Even if you feel fine after a car wreck, you might not be okay. Some injuries linger and become worse over time. This is why you should always seek medical attention as soon as possible after a crash. However, what are these long-term injuries? Can you still seek compensation if a physician diagnosis and treats these injuries long after the incident? What happens if you do not seek medical attention and these injuries become worse? Learning the answers to these and other important questions can aid your recovery after an auto accident.
WHAT INJURIES GET WORSE AFTER A CAR CRASH?
In a wreck, your body produces endorphins, which mitigate some of the pain you may normally feel. After these endorphins wear off, the pain of these injuries may be amplified. It is common to not realize the extent of your injuries until some time has passed. Some injuries may simply get worse if left untreated. In either case, victims’ injuries can result in permanent injury or wrongful death. Some injuries known to worsen over time include:
- Head Injuries – The sudden, violent movements of a car accident can result in a closed head traumatic brain injury (TBI). During a concussion or other type of TBI, the brain shifts inside the skull, resulting in bruising and a number of other complications.
- Spinal Injuries – Spinal cord injuries (SCI) can cause a victim to lose some motor function. SCIs can dramatically worsen if physicians cannot stabilize and treat the affected area.
- Neck and Back Injuries – A car crash can also strain, fracture or otherwise damage the spine itself. Whiplash, herniated discs and spinal radiculopathy are all serious injuries that may not be obvious immediately after a crash.
HOW DO LONG-TERM INJURIES AFFECT A CAR ACCIDENT CLAIM?
No matter whether you seek medical treatment soon or long after a wreck with a negligent driver, you still have the right to seek compensation. If your injuries are minimal, you can still file a claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance for the damages to your vehicle, the treatment for your injuries, lost work time and similar expenses.
Failing to seek medical attention after a crash can make compensation more difficult to attain, since the defense may argue that your injuries were not serious if you did not seek medical attention immediately. However, a skilled injury lawyer may be able to refute this claim and get the compensation you deserve.
FIND OUT IF YOU CAN FILE A CAR WRECK CLAIM
When you get hurt in a car accident, put your trust in Nashville injury attorney Stanley A. Davis. He is bound by his strong moral values and abides by the words of testaments such as Galatians 5:25, which says: “If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.” When Stanley A. Davis takes your case, he will do everything he can to see that you receive fair compensation. Call our firm today for free advice about your case.