Car accidents frequently cause traumatic injuries that are instantly recognizable, such as fractured or dislocated bones, burns, and lacerations. However, there are just as many, if not more, car accident injuries that victims may not realize they have sustained until hours, days, weeks, or even months after the collision that caused them.
Delayed symptoms after a car accident can complicate the process of seeking compensation for your injuries. You may not realize they are the result of the car accident. It may be challenging to gather evidence connecting them to the crash. And the at-fault party’s insurance company may argue that your injuries are unrelated to the collision.
Fortunately, a skilled lawyer from Jebaily Law Firm can help you seek the compensation you need for your injuries with delayed symptoms after a car accident. Contact our firm today for a free consultation with an experienced member of our team.
What to Do When You Experience Delayed Pain After a Car Accident in SC
If you begin experiencing symptoms or if your symptoms worsen after a car crash, you should seek medical treatment. Even if you previously visited a doctor after the accident, a follow-up exam could identify the source of symptoms that have developed since then. Many types of injuries involve delayed symptoms that a medical professional could miss during your initial examination.
Robust documentation of your injuries is critical to maximizing your compensation for injuries sustained in a South Carolina car accident. While seeking medical treatment can help document your hidden injuries in your medical records, it is also vital to contact our lawyers so we can begin gathering other types of evidence to support your claim.
Common Delayed Injuries You Might Notice After a Car Accident
Injury symptoms may be delayed after a car accident for several reasons. You may not notice them until they worsen or spread, or your adrenaline could mask the symptoms directly after the crash.
Some examples of potentially severe injuries with delayed symptoms include:
- Whiplash and neck injuries – This is a soft tissue injury affecting the neck and upper back. It may take one to three days for symptoms such as neck pain, stiffness, headaches, and others to appear.
- Traumatic brain injuries – TBIs and other head injuries may cause dizziness, nausea, confusion, and other symptoms as the brain swells over time after a blow to the head.
- Back and spinal cord injuries – Herniated discs, nerve compression, and muscle strains may become more painful as inflammation worsens and spreads.
- Internal injuries and organ damage – Internal bleeding and damage to organs are often not immediately noticeable until the abdominal pain spreads and bruising appears on the skin.
- Psychological injuries – Anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and car accident shock symptoms may take weeks or months to appear fully, and you may not immediately realize the mental health condition is connected to the car accident.
How Long Does It Take for Symptoms to Appear After a Car Crash in SC?
The time it takes for delayed symptoms to appear after a South Carolina car crash depends on various factors, such as the type and severity of the injury. While there is no standard timeline for the onset of delayed symptoms, in general, you may experience:
- Soreness and stiffness within the first one to two days after the accident
- Increased pain due to soft tissue injuries and more severe brain injury symptoms after three to seven days
- Chronic pain, nerve issues, and psychological trauma may appear one to two weeks after the crash
Your injuries do not need to appear immediately for you to seek compensation for them in South Carolina. However, the longer it takes for your symptoms to appear, the more difficult it may be to connect them to the car accident. Therefore, consulting a doctor as soon as you notice anything unusual is crucial.
How to Document Late-Appearing Injuries for Your Claim
Properly documenting delayed symptoms after a car accident involves gathering several crucial types of evidence, including:
- Medical records – You should request a copy of your medical records after doctor visits and make sure your doctor documents your injuries and the treatments you are receiving for them.
- Photographs and videos – If you have visible symptoms that appear over time, such as worsening abdominal bruising that could indicate internal organ damage, document them by taking pictures and videos.
- Employment records – If your delayed symptoms caused you to miss work or reduce your hours, request written documentation of your changes in work from your employer.
- Witness statements – Family and friends who observed your symptoms appearing over time after the accident can testify on your behalf.
- Journal entries – Every day, write down your pain levels and how your injuries impacted your daily activities.
Our personal injury lawyers can organize this type of evidence and obtain additional evidence needed for a successful case. For example, we can gather accident scene photographs, traffic camera footage, accident witness statements, and expert testimony from medical professionals and crash reconstruction specialists.
Legal and Insurance Implications of Delayed Symptoms
Under South Carolina’s statute of limitations for personal injury cases, car accident victims generally have three years to file lawsuits against the parties responsible for their injuries. However, you could be subject to a shorter statute of limitations depending on the type of defendant involved in the wreck.
Insurance companies also often use delayed symptoms as an excuse to deny or devalue claims. For example, the at-fault party’s insurance company may:
- Downplay the severity of your injuries due to the symptoms being delayed.
- Claim your injuries result from an unrelated accident because the symptoms did not appear immediately after the car crash.
- Pressure you into settling your case before your symptoms fully develop and the extent of your injuries is known.
Do Not Ignore the Signs – Speak with a Car Accident Attorney in South Carolina
If you are experiencing delayed injury symptoms after a car accident in South Carolina, contact Jebaily Law Firm for a free consultation with a knowledgeable car accident lawyer. Our firm has over 50 years of experience fighting for South Carolina injury victims, and we are prepared to help you seek the compensation you need.
