Hidden Injuries After a Car Accident

Though many injuries, such as broken bones and lacerations, are obvious after a motor vehicle crash, others are not as apparent and may take some time for symptoms to appear. If you have been involved in a motor vehicle collision in Colorado, and experience any pain or symptoms it is important to seek medical attention as soon as possible to ensure any and all injuries are promptly diagnosed and treated.

While it is often tempting to try to wait several weeks to see if the pain resolves, this can cause a delay in treating sometimes serious injuries. In addition, if you wait too long to seek medical treatment, you may hamper your ability to seek compensation for the injuries and damages that were caused by a crash. If there is a delay in seeking treatment many insurance companies will argue that the accident victim’s injuries are not related to the crash or are not as serious as he or she claims.

Why Do Some Injuries Take Longer to Show Up?

There are a number of reasons why some injuries may not immediately show symptoms at the time of a collision. After being involved in a crash, everyone’s emotions are high and adrenaline is pumping. This flow of adrenaline can mask pain and other symptoms of an injury. After it wears off pain and other symptoms may begin to emerge.

In addition, some injuries have symptoms that are relatively vague. With these injuries, it is easy for the accident victim to attribute the symptoms to some other illness or ailment.

What Are the Most Common Hidden Injuries?

Certain types of hidden injuries are more common than others after a motor vehicle accident.

For example, soft tissue injuries may be difficult to detect in the moments following an accident.

Whiplash, or soft tissue injury to the neck, is a common example of such an injury. A soft tissue injury occurs when the head is thrown forward, then suddenly snapped backward, damaging the muscles in the shoulders, back, and neck. Whiplash injuries are especially common in rear-end collisions.

The soreness from a whiplash injury may not set in until a day or two following a crash. Tendon and ligament injuries, such as sprains and strains, may also develop and become gradually worse in the days following a collision.

Traumatic brain injuries are among the most serious injuries that may take an extended period of time to show symptoms. Many of the signs of a traumatic brain injury, such as headaches, dizziness, and fatigue, are easy to attribute to stress or other illnesses or conditions. Individuals often don’t recognize the signs of a concussion in the immediate aftermath of a collision. This is especially true if they sustained other, more obvious injuries that became the focus of their medical treatment.

Every moment counts with a traumatic brain injury. Waiting to treat a traumatic brain injury may lead to a worse outcome, such as a permanent, debilitating handicap or even death.

Do Not Settle a Claim Too Early

Because many injuries take some time to appear, it is important to wait to settle a claim until you are certain that all of your accident-related injuries have been diagnosed and treated and that you are completely better or have reached maximum medical improvement. This means that your injuries have been properly treated and you are as good as you are going to get.

If you need additional treatment in the future, you should have an estimate of the anticipated costs of the recommended treatment before you settle. Your Denver personal injury attorney will be able to consult with experts to obtain an estimate of any future medical expenses you will face as a result of injuries you sustained in a collision.

Once you settle a claim, there is no turning back—you will not be able to obtain any extra money from the insurance company for your medical bills and other expenses. If you settle a claim and later find out you need a surgical procedure, you will be responsible for the costs of that procedure.

Experienced Attorneys Can Help

With the help of an experienced lawyer, injured parties are able to recover money for all damages allowed under Colorado law. Without an attorney, accident victims may not be fully compensated for their injuries.

Denver car accident lawyer, Jennifer Donaldson is experienced in various types of claims, including those that involve hidden injuries. To schedule a free consultation with our Donaldson Law, LLC Law firm, contact us today at (303) 458-5000.

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CLIENT REVIEWS

My husband was rear-ended and his head broke through the back window of the truck. We decided to give things time to see if he improved. The other insurance company dragged things on forever. That’s when we decided we needed an attorney. We did not fully understand the statute of limitations and called a few attorneys thinking we had enough time. We quickly found out that in the land of the law, we were cutting it very close. The other attorneys we called passed saying that they just didn’t have the time to handle our case; we didn’t even get a chance to speak with anyone but the receptionist. Then I called Jennifer Donaldson and spoke to Melanie who is part of Jennifer’s incredible team. – Jackie G.

I was hit by a car while I was in a crosswalk. Afterward, I underwent multiple surgeries and occupational therapy. I was out of work after losing the use of my hand for a period of time. I knew that I couldn’t deal with the insurance companies on my own. After some research, I found Jennifer and Melanie. They were amazing through the whole process and the result was a very generous settlement. They were also able to get my health insurance to waive their subrogation claim. They have both been great to work with. Throughout my claim, they communicated with me and kept me updated. I would definitely recommend using Jennifer Donaldson if you ever need an attorney for a personal injury case.– Zander O.

Jennifer and her team were fantastic. They guided me through the whole process after getting into a car accident. She fought for me, and gave me and my family the best support. I don’t think I could have made it through the whole process without Jennifer and her team. Their knowledge of the insurance industry was very helpful and was a key factor in the outcome of my case.– Tony D.

My wife was involved in a serious auto accident where she sustained serious injuries, including a traumatic brain injury. Ms. Donaldson was professional, compassionate and very thorough from beginning to end. Her focus was to make sure that we were made whole. Her thorough work resulted in a settlement that provides for our needs for the rest of our lives. Ms. Donaldson is a great attorney.– Tony D.

I was hit by a car while riding my bicycle, causing me serious and permanent injuries. Ms. Donaldson handled my case in a very professional manner with outstanding results. She worked hard to make sure we got a settlement without the need for litigation while still getting the maximum recovery available. She and her staff were very thorough and stayed in constant communication. Overall, Ms. Donaldson was outstanding during the entire case. I highly recommend her to anyone in need of representation for their personal injury claim.– Leigh C.