After an accident, whether a car crash, a fall, or any other incident, most people expect to feel immediate pain. That’s not always what occurs, however. You may walk away from the accident without any symptoms at all and wake up a few days later with pain so serious you need medical assistance.
If you have experienced delayed pain, knowing what steps to take can protect you and any future claim you pursue. Learn more about why delayed pain occurs and what you should do if it happens.
Why Delayed Pain Occurs After an Accident
Delayed pain is not uncommon, especially if you suffer soft tissue injuries. One of the reasons you may not even realize you’re hurt is that you will likely have a substantial amount of adrenaline and endorphins coursing through you.
Your body releases these chemicals during stressful events to help you deal with emergency situations. Endorphins are natural pain relievers, so they can block the majority of the pain you would otherwise feel.
Inflammation is a major player in delayed pain. This is your body’s response to certain types of trauma, and the swelling can take hours or days to appear. Once it does, pain typically follows.
If you suffer organ damage, you may not realize it until days have passed. The rest of the organ will do what it can to make up for the damaged part, but once it can no longer keep up with the body’s demands, pain and other serious symptoms will begin.
Steps To Take When Delayed Pain Starts
If a few days have passed since a slip and fall accident, motorcycle crash, or any other incident, and you begin feeling pain, get immediate medical help. Don’t wait to see if the pain gets worse. Get a fast appointment with your doctor or go to the emergency room if the pain is severe and accompanied by other symptoms.
This serves two purposes. One, it ensures that you receive the fast medical assistance you need to prevent more serious health issues. Two, it begins creating a record of your injuries. You will need all of this evidence to demonstrate the severity of your losses. Make sure that you follow all of the medical instructions and don’t stop treatment before your doctor clears you.
Document everything by keeping a journal that details the various symptoms you experience, whether they get worse or better over time, and the types of treatments that you’re receiving. It can also help to write about how the injuries impact your daily life.
Speak with a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible. This is particularly important if the pain began several days after the accident, since you can expect insurance companies to claim it wasn’t the accident that caused your injuries. With an attorney, you have a chance to fight back. Don’t speak with insurance companies without legal representation.
Experiencing Delayed Pain? Contact the Chicago Personal Injury Lawyers at Zayed Law Offices Personal Injury Attorneys for a Free Consultation
It’s always a good idea to have a full medical assessment if you’re in any type of accident, but even if you don’t and begin experiencing delayed pain, you still have a right to file a claim. What you should not do, however, is attempt to go through the process on your own.
By hiring experienced attorneys to guide you, you can pursue your treatment with the knowledge that your claim is in the right hands.
For more information, please contact the experienced Chicago medical malpractice lawyers at Zayed Law Offices Personal Injury Attorneys today. We offer free consultations.
We proudly serve Cook County, Will County, Kendall County, and its surrounding areas:
Zayed Law Offices Personal Injury Attorneys – Chicago Office
10 S La Salle St STE 1230, Chicago, IL 60603
Phone:(312) 726-1616
Hours: Open 24/7
Our firm is located near you. We have an office in Chicago
Find us with our GeoCoordinates: 41.8815493,-87.6327515
Zayed Law Offices Personal Injury Attorneys – Joliet Office
195 Springfield Ave, Joliet, IL 60435
Phone: (815) 726-1616
Our firm is located near you. We have an office in Joliet
Find us with our GeoCoordinates: 41.5254295,-88.1381011
