Car accidents do not always result in immediate injuries. In fact, it is not uncommon for individuals to walk away from a car accident seemingly unscathed. With adrenaline pumping, as long as someone can walk, it is easy for them to assume that they are fine. However, individuals can suffer from injuries even in minor car accidents. These injuries can range in severity, meaning it is vital to seek medical attention.
What Are Latent Injuries?
In car accidents, it is fairly common for an individual to suffer from what is known as a latent injury. Latent injuries are issues that can arise from a car accident anywhere from days to months after it has occurred. These injuries can range from soft tissue damage, such as bruises, to severe or long-term brain damage. When latent injuries go untreated, they can leave devastating impacts on an individual’s health.
Seeking Medical Attention
Due to the likelihood and probability of suffering a latent injury, it is vital to seek medical attention within 72 hours of a car crash. This is especially paramount when symptoms such as headache, muscle pain, or anxiety are present. What happens when you don’t seek out medical advice? Well, let’s explore.
Let’s say a person, named Harper, got into a car accident. The cars are fairly damaged, but both Harper and the other person are able to walk away from the scene. However, Harper starts to experience headaches and dizziness after the accident but decides to wait two weeks before going to the doctor. Harper believes that the car crash caused these internal injuries, but because they chose to wait to seek care, the insurance company does not believe they are connected.
The issue with Harper’s situation is that they decided to wait two weeks before contacting a medical professional. It is vital to seek care ASAP when building a personal injury lawsuit.
Ayala, Morgan & Buzzard Can Help Build Your Case
If you have recently been in a car accident and think you went without injury, it is best to still visit a doctor. If injuries do pop up later on down the line, you will have a record demonstrating that you took the appropriate steps, which can help build your case and navigate insurance companies.
For a free consultation, call us today at (925) 744-8869 or fill out our contact form online!