In the aftermath of a car accident, it’s easy to interpret the absence of pain as the same as not being injured. However, delayed injuries often surface days or weeks later. Additionally, despite safety features like seatbelts and airbags, even minor injuries suffered in a car accident can be more serious.
But how do you know if the bumps and bruises you are seeing indicate a more serious injury? Furthermore, if you have no pain, does that mean you aren’t hurt?
To be clear, you don’t know the extent of an injury, no matter how minor it may look or feel, until a medical professional has examined you. Our firm has represented countless car accident victims who initially did not realize they were injured and put off a medical examination for too long.
Experience with Car Accident Victims Who Didn’t Know They Were Hurt
Ultimately, many of our clients with delayed onset of pain or the injuries themselves were entitled to significant settlements. So, even if you are “just a little stiff” or something hurts only when you move a certain way, you need to get checked out. Not only will getting examined support healing, but it could unearth serious injuries that, if left untreated, could develop into more severe conditions later.
Having an experienced car accident attorney, such as one who has been down that road of delayed injuries with clients, is critical to securing a maximum settlement that fairly compensates you for the full extent of your injuries.
How the State of Shock and Endorphins Factor into Pain
Many people are shocked in response to the surprise and potential danger of a car accident, even minor traffic accidents. Shock occurs when a person’s brain and body are flooded with endorphins, the “fight-or-flight” chemical the body releases in response to stressful situations.
Endorphins act as temporary, natural pain blockers. While blocking pain may be good in some situations, such as helping get oneself to safety, it can also delay the onset of pain and give people a false sense of not being hurt.
Common symptoms of shock
The physical signs of being in a state of shock can vary from person to person, but typically, some of all of the following symptoms occur to some degree:
- A rapid drop in blood pressure
- Confusion or anxiety
- Loss of consciousness
- Pale, clammy skin due to a decline in blood circulation
- Rapid pulse as the body attempts to compensate for low blood pressure
- Shallow, rapid breathing
A byproduct of an excess of endorphins (and shock) is that a person doesn’t feel any or much pain. During this critical time, a person may not realize the extent of their injuries.
Legal Implications of Not Knowing the Extent of Your Injuries After a Car Accident
If you have been in an accident, the period immediately following the accident is critical for several reasons that could affect the outcome of your claim.
Not immediately seeing a medical professional for a thorough evaluation may make it possible for an insurance company to argue the severity of your injuries. This is because with documentation of your condition immediately following the accident, it is easier to establish a connection between the accident and your injuries.
Not having immediate evaluation and treatment also allows insurance companies to downplay the severity of injuries. This can result in lower settlement offers, as insurers might argue that the injuries did not warrant immediate medical attention.
How a Skilled Car Accident Attorney Can Help
A medical evaluation immediately after a car accident is imperative to a successful legal outcome. Don’t misinterpret a lack of pain or visible injuries as uninjured. Always be cautious if you’ve been in a car accident and seek a medical exam as soon as possible.
If you’ve been injured in a car accident and need help, call one of our Stockton car accident lawyers at (209) 323-5126 to schedule a free consultation with one of our attorneys. There is no obligation to hire us. If we accept your case, you will not be charged a fee unless you win.
