Car Accident Victims: What Should You Do About Your Delayed Pain?

Pain is often the first symptom auto accident victims experience. But for some people, their pain and other symptoms may actually take a while to manifest. Delayed symptoms can be alarming and frightening to some people. If you experienced pain, headaches, and other symptoms weeks after your accident, keep reading. Learn more about your delayed symptoms and what to do about them below.

What Are Delayed Symptoms?

When symptoms take longer than usual to appear after an accident, doctors call them delayed symptoms. These symptoms can occur within a few days of the accident, or they can show up several weeks later. If you didn't experience any serious injuries at the time of your car accident, you might not associate your new problems with it. However, this way of thinking can be dangerous. Your delayed symptoms could be signs of something much more serious. 

Some types of delayed symptoms can affect the organs in your abdomen and your brain. If bleeding occurs in these tissues, it can lead to stroke, heart failure, and kidney or liver failure. Delayed symptoms that occur as a result of spinal damage can be just as dangerous, especially if the damage affects the nerves in your spine. Some of your spinal nerves control your body's motor skills and functions. If you severed or crushed one of these nerves during your accident, you may experience problems with your body's muscles. 

Now that you understand the seriousness of your delayed symptoms, it's time to speak to a personal injury attorney about them.

How Can You Prove Your Delayed Symptoms?

In order for a personal injury attorney to take or prove your case, they'll need to learn more about your symptoms and treatment. An attorney will need to contact any hospitals and emergency care centers you visited after your accident to obtain copies of your X-rays, CT scans, blood tests, and other diagnostic evidence. The diagnostic evidence can help prove that your pain, headaches, and other symptoms were caused by the injuries you sustained during your car accident and not by something else.

In addition, an attorney will need to pull up or obtain copies of your police report. Your police report not only contains information about the other driver, but it also reveals key information about the type of accident or collision you were in. Some collisions can cause more physical damage than other types of collisions and may be worth more in court. An attorney may be able to estimate the value of your case during your consultation. 

If an attorney can prove that your delayed symptoms come from your car accident, they'll take your case. A lawyer will need to contact the other party's insurance company to file a claim before they try to collect any compensation for you. The insurance company may wish to settle your claim right away, or it may take some time to come to an agreement. If the settlement is too low to cover your medical expenses and other fees, an attorney may take your claim to court. 

The exact time to complete your injury claim can vary. If you currently see doctors for your delayed symptoms, continue to do so. An attorney may need additional evidence of your injuries to complete your claim. If the other driver's insurer contacts you about your injuries, refer the company directly to your attorney. Your lawyer can send the company any paperwork it needs for you.

If you experience delayed symptoms after a car accident, contact a personal injury attorney at a law firm like Hoffman, Larin & Agnetti. An attorney may be able to help you obtain the settlement you deserve for your injuries.