6 Delayed Injury Symptoms You Should Not Ignore After a Car Crash

Walking away from a car accident without a scratch might seem like a relief, but the absence of immediate pain doesn’t always mean you have escaped without an injury. Many serious injuries or life-threatening injuries may have delayed symptoms that don’t appear right away. Ignoring these symptoms is a bad idea, both for your health and your legal claim.

At Cooney & Conway, our seasoned car accident lawyers in Chicago have managed countless injury cases over the years. We know how the aftermath of a crash can be confusing or overwhelming for victims, which can make it hard to know what to do. Waiting to seek medical help can be a dangerous decision, especially if it turns out you have an internal injury. It could also make it harder to seek compensation if you pursue a legal claim.

If you have been in a car accident and are experiencing “pushback” from the insurance company because of delayed injury symptoms, it is crucial you seek legal help right away. The longer you wait, the harder it becomes to build a solid case. Find out what we can do to protect your right to compensation in the free consultation we offer.

Call to request your FREE, no-risk case review today. (800) 322-5573

Why Don’t I Feel Pain Right After a Car Crash?

Your body’s natural response to trauma may mask injuries immediately after a car crash. When you experience a collision, your body releases adrenaline and other stress hormones that temporarily block pain signals and keep you alert. This survival mechanism helps us respond to dangerous situations, despite being injured, but it can prevent you from recognizing that you’ve been hurt.

Additionally, the shock and confusion of being in an accident can distract you and make you unaware of any physical symptoms. You might feel a bit dazed or be focused on talking with police officers, exchanging insurance information, or trying to figure out what to do about your damaged vehicle. By the time the adrenaline wears off, which could be hours or even days later, symptoms of injuries that were there all along start to make themselves known.

How Long After a Car Crash Can Injuries Appear?

The timeline for delayed injury symptoms varies widely depending on the type and severity of the injury. Some internal injuries become more obvious – and potentially life-threatening – within hours of the accident. Others, however, may emerge more gradually as tissue damage and inflammation progress.

The delayed nature of serious internal injuries is exactly what makes getting a medical evaluation right after the crash so important. Even if you feel completely fine at the scene, you could have serious internal damage that has not yet shown any noticeable symptoms.

What Are the Most Common Delayed Symptoms After a Car Crash?

Recognizing delayed symptoms can be challenging because they often start subtle and worsen gradually. Understanding what to watch for in the days and weeks after your accident can help you identify potential injuries before they become more serious. Here are some of the most common delayed symptoms that warrant immediate medical attention:

• Neck and Shoulder Pain: Stiffness, soreness, or reduced range of motion in your neck and shoulders that develops hours or days after the collision. Whiplash or other soft tissue damage from the sudden impact can cause this type of delayed pain.
  
• Severe Headaches and Vision Problems: Persistent or worsening headaches accompanied by blurred vision, double vision, or increased sensitivity to light. These symptoms may point to a concussion, traumatic brain injury, or neck injury affecting blood flow.
  
• Back Pain With Worsening Muscle Stiffness: Discomfort in the upper, middle, or lower back, especially if it progressively intensifies and limits your mobility. Worsening pain and stiffness in your back could signal spinal injuries, herniated discs, or damaged ligaments and muscles.
  
• Abdominal Pain or Discomfort: Tenderness, swelling, bruising, or pain in the stomach area that could indicate internal bleeding, organ damage, or internal bruising. These injuries can be extremely serious, even life-threatening, requiring urgent medical care.
  
• Difficulty Breathing or Chest Pain: Shortness of breath, tightness in the chest, or pain when breathing, which may be signs of broken or fractured ribs, lung injuries, or damage to internal chest structures.
  
• Numbness or Tingling: Loss of sensation or pins-and-needles feelings in your arms, legs, hands, or feet. These symptoms often indicate nerve damage, spinal cord injuries, or herniated discs pressing on nerves.
  
• Severe Sleep Issues or Mood Changes: Insomnia, excessive fatigue, uncharacteristic irritability, depression, anxiety, or noticeable personality shifts. These are common indicators of traumatic brain injury or post-traumatic stress.

Do I Need to See a Doctor After a Car Crash If I Feel Fine?

Yes. A medical professional can perform examinations and diagnostic tests to identify/rule out internal injuries that have no obvious external symptoms. For conditions like internal bleeding or brain injuries, early detection can be critical to your recovery and may even be lifesaving. These early tests help establish a baseline for your injury, helping your doctor know what treatments you may need and what changes to monitor you for any changes in the days and weeks that follow. 

Seeing a doctor promptly also protects your legal rights. Insurance companies often use delays in medical treatment to argue that your injuries weren’t caused by the accident or weren’t serious enough to warrant compensation. Getting evaluated immediately creates clear documentation linking your injuries to the crash. Ultimately, this evidence strengthens your case and overall ability to recover the full compensation you deserve.

How Delayed Symptoms Can Affect Your Personal Injury Claim in Chicago

Delayed symptoms can significantly complicate your personal injury claim, even when your injuries are legitimate and directly caused by the accident. Insurance companies routinely look for any opportunity to minimize payouts. Any gap between your accident and the onset of symptoms gives them exactly the ammunition they need to dispute your claim.

Here are other common challenges delayed symptoms create for injury claims:

• Causation Disputes: Insurance adjusters may argue that your injuries resulted from a pre-existing condition, another accident that happened after your car crash, or normal daily activities. Because their main priority is profitability rather than paying you the full compensation you deserve, they need just enough evidence to establish your injuries happened somewhere other than your car crash.
  
• Severity Questions: A delay in seeking treatment can be portrayed as evidence that your injuries weren’t serious enough to warrant immediate medical attention. Their logic here is that people who are really hurt seek medical treatment care. This is another dispute the insurance company will attempt. If successful, it could reduce your settlement value.
  
• Treatment Gaps: Extended periods without medical care create documentation gaps that make it harder to prove the serious injury you are claiming, along with any continuous suffering you are experiencing as a result.
  
• Statute of Limitations Concerns: While Illinois gives you two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit, waiting too long to address symptoms can leave you – or your attorney – with less time to build a strong case.

The key to overcoming these challenges is seeking prompt medical attention, even if you are not sure you are injured. Even if your symptoms seem minor at first, having a medical professional evaluate and record them creates a clear trail connecting your condition to the accident.

Why Documentation Matters in an Illinois Car Accident Case

Medical documentation provides a solid, hard-to-dispute foundation for your personal injury claim. While not the only evidence, it provides an objective description of your injuries and their impact on your life. Unlike your own account of pain and symptoms, medical records carry more weight with the insurance company because it is considered an impartial, professional observation. After your initial diagnosis, continuing to follow your doctor’s treatment plan provides further evidence for your claim. These records detail everything from your initial examination findings to diagnostic test results, prescribed treatments, and your progress over time.

In Illinois, the strength of your medical documentation directly influences the value of your claim. Detailed records help establish the severity of your injuries and justifies the need for ongoing treatment. It also demonstrates how the accident has affected your ability to work and perform daily activities. Insurance companies and courts rely heavily on this documentation when determining fair compensation for your medical costs and other losses. Without having medical records that clearly link your injuries to the accident, even valid claims can be significantly undervalued or denied entirely.

How Our Chicago Injury Lawyer Can Help You After Your Car Accident

Dealing with delayed injury symptoms is stressful enough without having to navigate complex insurance claims and legal procedures on your own. Our experienced Chicago personal injury attorneys can fully manage the legal aspects of your case while you focus on getting the treatment you need. Your lawyer will gather evidence, communicate with insurance companies, and fight for fair compensation that reflects the true cost of your injuries.

Legal representation also ensures that all deadlines are met and your claim is properly valued to include current and future medical expenses, lost income, and pain and suffering. If the insurance company refuses to offer a fair settlement, your attorney can take your case to court to protect your rights.

Need Legal Help for Your Car Crash Claim? Call Cooney & Conway Today

If you’ve been injured in a car accident and are experiencing delayed symptoms, you don’t have to face the insurance companies alone.

At Cooney & Conway, our knowledgeable Chicago car accident attorneys have extensive experience handling cases involving delayed injury symptoms and a proven history of securing favorable outcomes for our clients. We understand how to protect your right to full compensation.

Worried about costs? Don’t be. There are no upfront costs or fees to pay when we represent you.

Experienced lawyers. Proven results. (800) 322-5573.