How Delayed Injuries Can Affect a Personal Injury Claim

Car accidents often cause injuries that aren’t immediately apparent. While some injuries manifest with obvious symptoms right away, others develop days or even weeks after the incident. These delayed injuries—including whiplash, traumatic brain injuries, internal bleeding, and back injuries—can significantly complicate personal injury claims and potentially reduce your compensation if not properly documented and treated.

The lawyers at Knowles Law Firm have 55 years of experience handling cases involving delayed injuries. We know the challenges these cases present and work diligently to ensure clients get compensation for injuries, regardless of when symptoms appear. Our attorneys have obtained multi-million dollar settlements for clients facing complex injury situations, including those with delayed symptoms.

Understanding Delayed Injuries

Delayed injuries are physical conditions that don’t present symptoms immediately after an accident but develop over time. The shock and adrenaline from an accident mask pain and other symptoms, making it challenging to identify injuries until hours, days, or even weeks later.

Common types of delayed injuries include:

• Whiplash and neck injuries, which may take 12-48 hours to manifest with symptoms like neck pain, stiffness, and headaches
• Concussions and traumatic brain injuries can present delayed symptoms such as confusion, memory problems, and mood changes.
• Back injuries, including herniated discs or spinal cord damage, which may worsen gradually
• Soft tissue injuries affecting muscles, tendons, and ligaments
• Organ damage or bleeding may not have noticeable symptoms until considerable damage has occurred
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other psychological trauma

Seek medical attention as soon as possible, even if you feel fine. A medical professional will identify potential injuries before they become serious problems.

How Delayed Injuries Complicate Personal Injury Claims

When injuries appear after you’ve already settled your claim or talked to insurance companies, you may face significant legal challenges.

Documentation Challenges

Insurance companies look for a clear connection between the accident and your injuries. With delayed injuries, this connection becomes harder to establish. Medical records showing you sought treatment soon after the accident, even without obvious symptoms, can help establish this crucial link.

Without proper documentation, insurance companies may argue your injuries resulted from something other than the accident, significantly weakening your claim.

Settlement Timing Issues

Insurance adjusters often pressure accident victims to settle quickly, sometimes within days of the accident. These early settlement offers rarely account for delayed injuries.

Once you accept a settlement offer, you cannot seek additional compensation even if new injuries appear. This makes it critical to know the full extent of injuries before agreeing to any settlement.

Insurance Company Tactics

Insurance companies may use the delayed onset of symptoms to deny or devalue your claim. They may suggest that:

• Your injuries aren’t related to the accident
• You’re exaggerating or fabricating symptoms
• You did not mitigate damages by not seeking immediate treatment

Having an experienced personal injury attorney at Knowles Law helps counter these tactics and protects your right to compensation.

Steps to Protect Your Claim with Delayed Injuries

After any accident, take these important steps to protect your right to compensation, especially if injuries develop later:

1. Get medical attention after the accident, even if you feel fine
2. Document the scene using your cellphone to capture video of vehicles, the parties involved, and the location
3. Follow all medical treatments and attend all follow-up appointments
4. Keep detailed records of all symptoms, even minor ones, as they develop
5. Don’t provide recorded statements to insurance companies without legal representation
6. Don’t accept quick settlement offers without understanding the full extent of your injuries
7. Consult a personal injury attorney at Knowles Law before signing any documents

By taking these precautions, you create a stronger foundation for your claim, even if injuries appear days or weeks after the accident.

Contact an Experienced Personal Injury Attorney

Dealing with delayed injuries after an accident adds complexity to an already challenging situation. The attorneys at Knowles Law Firm have the experience and knowledge needed to navigate these complicated cases. With 55 years of experience representing injury victims throughout Nebraska, we understand how to document, prove, and properly value claims involving delayed injuries.

Let the lawyers at Knowles Law Firm fight for you every step of the way. We can guide you through the process and ensure you don’t settle for less than you’re entitled to. Contact our office today at (402) 431-9000 or through our contact form.