3 Things You Should Know About Delayed Crash Injuries

While technological advancements with seat belts, airbags, and crumple zones have made cars less dangerous than they used to be, millions of people are still injured in collisions every year. Often, these injuries are immediately noticeable. A severely broken bone or deep laceration, for instance, is hard to miss. Not all injuries, however, are so obvious and it may be hours, days, or even weeks after an accident before a person starts noticing symptoms. These are known broadly as delayed car accident injuries and they should be taken seriously, as they can not only cause a lot of pain and suffering, but can have implications for a victim’s ability to recover compensation after a crash. To learn more about delayed crash injuries and how they could affect your own claim, please reach out to our experienced Tulsa auto accident lawyers today.

Your Brain’s Stress Response Can be Misleading

When we experience stress or anxiety, our brains signal the release of adrenaline, epinephrine, and other hormones that can help the body cope. This response, however, which is commonly referred to as the flight-or-fight response, can blunt the body’s pain receptors, making it difficult for individuals who are in stressful situations, like a car accident, to immediately recognize injury symptoms. It’s important for car accident victims to keep this in mind when deciding whether or not to seek medical care after a crash. Failing to do so because you don’t feel any symptoms doesn’t mean that you aren’t suffering from a serious injury.

Not All Injuries are Painful

Even when a person’s pain receptors are functioning normally, he or she may not experience significant pain upon suffering an injury. Internal bleeding and organ damage, for instance, or injuries to certain parts of the body, aren’t necessarily accompanied by pain. For this reason, accident victims should also keep an eye out for other symptoms, like strange bruisings or swellings, which could be indicative of more serious problems.

You Should Seek Medical Attention

For those who aren’t experienced medical doctors, it can be difficult to differentiate between minor injuries and severe ones. This is especially true for delayed injuries, which aren’t always immediately noticeable. By going to the emergency room for a full examination, accident victims will have access to blood tests, diagnostic scans, and other tools that can help determine whether they have suffered serious harm. Failing to seek medical treatment after a crash can have significant consequences for victims, whose injuries could worsen over time. Furthermore, the longer a person takes to seek medical attention after an accident, the more difficulty he or she will usually face in collecting damages.

Offering Legal Advice to Those in Need

If you were hurt in a car accident, but didn’t immediately seek medical attention, you could be facing an uphill battle when dealing with insurers. For help proving your own claim, please reach out to Levinson Law, P.C. by calling 918-492-4433 and speak with one of our dedicated Tulsa car accident lawyers.