For some reason, injury victims tend to downplay their injuries. Maybe they do not want to deal with the inconvenience of seeking medical treatment and having a doctor tell them to limit physical activity. Maybe they think they are just a little sore and will recover within a few days or a week. Perhaps the millions of dollars insurance companies spend claiming everyone is suing each other makes you feel guilty for actually being hurt. Whatever the reason, many victims discover their injuries were much worse than they thought once they get treatment. This often raises important questions about your ability to seek compensation, since insurers frequently use delaying the start of medical treatment as an excuse to deny an injury claim.

The Bloomington auto accident lawyers have experience helping injury victims and may be able to help you recover the compensation you need, even if your injuries were delayed.

Below, learn more about seeking compensation for a delayed injury. TSR Injury Law offers a free legal consultation to discuss legal options following a crash injury.

Car Crash Injuries with Delayed Symptoms

There are some injuries that may leave you feeling a little sore at first. You may also experience headaches. Unfortunately, many crash victims think of these as minor symptoms and think they will likely heal on their own.

However, these kinds of symptoms could be signs of more serious injuries. Symptoms of these injuries are likely to get worse in the coming days and weeks.

Back Injuries

Back pain could be much more serious than you think. Pain could indicate damage to the spinal cord, a herniated disc or whiplash.

If you have back pain, watch for other symptoms, such as tingling in your legs.  A neck injury could also cause tingling or zapping pain into your arms or hands.  This may indicate a pinched nerve.

Other symptoms to watch for include:

Whiplash

If your head and neck were whipped forward or back during and after impact, the tendons in your neck and shoulders may have been stretched too far. While you may have some pain right away, it may not get bad until the next day or the next few days.

While whiplash sometimes heals on its own, it is important to seek treatment right away. This could help the injury heal faster and prevent other symptoms, which may include:

• Ringing in the ears
• Blurry vision
• Trouble sleeping

Concussion/Traumatic Brain Injuries

Contrary to what some people may believe, you can suffer a concussion without being knocked out. You do not even need to hit your head on something to suffer a concussion. Simply being jolted around violently could cause the brain to slam against the inside of your skull.  The term shaken baby syndrome is an unfortunate reality because of this exact phenomenon.

Potential symptoms of a concussion may include:

Internal Bleeding

If you cannot see an injury, you may not think it exists. However, some injuries do not cause damage you can see. Crash victims may dismiss abdominal pain without realizing it may be a sign of internal bleeding. If you feel dizzy or faint you may have suffered internal bleeding. Sometimes internal bleeding causes large dark bruises.

Filing a Claim for a Delayed Injury

If you waited to seek treatment, you should strongly consider meeting with an attorney. The insurance company may claim your injury was caused by something other than the crash. You need an experienced attorney to build a strong case that may help you counter these claims.

It is also important to tell the doctor you see that you were in a car crash, and your symptoms started then and have become worse since. The doctor will note that in your medical records, which should help link the crash and your injuries.

You may be concerned the insurance company will review your medical history to discover preexisting medical conditions and blame your injury on one of these conditions. However, you do not automatically need to give them access to old medical records. If you are concerned about a preexisting injury affecting your claim, discuss it with your attorney, as it will be protected by attorney-client privilege.

You should also make sure to follow the doctor’s advice and continue your treatment. This helps to show the severity of your injuries and you are taking the situation seriously. Missing appointments and stopping treatment gives the insurance company something to use against you.

Need Help Filing a Claim? Call TSR Today

If you were in a car crash and suffered an injury diagnosed by a doctor, you should be able to seek compensation through an insurance claim. This is likely true even if you delayed seeking treatment after a crash.

However, in these situations, it is important to find an experienced attorney with a track record of success. You cannot rely on the insurance companies to treat you fairly after a crash. You need an experienced attorney with a history of negotiating with insurance companies and obtaining compensation.

There are no upfront fees, and the initial consultation is free of charge.

Give us a call today to learn more. (612) TSR-TIME