What should I do if I feel fine after a car accident but hurt later?
It’s common for car accident victims to walk away from a crash thinking they’re unharmed, only to develop pain hours or even days later. This can be the result of adrenaline masking the injury, or it can be that you suffered a soft tissue injury like whiplash that can take time to develop.
If you notice symptoms well after the accident, be sure to:
- Seek medical attention right away. Seeing a doctor as soon as possible can be critical for protecting both your safety and your legal rights.
- Document your symptoms. Keep a pain journal detailing when the pain began, where it’s located, how it changes over time, and how it impacts your life.
- Follow your treatment plan. Attend all follow-up appointments, take prescribed medications, and stick to recommended treatments.
- Notify your insurer. Report to your insurance company that you sought treatment after the accident so it can be included in the claim record. However, you should only offer the basic facts. Do not speculate, never admit fault, and never provide any recorded statements before speaking with a lawyer.
- Contact a lawyer. Delayed treatment can present some challenges when seeking compensation. An experienced North Carolina car accident lawyer can help you address those challenges and link your injuries to the crash.
Insurance companies will try to argue that injuries discovered later were not caused by the accident. Prompt medical care and thorough documentation create a clear link between the crash and your symptoms, making it harder for them to minimize your payout.
