Not all injuries can be seen by the naked eye. Some of the worst injuries are considered “invisible,” especially in car accidents. The fact that they cannot be seen do not make them any less serious. However, proving them can be tricky.
Are there any special considerations that should be taken into account when making a claim for an otherwise “invisible injury?” We have asked attorney, Alaina Sullivan, about what you should do. Here is what she had to say:
Emotional or Mental Trauma
Some of the most debilitating injuries following an accident can be emotional or mental trauma. However, these injuries are hidden to the naked eye. The person can look otherwise completely fine but be so far from fine on the inside. It requires psychological testing to get to the true emotional trauma involved.
Many times, the symptoms of this trauma do not happen right away. It can appear at any time, and victims of car accidents are not always willing to disclose or talk about their trauma. They may not see it as something that requires treatment, or, even worse, they may not even see their emotional pain as an “injury,” because it is not visible.
Many victims suffer from panic attacks, insomnia, anxiety, depression or even post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following a car accident. The problem is, these injuries need to be recognized and properly diagnosed before they can be included as an injury in your personal injury claim.
It is imperative following your car accident that you actively discuss your feelings to your medical providers and not ignore anything that may seem new or unusual in the way you feel or act. These injuries can come back in a major way following a car accident and can be extremely debilitating, both physically and emotionally.
Whiplash
Whiplash is easily one of the most common injuries suffered in a car accident. Whiplash is normally characterized by chronic pain in your neck, shoulder or back and can include migraines and restricted body movement. Many times, victims do not even realize they have any injuries from their accidents since whiplash does not always immediately manifest.
It can take a few days or weeks before the pain becomes apparent. Most whiplash injuries will not be detectable at that initial ER visit immediately following an accident so it is extremely important you monitor how you feel and have follow-up appointments with your physician following the accident.
If anything feels off or you have any concerns, make sure it is documented and your physician is aware. Not telling your doctor about the pain when it happens can hurt you later when you try to see damages for these injuries.
Internal Organ Damages
A serious injury that is not visible to the naked eye is internal organ damage. This type of injury is only detectable once the victim of the car accident is seen by medical professionals. These injuries are extremely serious and include bruising to your organs, including your heart, liver, lungs, kidney and others.
If they are not detected, the organs can begin to rupture or even shut down, leading to death in the worst scenario. You may feel fine following an accident, but it is for this reason that it is always recommended you be seen at an ER or at least by your physician as soon as possible following a car accident.
The sooner you can be seen, the sooner these injuries can be diagnosed. You need written diagnoses in order to make claims for these unseen injuries, and it is always preferred that they be diagnosed quickly following an accident to avoid the possible defense being raised that you suffered from these internal injuries due to actions of your own following the car accident.
You need medical proof showing that they resulted from the injuries you received from the car accident. The medical diagnosis will be needed, but you may also need to line up a testimony if the injuries are often associated with other medical issues, not associated with the accident.
Contact an Attorney Today
If you have been involved in a car accident and are suffering from injuries, such as whiplash or emotional distress, you should contact an attorney today to discuss your case. A licensed personal injury attorney will be able to evaluate your case and determine if you have a claim against the other party’s insurance company.
To receive the compensation for your medical bills, property damages, and pain and suffering, you should speak with a personal injury attorney in your area today.
