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What car crash victims can do about delayed pain

On Behalf of | May 1, 2020 | Blog, Car Accidents

Victims of auto accidents in Florida should be aware that some of their injuries may not become apparent until days or weeks afterwards. Headaches and pain throughout the body will usually alert them to the presence of these delayed injuries.

As for what these symptoms point to, it can be a number of conditions. Headaches may be the result of a concussion or other brain injury, a blood clot or a neck injury. Whiplash-related injuries can lead to headaches as well as to neck, shoulder and lower back pain. Herniated discs cause pain in the neck, shoulders and lower back, too, and when they pinch or press against a nerve, they cause tingling and numbness. One’s limbs may also feel weak.

Victims may have experienced abdominal trauma, in which case they may develop abdominal pain later on. This, when combined with deep bruising, headaches and dizziness, signifies internal bleeding and should be treated immediately, or it may prove to be fatal. Then there’s the emotional trauma that victims might have incurred, which will afterwards appear as depression, anxiety or post-traumatic stress disorder.

Victims should wait until they reach maximum medical improvement and then undergo a complete medical evaluation. In the meantime, they should not sign a release of liability form with the negligent driver’s insurance company.

Those who intend to file a personal injury claim may want to see a lawyer who has extensive experience in representing car accident victims. Florida being a no-fault state, there are restrictions on who can pursue such a claim. Once the lawyer determines that the client can go forward, the lawyer may hire medical experts to determine the extent of the client’s injuries. Other third parties may come in to investigate the crash and gather proof of the defendant’s negligence, such as the police report and eyewitness testimony.

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