Car accidents can happen at any time, in any place, to anyone. Although some collisions result in painful, serious injuries that require immediate medical attention, most car accident victims only experience minor forms of damage. However, these seemingly minor injuries can be deceptive.
Delayed injuries can develop in the days or even weeks after a car accident, leading to severe pain, mobility issues, and other complications. You can recover compensation for delayed injuries under Texas’s fault insurance system, but if you did not seek medical attention after the crash, you can experience difficulties obtaining a settlement.
Common Types of Delayed Injuries
After a car accident, you may not feel hurt and walk away from the collision believing you are uninjured. However, many delayed symptoms can occur days, hours, or weeks after the accident. Some of the most common types of delayed injuries include the following.
- Headache: Many car accident victims complain of headaches after a collision, but they should never be ignored. Although some headaches are not cause for concern, head pain may be a sign of a serious injury, such as a concussion or brain trauma.
- Sudden changes in behavior: If you or a loved one begin to act differently in the days after a car accident, it is important to seek medical attention as soon as possible. This symptom could be an indication of a brain injury. You may experience memory problems, vision or hearing issues, mood swings, and personality changes.
- Abdominal pain: If you experience abdominal pain after a car accident, it may be a sign of internal bleeding and organ damage. These conditions are not externally visible but can be fatal without immediate medical attention.
- Back and neck pain: Car accidents can cause the body to twist and turn in unnatural ways, damaging the tissues and nerves in the neck and back. Many back- and neck-related conditions can develop after a car accident, including whiplash, spinal injuries, and herniated discs.
How to Protect Your Right to Compensation After a Car Accident
Texas follows a fault-based car accident system, meaning that negligent drivers are financially liable for their victims’ damages after the collision. You can file a lawsuit or insurance claim against the at-fault driver to recover compensation for lost wages, medical expenses, pain and suffering, and more. However, if you tell the other driver that you are uninjured, fail to seek medical attention, and develop an injury in the days after the accident, recovering compensation becomes complex.
If a driver or witness tells the insurance company that you were not hurt after the accident, the representative handling your case may believe that your delayed injuries are not related to the collision. As a result, the representative may use this evidence against you and deny or reduce your claim. Failure to seek medical attention after the accident also makes it difficult to connect your delayed injury to the car accident, and the representative may believe you are ineligible for compensation.
To protect your right to compensation, do not make any statements about your injuries or health status at the scene of the accident. Always seek medical attention, even if you do not feel hurt, and save all records related to your injuries and treatment. Before speaking with any insurance representatives, contact a McAllen car accident lawyer to discuss your case and legal options.
