After a car accident, it is sometimes possible to return straight to work the next day and continue with normal activities. Pain is a main indicator of injury, and since you don’t feel pain, you don’t think you’re injured. That is, until about a month or more later, when you have whiplash pain in your head and neck. If you’ve been in a car accident in Indiana, you may be experiencing pain from injuries that have been delayed.
Car accident injuries with delayed pain
Pain after a car accident that is delayed typically manifests as headaches, pain in the neck and shoulders, back pain, tingling and numbness, abdominal pain, or emotional changes. It might be caused by either of the following traumas:
- Concussions
- Whiplash
- Internal injuries
- PTSD and sleeping problems
Such traumas do not initially feel painful or severe for many people. They can still talk, walk, and function in their daily lives until they experience pain.
Why is car accident pain often delayed?
When you have just been in a car accident, you are in shock from an adrenaline rush, which causes you to feel the following:
- Increased energy
- Reduced pain
- Increased oxygen flow
- Increased strength
- Increased focus
You also experience a rush of endorphins to deal with the trauma and stress. Hence, you may not feel pain from your injuries until the adrenaline wears off, which can take weeks for some people.
How long do you have to file a car accident injury claim?
If you did not sign a release of liability, which gives your consent to a settlement with the at-fault party’s insurance company, you might still be able to file a car accident injury claim. In Indiana, you have two years from the accident date to do so. Such a period allows for delayed injury pain from your car accident.
It is in your best interest to seek medical attention immediately after a car accident. Even if you feel fine, and you think you don’t have any injuries, you may experience delayed pain later. An evaluation by a doctor can assess any serious injuries. Even with delayed pain, you may still be able to seek damages for car accident injuries.
