You may not immediately notice the signs of an injury after a car accident. Sometimes, car accident victims struggle with delayed symptoms.
The fact that you didn’t notice your symptoms right away after a car crash doesn’t mean you can’t file a claim for compensation. This overview will help you understand your legal options in these circumstances.
What Are Delayed Symptoms From a Car Crash?
Certain types of symptoms that you may experience as a result of an injury sustained in a car crash are more likely than others to manifest as delayed symptoms. These include:
- Muscle stiffness
- Headaches
- Fatigue
- Sensitivity to light/noise
- Memory problems
- Whiplash
- Cognitive difficulties
- Mood problems
If you’ve been involved in a car crash, it is very important to seek medical attention right away, regardless of whether you notice any symptoms of injury. Reasons why include the following:
- By the time you notice delayed symptoms, an injury may have worsened. Often, the sooner you get treatment, the smoother your recovery will be.
- When filing a claim with an insurance company for financial compensation after a car accident, you may need to provide evidence showing that your injuries (and the various struggles/damages which they have caused) were a result of your car crash and not an unrelated incident. This is easier to do if you see a doctor the day of your accident.
How Long Do I Have To File a Car Accident Claim?
The amount of time you have to file a car accident claim may vary depending on the state where the accident occurred and the type of claim you are filing.
For personal injury claims, the statute of limitations is typically two years. However, it's best to check with the state laws where the accident occurred.
In some states, the statute of limitations for personal injury claims may be as short as one year, while in others it may be as long as three years.
Delayed symptoms can impact the statute of limitations for filing a car accident claim in a few ways. In some cases, the statute of limitations may be extended or "tolled" if a person did not discover their injury or illness until after the accident occurred.
This is known as the "discovery rule." This rule can apply if the person was not immediately aware of their injury, or if the injury did not manifest until some time after the accident.
In some states, the statute of limitations for filing a personal injury claim may be tolled until the injured person knew, or should have known, that they had a claim.
This means that the time limit to file a claim may be extended if the injured person did not know they were injured until some time after the accident.
Get Help With Your Car Crash Claim
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, car accidents are among the top causes of injuries throughout the world. Sometimes, these injuries result in delayed symptoms that a victim might not notice right away.
If you’re filing a claim for compensation after developing delayed symptoms, strongly consider enlisting the help of an attorney.
You may have a better chance of securing what you deserve if you have representation from a legal expert.
