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(253) 272-5226“Are you OK?”
It’s one of the first questions people ask after a car accident. And in the moments immediately after a crash, you might honestly think you are. You survived. You’re awake. You don’t see any obvious injuries.
But over the next few days, you may realize you’re not as OK as you first thought.
Many car accident injuries don’t appear right away. Pain, swelling, stiffness, and even emotional trauma can take hours or days to fully develop. In this post, we’ll explain why delayed onset injuries happen, some of the most common examples, and how these injuries can affect a Washington personal injury claim.
There are several reasons accident injuries may not be obvious at the scene.
One major reason is adrenaline. After a collision, your body releases adrenaline and other stress hormones as part of the body’s “fight or flight” response. These hormones help you focus on immediate survival, but they can also temporarily mask pain and other symptoms.
That’s why it’s common to wake up the next morning feeling much worse than you did immediately after the crash.
Some injuries also take time to physically develop. Swelling and inflammation may increase over several hours. Bruises may not appear until the next day. Headaches may gradually worsen. Emotional symptoms may not appear for days or even weeks.
Next, let’s look at some common delayed onset injuries.
Whiplash is one of the most common delayed onset injuries after a rear-end accident.
It happens when the neck is suddenly forced forward and backward, straining the muscles, ligaments, and soft tissues in the neck and upper back. Symptoms aren’t always immediate.
But, over the next several hours or days, you may notice:
Even a relatively low-speed crash can cause whiplash.
Internal injuries can be especially dangerous because they aren’t always visible right away.
A person may initially feel sore but otherwise “fine,” only to later develop symptoms related to internal bleeding or damage to organs. Seat belt trauma, blunt force impact, or hitting the steering wheel can all contribute to these injuries.
Warning signs may include:
Internal injuries can become life-threatening without prompt medical treatment.
Not every concussion involves losing consciousness.
In fact, many mild traumatic brain injuries are initially overlooked because symptoms can seem subtle at first. Someone may simply feel “off” after an accident before realizing something is wrong.
Common concussion symptoms include:
Because brain injuries can worsen over time, don’t ignore these symptoms.
Soft tissue injuries involve damage to muscles, ligaments, or tendons. The back, shoulders, and knees are especially vulnerable during a collision.
These injuries can be painful even though they may not appear on an X-ray. Many people don’t fully feel the effects until inflammation and swelling increase after the accident.
Symptoms may include:
Soft tissue injuries can sometimes lead to chronic pain if left untreated.
Some fractures are obvious immediately after an accident. Others are much more difficult to detect without medical imaging.
Hairline fractures, small rib fractures, wrist injuries, and stress fractures may initially feel like simple soreness or bruising. As swelling and pain increase, it becomes more apparent that something more serious is wrong.
Pain that continues to worsen instead of improve should always be evaluated by a medical professional.
Not all accident injuries are physical.
A serious car accident can cause lasting emotional trauma, and some people develop symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) days or weeks later.
Symptoms may include:
Mental and emotional injuries are real injuries, and they can significantly affect a person’s daily life and recovery.
Even if you feel mostly OK after a crash, it’s a good idea to be medically evaluated as soon as possible.
Seeking prompt medical care can:
Doctors may also detect injuries that aren’t immediately obvious, including concussions, fractures, or internal bleeding.
It’s also important to attend follow-up appointments if new symptoms appear in the days after the crash.
Delayed onset injuries can sometimes create challenges in a personal injury case.
Insurance companies may argue that your injuries are unrelated to the accident or that they aren’t as serious as you claim. This is one reason medical documentation is so important.
An experienced Washington personal injury lawyer can help gather medical records, communicate with the insurance company, and make sure the full extent of your injuries is understood before any settlement is finalized.
Remember, once you settle your injury claim, you usually can’t return later and ask for additional compensation. This is why your attorney will want to understand the long-term impact of your injuries and whether you’ve reached maximum medical improvement before resolving your case.
If you were injured in a Washington car accident and symptoms appeared days later, you are not alone. Delayed onset injuries are common, and they can still lead to a valid personal injury claim.
We offer complimentary, no-obligation consultations. To get started, call us at (253) 272-5226 or fill out the short form on our website to speak with one of our Tacoma personal injury lawyers today.