Not everyone seeks medical treatment immediately after a car crash, especially if they don’t think they were badly hurt. If you were in a car accident in South Dakota and you didn’t go to the emergency room, you may not know what to do if you develop symptoms days or even weeks later.
Car accident injuries aren’t always obvious right away. Some injuries can make themselves felt days or even weeks after an accident. How can you deal with symptoms that appear after a crash?
Delayed injury symptoms after a car accident can indicate other problems, such as:
- Whiplash
- Concussion
- Internal injuries
- Back injuries
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
Even if you originally thought you were uninjured after the accident, you should seek medical attention immediately if you start to experience symptoms. As soon as you’ve seen a doctor, you should contact a personal injury lawyer to help you seek compensation from the driver responsible for the accident.
Common Delayed Injury Symptoms to Watch For
If you’re experiencing neck and back pain days after an accident, whiplash might be the cause. Whiplash injuries happen when an impact causes your head and neck to whip back and forth, a common result of a rear-end car crash.
Common late-onset injury signs that can indicate whiplash include:
- Neck pain or stiffness
- Headache
- Pain radiating into the shoulders and arms
According to the Centers for Disease Control, concussion symptoms don’t always manifest immediately. If you are in a car accident and then experience concussion symptoms days later, you may not immediately realize that’s what you’re experiencing. Concussion symptoms to watch out for include:
- Fatigue and dizziness post-accident
- Headache
- Vision trouble
- Being irritated by noise or light
Nausea and vomiting are also symptoms of concussion, but according to the CDC, they are more likely to happen soon after the accident.
Internal injuries after an accident are especially dangerous and often require immediate medical care. Internal bleeding often starts as a minor problem and becomes worse over time. Delayed symptoms to watch out for can include:
- Abdominal pain or swelling
- Dizziness, fainting, or light-headedness
- Purple skin
- Painful, swollen legs
Delayed symptoms of a back injury can include:
- Tingling
- Numbness
- Sharp pain in a localized area
Delayed Symptoms of PTSD
If you were in a particularly terrifying or upsetting accident, you may experience post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD. Symptoms of PTSD can be especially delayed, sometimes manifesting months after an accident. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, mental and emotional symptoms can include:
- Flashbacks
- Upsetting dreams
- Distressing thoughts
However, PTSD can also cause physical symptoms, including neck pain, headache, numbness, and tingling.
Why Prompt Medical Attention Still Matters
It’s always best to seek medical attention after a crash as soon as possible. Even if you think you weren’t hurt in the accident, it’s better to go to the emergency room or doctor’s office immediately. Your doctor will spot early signs of a concussion, spinal cord injury, or whiplash and get you the help you need to recover quickly. Prompt medical attention will also help you with your personal injury claim.
Is it too late if you didn’t seek medical attention right away? Does prompt medical attention still matter when you have delayed injuries?
It’s never too late to seek medical care when you’re suffering symptoms from an injury. Prompt medical attention still matters because:
- Your doctor can identify and treat the cause of your symptoms.
- Treatment can prevent potentially dangerous complications.
- The sooner you seek treatment, the more it will help your personal injury claim.
How Delayed Symptoms Affect Your Personal Injury Claim
According to South Dakota law, a person is responsible for injuries caused by their willful acts or negligence. If someone causes you an injury by driving negligently, you can hold them liable with a personal injury lawsuit. For example, if another driver fails to stop and rear-ends your car, causing you a whiplash injury, or gives you a concussion in a T-bone crash, you can pursue compensation from them for your injuries.
Damages in a personal injury case can include:
- All medical expenses
- Any lost income, including lost wages and diminished earning potential
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of quality of life
However, the other driver’s insurance company will not want to pay your claim and will look for any excuse to deny responsibility. If you didn’t seek medical treatment immediately after the accident, the insurance company may try to claim that your later symptoms are unrelated to the accident. You’ll need the help of a skilled and experienced motor vehicle accident lawyer to prove that the accident caused your injuries and that the other driver is liable.
Contact a South Dakota Car Accident Lawyer Today
The statute of limitations for personal injury claims in South Dakota gives you three years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit. In a legal claim for delayed injuries, your lawyer can argue that the countdown should start only after discovering your injuries. However, it’s best to contact a lawyer as soon as you realize you are injured so you won’t have to worry about the statute of limitations.
A South Dakota car accident lawyer can help by:
- Reviewing your medical records and determining how your injuries occurred and how much compensation is appropriate
- Interviewing eyewitnesses and taking their statements about what happened in the accident
- Reviewing the police report to find out what the responding officer thought about the incident
- Reviewing photos, videos, and other evidence
- Filing a personal injury claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance company
- Negotiating a settlement with the insurance company
- Taking the case to trial if the insurance carrier won’t pay a fair settlement
Turbak Law Office, P.C. is a personal injury law office serving Watertown and surrounding communities. We represent people like you who have been hurt in a South Dakota car accident and who want to seek compensation from the at-fault party. If you’re experiencing delayed symptoms after a car accident in Watertown, South Dakota, seek medical attention immediately and contact us today at 605-886-8361 to discuss your legal options.