A negligent driver hits your car. You call the police and see a doctor the same day. Everything’s fine, right? Maybe not.
While some car crash injuries—cuts, bruises, and broken bones—are obvious immediately, other serious injuries may take days, weeks, or even months to appear. What should you do if your car accident injuries don’t show up right away? In this guide, our Birmingham personal injury lawyer explains why injuries are sometimes delayed and how you can protect your legal rights.
Need legal help? Call Collins Law LLC at (205) 588-1411 for a free consultation.
Why Do Some Car Accident Injuries Take Time to Show Up?
You might think you’d immediately realize you were injured in a car accident. But here are four key reasons why injuries may not appear until well after the crash.
1. Adrenaline Masks Pain
After a traumatic event like a car crash, your body releases adrenaline and endorphins, which temporarily dull pain and discomfort. The adrenaline rush can last anywhere from a few hours to several days, delaying the onset of injury symptoms.
2. Shock Can Suppress Symptoms
Shock occurs when the body redirects blood to vital organs, potentially reducing sensation in other areas. As a result, injuries to your arms, legs, or soft tissues might not be immediately noticeable. Once the shock wears off—hours or days later—you may begin to feel pain.
3. Swelling Can Hide Underlying Injuries
Inflammation and swelling are part of the body’s natural healing response, but they take time to develop. Swelling can mask pain and other symptoms, delaying your awareness of injuries such as whiplash, sprains, or internal bleeding.
4. A Change in Routine May Delay Symptoms
After a car accident, you may rest more than usual. While this can help with recovery, it can also mean you don’t notice injuries right away. Once you return to daily activities, you may start feeling back pain, joint stiffness, or muscle soreness.
Common Car Accident Injuries with Delayed Symptoms
Some car accident injuries are more likely to have delayed symptoms. These include:
- Whiplash (stiffness, headaches, neck pain)
- Soft tissue injuries (bruising, swelling, limited mobility)
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) (confusion, dizziness, headaches)
- Herniated discs and spinal injuries (numbness, tingling, weakness)
- Internal bleeding or organ damage (abdominal pain, dizziness, fainting)
- Nerve damage (burning sensations, loss of coordination)
- Infections (fever, swelling, redness at the injury site)
- Emotional trauma (anxiety, depression, PTSD)
Even if you feel fine after a crash, delayed symptoms could signal a serious medical condition. Always seek medical evaluation after an accident.
Signs of Delayed Injuries to Watch For After a Car Accident
It can be scary to know that car crash injuries sometimes take days or weeks to reveal themselves. But there are certain symptoms you can watch for that will increase your chances of discovering an injury that shows up in the weeks after your car crash.
- Headaches – Headaches can be symptomatic of a variety of injuries. Some – like concussions – are obvious. But headaches can also be a sign of other traumatic brain injuries like a brain bleed, a blood clot in the brain, or brain swelling. Headaches can also signify non-head injuries like whiplash or herniated discs. Also, headaches often accompany emotional injuries like depression and PTSD.
- Fever – Fever is a frequent symptom of infection.
- Numbness – Numbness and tingling can be symptoms of whiplash, nerve damage, or a herniated disc.
- Neck Pain – Neck pain often accompanies whiplash but can also be a sign of a herniated disc.
- Abdominal Pain – Pain in the abdomen should never be ignored as it is often associated with serious car accident injuries like internal bleeding or organ damage.
- Confusion – Confusion and other cognitive issues tend to indicate concussions or other traumatic brain injuries.
- Excessive Sleeping or Insomnia – Sleeping issues can indicate brain injuries or mental health conditions like depression, anxiety, or PTSD.
- Behavior Changes – Major changes in behavior often accompany traumatic brain injuries. Behavior changes can also signify emotional distress.
Can Delayed Injuries Affect Your Car Accident Claim?
Injuries – whether you notice them immediately or in the days or weeks after the accident – are a crucial part of your personal injury claim. To win your case, your Birmingham personal injury attorney will need proof of your injuries and proof that they were caused by the accident. As such, whether your symptoms show up immediately or well after a car accident, you should seek medical attention immediately.
If your injuries show up long after your car accident, visit your doctor as soon as you notice the symptoms. If you wait too long to seek medical treatment, you will make it easier for the other driver to argue that they didn’t cause your injuries. Keep every doctor’s appointment, take every prescribed medication, and complete all physical therapy sessions. Doing so will help your car accident lawyer prove the severity of your injuries and improve the chances of winning your personal injury claim.
Injuries Showing Up Late? Call Collins Law LLC for Legal Help
Every car accident is different, and delayed injuries can complicate your case. If you’ve suffered injuries—whether immediately or weeks after the crash—you have legal rights.
At Collins Law LLC, our Birmingham personal injury attorney, April H. Collins, is a top-rated advocate for car accident victims. Let us fight for the compensation you deserve.
Call (205) 588-1411 or schedule a free consultation today to discuss your case.
