What to Know About Delayed Motor Vehicle Accident Injuries?

Car accident victims sometimes experience injuries that don’t show up immediately after the accident. Car accident injuries can be severe, even when a victim doesn’t notice the injury right away. Can you still seek compensation if your car accident injuries weren’t immediately noticeable? 

Common Car Accident Injuries

Car accidents apply serious forces against the bodies inside the vehicles, including striking forces, shaking forces, and sudden changes in inertia. A person’s face could strike the steering column, a stopped car might suddenly jolt forward from a rear impact, and a collision could shake the entire car. While seat belts and airbags are proven to save lives, they sometimes cause injuries when protecting vehicle occupants.

Common injuries in car accidents include:

• Broken bones
• Bruising and contusions
• Cuts, scrapes, deep lacerations
• Burns
• Soft tissue damage (muscles, ligaments, organs, etc.)
• Internal bleeding
• Whiplash
• Spinal cord injuries
• Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
• Paralysis
• Limb amputation
• Wrongful death

When Should Car Accident Victims Have a Medical Exam?

Some injuries are obvious, but things like nerve damage, internal bleeding, or soft tissue injuries may not be immediately noticeable without a medical exam. Even if you don’t feel pain after an accident or think your injuries are only minor, getting a full medical workup to assess car accident injuries right after the incident is essential for future insurance or legal claims.

Insurance companies don’t like to pay claims. The longer you wait, the more likely the insurance company is to try to say that you sustained your injuries some other way besides your accident. 

Some injuries may not present with pain for days or weeks after an accident. Visiting your doctor or a walk-in clinic for a post-accident examination will provide evidence of your injuries, even if you don’t feel pain immediately.

How to Seek Compensation for Injuries in a Car Accident Case

Texas and New Mexico are at-fault insurance claim states, meaning you would file your claim through the negligent driver’s liability policy with their insurance company. However, if your injuries are minor or don’t show up until later, you may get a lowball settlement offer that doesn’t cover the true value of your claim.

If the insurance company denies your claim or doesn’t offer a fair settlement for your injuries, your car accident attorney can help you seek economic and non-economic damages. 

What an Auto Accident Lawyer Can Do in Your Case

Do you need an auto accident lawyer to help with your claim? An experienced car accident attorney can help build your case by:

• Speaking with the insurance company on your behalf
• Gathering evidence for your claim, such as video footage from nearby security cameras
• Researching similar accidents at the same location
• Hiring an accident reconstruction specialist to create a simulation of the accident events
• Collecting medical records from before and after the accident to support your injury claim

Car Accident in Texas or New Mexico? Contact Our Law Firm

Car accidents can result in serious injuries that don’t always appear immediately. If you were recently involved in a car accident in New Mexico or Texas, contact our experienced team at Fadduol Cluff Hardy & Conaway P.C. Call us today at 800-433-2408 or contact us online to schedule a case review with a car accident attorney.