The sound of screeching tires and crashing metal, the sights and smells of destruction can haunt a person after being involved in a car accident. After being checked out by medical professionals, many people are given a clean bill of health after an accident. However, what happens when symptoms appear later on?
It is not unusual for injury-related pain and suffering to be delayed or undiagnosed right away. Our bodies have a way of suppressing pain in the initial phase of recovery and as time goes by, symptoms that may have gone previously noticed may begin to appear.
What types of injuries are often delayed or undiagnosed?
It is important to get medical attention and legal representation if any of the following symptoms begin to appear:
- Headaches: Sometimes a headache is just a headache. However, after a motor vehicle accident, frequent or severe headaches can be directly contributed to the accident.
- Neck and shoulder pain: Often a sign of whiplash, spinal or brain injury, these types of pain can often be delayed.
- Back pain: Damage to the cervical, thoracic or lumbar regions of the back can appear after some time has passed.
- Numbness, tingling or weakness: These symptoms can manifest when nerves are pinched with injuries such as a herniated disc. Sometimes these also go undiagnosed.
- Abdominal pain: Internal bleeding or soft tissue damage can begin to cause abdominal pain days after the accident.
If any of the above symptoms appear, it is important to seek immediate medical attention.
Before signing any release of liability paperwork, or settling a personal injury case, it is of the utmost importance to make sure that there are not any delayed or undiagnosed health issues.
When navigating the legal process after a car accident, it is imperative to know your rights in California.