After you recognize delayed symptoms from an auto accident, you should take the following steps.
Get Medical Attention
As soon as you begin to experience any symptoms, go to a doctor right away. This can help you avoid making your situation worse due to the unchecked progression of your injuries. It also ensures your relevant medical issues are properly documented so you can prove they’re linked to your accident.
Begin Any Recommended Treatment
If your doctor recommends you begin treatment, it’s important to do so. This can both stop your injuries from worsening and help demonstrate that your injuries are real and that you are taking them seriously. Further, the driver who caused the crash should be held responsible for your medical costs, so it’s helpful to start any expensive treatments sooner rather than later.
Keep a Journal
Crash victims can be compensated for medical bills, loss of income resulting from injuries, pain and suffering, and emotional distress. Documenting the impairment your injuries cause can help you prove the severity of the damage, making it easier to ensure you’re fully compensated for all of the harm done by the at-fault driver.
Contact an Experienced Legal Professional
Pursuing compensation after a car accident can be complicated, even under the best of circumstances, and it often becomes even more difficult when you have delayed onset symptoms. That’s because the other driver’s insurer may argue that you can’t prove the crash caused your injuries or may claim you are exaggerating your injuries.
An attorney can work with you to put together a compelling claim, maximizing the chances you’re able to fully recover damages through settlement negotiations or an auto accident lawsuit.
How To Prove an Injury With Delayed Symptoms
If you’re dealing with delayed symptoms from an injury, here’s are some important steps to take to prove the extent of your harm for your car accident claim:
- See your doctor as soon as the symptoms appear and make sure your doctor keeps detailed medical records.
- Follow your doctor’s recommendations for treatment to show you are taking the injury seriously.
- Track and document your symptoms over time.
- Work with medical experts who can provide testimony about why delayed symptoms are so common and who can demonstrate the link between your accident and injuries.
Your auto accident attorney can assist you with this process, helping you to put together the strongest possible case.