After a car crash, you might think you’re completely fine. Other than some scrapes and aches in your body, or a few scratches and dents on your car, you might drive away and assume it was a harmless fender bender. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case.
Sometimes after a car accident you think you haven’t been injured, but really the adrenaline was masking your pain. Since you didn’t think you were hurt, you might not have gone to be evaluated by a medical professional. These latent injuries are actually common after a collision because they were masked at the time, and so victims leave the scene thinking they’re okay.
Like a bruise, you might not notice the symptoms at first, but then as they worsen you start to realize they’ve been there all along. If you start to notice any of these five signs of latent car accident injuries, then you should seek medical help:
- Nausea
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Anxiety
- Pain
It’s hard to determine exactly what injuries you may have after a car accident when you feel latent symptoms, especially when you thought you were fine after the collision. The above symptoms could mean many different things and point to various injuries that you suffered.
Commonly, these symptoms point to a few different injuries, like whiplash, head injuries, and mental health disorders, like anxiety, depression, and PTSD. Of course, you might see bruises and cuts right away after your accident and think those are the only damages you suffered. But the harm could have gone deeper than the skin, and into the tissues, muscles, and bones.
That’s when you need to be thinking about what to do next. All of the injuries mentioned above can worsen over time if they’re not treated promptly and can even lead to life-long effects on your body. Let’s take a look at what you should do when you start noticing any of these signs so that you can take care of your body.
What Should You Do If You Think You’re Injured?
As with any accident that involved force, you should always seek medical treatment right after. If you didn’t go to the doctor because you thought you weren’t harmed, but you start to notice symptoms of latent car accident injuries, then the first thing you should do is get evaluated by a medical professional. The sooner you get seen by a doctor, the sooner you can begin treatment.
As mentioned above, you don’t want to delay treatment with any of these injuries because they could cause serious health problems down the line. Getting treated by a medical professional also creates a firm record of your injuries and when you started feeling pain. This can also allow you to document how these injuries relate to the accident you were in. From there, you can take the next step.
The next thing you’ll want to do is hire a car accident lawyer. If you weren’t responsible for the accident that caused your injuries, then you likely want to hold the negligent driver responsible for what they did. One of the first things your attorney will do for you is make sure you’re within the statute of limitations since your injuries presented themselves some time after the initial collision.
According to the Kentucky statute of limitations for personal injuries, you only have one year after the date of the accident to file a claim against the negligent driver. With the help of your lawyer, you’ll be able to know whether or not you are within the statute of limitations for your claim so that you can get justice.
The Law Office of Todd W. Burris Will Represent You
When you’ve been in a car accident, a lot of things become uncertain. You might not be sure what happened, who caused it, if you’re hurt, or if your car was damaged in the process. In the following days, weeks, and months, you might also be uncertain how you’re going to pay for your medical bills, repair costs, and other costs of living when you’re missing wages from being unable to return to work.
That’s where a Georgetown car accident lawyer comes into play. At the Law Office of Todd W. Burris, we understand how hard it can be to get back on your feet. We’re here to support you through the legal process so that you can get the compensation you deserve. Reach out to us today so that we can get started working for you.
