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What To Know About Delayed Pain After a Car Accident

car accident victim who may be in pain

Maine car accident lawyers discuss common injuries associated with delayed pain

A car accident can happen at any time. A negligent driver may have been speeding, weaving in and out of traffic, or looking away from the road to read a text. The result is often a crash with another vehicle that can leave drivers and passengers with serious and painful injuries.

Many times, it’s very clear when someone has been injured. But in some cases, it’s not always obvious. Shock and a surge of adrenaline can hide certain injuries. Victims may think they are OK and don’t see the need to be examined by a doctor. It is only much later that they realize they were hurt as painful symptoms begin to appear.

After a crash, delayed pain may be felt in different areas of the body.

Back

There are different types of injuries that can be suffered in a collision. These include strains and tears in soft tissue as well as spinal cord injuries involving vertebrae, ligaments, and discs. These injuries can result in pain, numbness, stiffness, or limited mobility. But symptoms may not be noticeable until hours or days later.

Neck

A common injury experienced in car crashes is whiplash. During the force of impact, a person’s head can be rapidly jerked back and forth. This stretches muscles, ligaments, and tendons in the neck beyond their normal range. But a person may not experience any pain until a few days after the accident.

Head

During a crash, a person’s head can be thrown against the steering wheel, windshield, or another part of the vehicle. The brain can slam into the inside of the skull, leading to bleeding or bruising. This is called traumatic brain injury (TBI). Symptoms such as headache, nausea, dizziness and confusion may not appear until hours or even days later.

Internal Organs

Some people can experience abdominal trauma and other seat belt injuries during a collision. This can happen when the abdomen is compressed against a seat belt at great force. The force can be so great that internal organs rupture and start bleeding. Eventually, a person may feel tenderness, swelling and pain in the abdominal area.

That’s why it’s important to get medical attention as soon as possible after a car accident, even if you seem to feel OK. A doctor can give you an exam and determine if you did suffer any injuries and begin treatment as soon as possible.

Another thing a doctor can do is document your injuries. This is important when you are trying to recover financial compensation after an accident. Insurance companies typically try to minimize your injuries. If you delay seeing a doctor after the crash, they may try to argue that your pain had nothing to do with the accident.

Injured? Get a law firm that's recovered millions for Mainers.

The experienced car accident attorneys at Jabar LaLiberty, LLC know how insurance companies operate. That's why we carefully examine medical records and investigate crashes to build strong cases that insurance adjusters can't downplay or ignore.

Let us fight for the financial compensation you need and deserve. If you’ve been injured in Portland, Waterville, or anywhere in Maine, we can help. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.

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