John Price Law Blog

How Long After an Accident Can Injuries Appear?

Not all injuries are readily apparent following a car crash, making it crucial that you seek medical care. Some injuries may take hours to appear, while others may not appear for weeks. With your adrenaline rushing, you may miss the signs of an injury, putting you at risk of sepsis and death.

In this blog, our Charleston car accident lawyer discusses common injuries that have delayed symptoms and the compensation to which you may be entitled.

Traumatic Brain Injuries

A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is caused by any strike or blow to the head, interrupting normal brain signals. Whereas a brain injury is classified as either a closed (non-penetrating) or open (penetrating) brain injury, auto accidents typically result in closed brain injuries. In a closed brain injury, while there is no break in the skull, the brain is damaged by rapidly moving back and forth. This causes tearing and shearing of brain tissue and vessels.

TBI symptoms may include confusion, nausea, blurred vision, problems with speech, and loss of consciousness. In some TBI cases, symptoms may take hours or days to appear.

Chest Injuries

The telltale sign of a seat belt injury is bruising to the chest. While seat belts, on average, save the lives of about 15,000 people each year, it is not unusual for crash victims to sustain a rib or sternum fracture. Both a broken sternum and fractured rib share common symptoms, including intense pain, tenderness, deformity, shortness of breath, and chest bruising.

An adrenaline rush may prevent you from recognizing these symptoms until days or weeks have passed. Thankfully, not all chest injuries require surgical intervention.

Spinal Cord Injuries

The spinal cord runs from the base of the skull to the bottom of the back. A spinal cord injury is any damage to the spinal cord itself or the bundle of nerves that are located at the end of the spinal cord.

Given the impact of a car accident and the vulnerability of your neck and back, spinal cord injuries occur frequently in car accidents. In a recent study, almost 30% of spinal cord injury admissions were the result of an auto accident. Common symptoms of a spinal cord injury include extreme pressure in the back, numbness or tingling, and paralysis. For some, signs of a spinal cord injury may not be obvious until swelling increases in the impacted region.

Compensation For Your Injuries

As a car accident victim, you may be entitled to compensation for both your economic and noneconomic losses. Economic damages are losses that directly impact your finances, including:

Alternatively, noneconomic damages are compensation for non-pecuniary losses that cannot easily be quantified, including:

A Charleston Car Accident Lawyer Advocating for You

At John Price Law Firm, LLC, we know that the financial burden following a collision can impact your physical and emotional health. We believe that having the resources you need is key to making a full physical recovery. To arrange your consultation with our Charleston car accident lawyer, contact us online or by phone today.