Onset of Injuries
Statements like “I believe I am fine” or “I don’t think I am injured” are not statements that will necessarily make or break your overall claim for compensation. Both medical professionals and insurance companies are familiar with the possibility of delayed injuries, also known as an “onset of injuries.” See our blog, “Onset of Injuries: Do Not Assume That You are Not Hurt After an Accident” to learn more about delayed injuries.
Experiencing delayed injuries is a common occurrence after being in an accident. A person may feel fine directly after an accident, but then later on, begin to feel an onset of symptoms that suggest injury, such as dermal abrasions, bruising, swelling, back pain, neck and shoulder pain, headaches, dizziness, nausea, and even abdominal pain, which may indicate internal bleeding.
Common Symptoms of Injuries That Can Show Up Later:
☛ Numbness
☛ Swelling and Bruising
☛ Headaches and Migraines
☛ Neck, Shoulder and Back Pain
☛ Abdominal Pain
☛ Emotional Distress
What You Should Do
If you are experiencing an onset of injuries after being involved in an accident that was not your fault, it is vital to your health most importantly and to your claim for compensation secondarily, to be evaluated by a medical professional as soon as possible. They can treat your obvious injuries, as well as identify and diagnose any underlying injuries that have not yet surfaced.
During this time, do not agree to make any recorded or official statements to law enforcement or insurance adjusters until you have been advised by a personal injury attorney. In fact, your next step after seeing a doctor is to consult with an Indianapolis personal injury lawyer who can provide trusted advice regarding your claim.
Insurance adjusters sometimes try to get victims injured by their negligent insureds to give a recorded statement soon after a collision and attempt to get them to say they feel fine, while knowing it is very common for the delayed onset of injuries to surface and for symptoms of those injuries to surface in the days, weeks and sometimes months following a collision.
You can be recorded without even being told you are being recorded, so it is important to talk with your doctor first about your injuries, your own attorney second and the insurance companies third.