How Long After Car Accidents Can Injuries Appear?

How long after a car accident can injuries appear? Injuries can appear anywhere from a few hours to days or weeks after a car accident.

Meet with a doctor after an auto accident, as they may diagnose and treat injuries before they escalate. In addition, allow our Bellevue car accident lawyers to review your case and discuss your legal options with you.

Timeline of When Car Accident Injuries Can Start to Appear

How long it takes after a car accident for injuries to appear may depend on the severity of the incident and other factors. Below is a timeline of when injuries from an auto accident may start to become noticeable:

Within a few hours: Bruising, bleeding, and localized pain may begin as soon as a car accident happens or in the first few hours after.
One to two days: In a car accident, the body’s initial shock and adrenaline rush may mask pain. Because of this, neck and shoulder pain, bruising, swelling, and other injury symptoms may start to appear as soon as the day after the incident.
Days to weeks: The symptoms of whiplash, herniated discs, a concussion, and other auto accident injuries may become more noticeable over time.
Weeks to months: Some forms of pain, psychological trauma, or complications related to injuries may continue or become more noticeable weeks or months after a car accident.

At Premier Law Group, we are big enough to win and small enough to care. Our team has served thousands of clients, including those injured in auto accidents.

We can explain the things to do after a car accident. On top of that, we may help you get compensation from anyone who may be liable for your accident and injuries. To find out more, request a FREE case review.

Warning Signs of Injuries from a Car Accident

As you think about how long after your auto accident it may take before injuries begin to appear, it may be beneficial to monitor your health and wellness closely. Here are warning signs that indicate that you may be dealing with injuries from your car accident:

Headaches
Dizziness
Neck and shoulder pain
Numbness or tingling
Abdominal pain
Trouble concentrating
Memory issues
Anxiety

Leave nothing to chance if you notice any of these signs. Ask for help from a doctor who can evaluate and treat your injuries. Also, have our attorneys review your case.

Depending on your situation, we may advise you to file a car accident lawsuit in accordance with the three–year statute of limitations defined by Revised Code of Washington (RCW) 4.16.080.

Why You Should Not Wait to Get Medical Care After a Car Accident

If you wait too long after a car accident for injuries to appear, the trauma that you are dealing with has the potential to affect you for a long time. As such, it may be beneficial to receive medical attention immediately after your auto accident. This helps minimize the risk that your injuries will linger and contribute to severe health issues down the line.

Outside of this, getting medical care for your auto accident injuries can make a difference during the insurance claims process. If you file a claim for your auto accident but don’t receive medical care for your injuries, the insurance companies involved may question why you chose not to go to a doctor. This may lead to a dispute regarding your claim’s value or a denial.

Not getting medical care for an auto accident may hurt you if you sue someone for the incident. In your lawsuit, you may ask for compensation for your injuries. Yet, if you waited to care for your injuries, the defendant may claim that they were unrelated to your accident. Thus, you could wind up being held partially or primarily responsible for your injury-related losses.

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What to Do If Injuries from a Car Accident Appear

Allow a doctor to examine your injuries, regardless of when they appear after your auto accident. You can begin treatment for your injuries right away. Meanwhile, you should track the costs of your medical treatments, since doing so may help you if you proceed with an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit.

As far as how long after a car accident you can claim an injury, in many auto crash cases, you may be subject to a three-year statute of limitations. Once this window closes, you may be ineligible to sue anyone who may be liable for your car accident for damages.

Our auto crash attorneys can provide insights into how long car accident settlements take and other topics relating to your case. We may negotiate a settlement that includes compensation for your injury-related expenses. However, if no such agreement is reached, we are ready to present your case in court.

How a Lawsuit Works If You Start to Experience Injuries After Your Car Accident

Our personal injury attorneys will account for how long it can take for injuries to appear after a car accident as we build your case for compensatory damages. We want you to continue to treat your injuries as we prepare your case for trial. Our lawyers may include your medical bills in our collection of evidence, strengthening your case for compensation.

Filing a lawsuit doesn’t automatically mean that you’ll have to go to trial. We want to collect witness statements, accident scene photos, medical records, and other forms of proof for your case. Our collection of evidence may lead the defendant to offer a reasonable settlement before your trial date.

If a trial is necessary, we can argue your case to a judge or jury. We will highlight how the defendant’s negligence may have contributed to your injuries, which may have become visible after your accident. Simultaneously, we’ll contest the defendant’s claims. If our argument resonates in court, a judge or jury may be inclined to award damages.