Slow Injuries and Your Claim

After a car accident it is not uncommon for some injuries to show up much later. How might this affect your case? What is the best way to move forward? This article will discuss ways in which you should protect your health and your rights.

It is not a generalization to say that the majority of car accidents are very traumatic. Something as simple as a fender bender to a far more serious accident with a lot of force in the collision with another vehicle or with a fixed object like a wall or building. As a result, it is not uncommon for individuals involved in even minor accidents to not realize they have any injury symptoms immediately after the accident. This is for varying reasons. If you were involved in a car accident and would like to claim compensation for your injuries and losses contact our car accident lawyers in Bakersfield CA today.

When the body is undergoing some form of excitement it generates endorphins and adrenaline. These chemicals supercharge the body to the point that it can block out pain. When a car accident happens, it can result in the body becoming excited and generating these two chemicals, resulting in a burst of energy which results in many cases with a lack of any feelings of pain. It is because of this that people may feel fine after an accident. However, once these chemicals begin to wear off the pain caused by the accident sets in.

The most common type of injury suffered in car accidents is whiplash [Whiplash – Symptoms and causes – Mayo Clinic]; this is a soft tissue injury to the neck, head and back. Whiplash is due to the jolting back and forth which results from an immediate stop or an immediate acceleration. The result of suffering whiplash or soft tissue injury includes swelling, pain and a low range of mobility, and can also include mild to moderate brain injuries from the brain bouncing around inside the skull. However, such symptoms are not immediately manifest after the accident. Further, they may not show up on any type of imaging machinery; as a result, they are difficult to document, diagnose and  prove to a jury.

Another injury that may take time to manifest is a concussion. A concussion is the result of the head hitting into or onto something or the violent movement of the body that results in the brain hitting on the sides of the skull. Most people fail to identify concussions because of the assumption that an individual must become unconscious if they suffer a concussion. However, it is not in all instances that a person who has suffered a concussion loses consciousness. Some symptoms of a concussion include:

• Disorientation
• Lack of the ability to concentrate
• Headaches
• Blurred vision
• Nausea
• Sleeping patterns that are abnormal, i.e. sleeping less or more than usual
• having problems remembering new information

There may be other symptoms as well, and if you notice any physical or mental changes after an accident you may have suffered some level of brain injury.  It may take days, weeks or even months to identify these symptoms and be diagnosed with a concussion.

It is of the utmost importance that you seek medical attention immediately after the accident even if you are not in pain, and tell your doctor about all the issues you are having. Further, it is important not to settle your personal injury claim immediately before a full medical evaluation.