so they are not responsible for your injury.
This is where delayed-onset injuries can make things tricky. If you hit your head during an accident and suffered a concussion, but you did not seek medical treatment and receive a diagnosis until a week later, the opposing party can easily claim that you sustained a concussion in the week between the accident and your doctor’s visit. Therefore, it is critical to seek professional medical treatment as soon as possible after the accident so you are aware of the injuries you suffered in the crash.
Did You Suffer Injuries In A Car Accident? Contact Silva Injury Law Today
The aftermath of a car accident is often stressful and traumatic for injured victims. By consulting with an attorney at Silva Injury Law, we can take care of the minor details regarding your case while you focus on your recovery. We know that a one-size-fits-all case strategy does not apply to car accidents. That is why we take the time to learn the facts of your case and determine what evidence we need to recover the full amount of compensation that you deserve. Contact our office today to speak to an attorney.
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At Silva Injury Law we promote healing through compassionate advocacy. With each case tailored to the individual, we look our for your best interests by evaluating your unique circumstances. Contact us today for a FREE in person or remote consultation.