Visiting a Medical Professional After an Accident
Most people who are in an accident in Lincoln know to get checked out by a doctor or visit the emergency room if they have an obvious injury, but delayed symptoms may not appear for days. To place a claim for compensation when delayed symptoms appear, it is important to visit a doctor or go to the ER to document your accident. If injuries arise following a traffic collision, a Lincoln car accident lawyer can help the injured person obtain compensation to pay for their medical costs and lost wages as well as for their pain and suffering.
Why Delayed Symptoms Occur
Those who are involved in a motor vehicle accident experience a rush of adrenaline afterward. Adrenaline causes the pupils to dilate and increases the heart rate, among other things. It’s called “fight or flight” for a reason. It gives the person an extra boost of energy to escape danger. However, it also masks the pain and may delay the symptoms of an injury. This is why it’s a good idea for someone who has been involved in a traffic collision to seek medical attention afterward, even if they feel fine. In addition, a physician can warn a patient what they should look out for in the days ahead.
Types of Symptoms That Can Be Delayed
Many injuries in an accident are obvious. However, the following symptoms may indicate a serious injury several days later that did not present right away. An experienced Lincoln car accident attorney can help an injured person obtain fair compensation for their injuries. Some of the most common injury symptoms that can be delayed include:
- Headache: Headaches are common after a car accident and mostly go away on their own. However, if a headache continues, it might be a sign that the person has injured their head or neck, especially if they struck the steering wheel, dash or window. These delayed symptoms, in some cases, might represent cervical strain or sprain, concussion or brain bleeds if the symptoms worsen.
- Shoulder or neck pain: Cervical strain or sprain can be indicted by pain in these areas as well as discomfort or numbness in the arms. A doctor can diagnose whether this is the cause or it is due to another issue such as a back injury. While most cases of cervical strain or sprain heal within a few weeks, others may go on for an extended period of time.
- Pain in the abdomen: Abdominal pain may be caused by the seat belt and can include dizziness, fainting and deep bruising, which could indicate internal bleeding. Rear-end collisions are a common cause of abdominal pain, but it can occur in any type of traffic collision. Because this is a serious injury, it may require emergency surgery to repair and ensure that no organ damage has occurred.
- Back pain: Back pain can indicate a pinched nerve, sprain, injury to the soft tissues or something more serious such as a herniated disk. T-bone accidents are more likely to cause this type of injury.
- Post-traumatic stress disorder: Traumatic events such as a traffic collision can result in PTSD in some individuals. It can cause anxiety, nightmares, reliving the accident and even make them fearful of leaving their house or riding in a car. Professional help is needed in these cases.
Investigating a Traffic Accident
Our investigators do a good job collecting evidence after a traffic accident to support our client’s compensation claim. They obtain statements from witnesses and review the police report for mistakes. Accident reconstruction is performed as well as a search for traffic surveillance and business cameras that could have captured the incident on film. When the evidence is gathered, our lawyers use it to construct a strong case in favor of our client.
Lincoln Car Accident Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, a Lincoln car accident lawyer. When you’ve been injured by a negligent driver, you have the right to claim fair compensation. Call me at (916) 921-6400 for my free and friendly advice or toll-free at (800) 404-5400. An online form is available also.
Find information about my law practice at:
I belong to the National Association of Distinguished Counsel and Million Dollar Forum.
I’ve helped Lincoln residents get compensation for accident injuries since 1982 in traffic collisions, wrongful deaths and traumas such as brain injuries.
Photo Attribution: https://pixabay.com/photos/hospital-emergency-room-entrance-1636334/
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