How Long After a Car Accident Can Injuries Appear?

Being involved in a car accident can be a traumatic experience with or without physical injuries. Many crash victims feel fine initially due to the adrenaline of the accident, only to discover serious injuries later. Recognizing the possibility of delayed injuries can help you protect your legal rights after a motor vehicle collision in Fort Collins.

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Injury Timelines Are Unique for Everyone

Car accidents affect all victims differently. Some people walk away completely uninjured, while others sustain catastrophic levels of harm. Similarly, some victims may notice the signs or symptoms of an injury right away, while for others, symptoms are delayed. The average timeline for car accident injuries can range from immediately to a few days, weeks or months in delayed-onset cases.

Why Might Car Accident Injuries Be Delayed?

A rush of adrenaline from being involved in a stressful car accident can trigger the body’s “fight or flight” response, which can temporarily prevent pain signals from reaching the brain. These effects can last for a few hours after a car accident. Once the adrenaline wears off, the victim may notice pain or stiffness in an injured area.

In other cases, car accident injuries can take hours, days or longer to appear due to their nature. A slow bleed in the brain due to a traumatic brain injury, for example, may not build enough pressure to be detected by the victim right away. How long it takes a victim to notice his or her injuries depends on the circumstances.

Common Delayed Injuries From Car Accidents

You could sustain a number of different injuries in an automobile accident that do not have immediate physical indicators. Common car accident injuries where victims complain of delayed symptoms include:

• Soft-tissue injuries
• Broken ribs
• Whiplash or neck injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Disk injuries
• Brain injuries
• Internal injuries or bleeding
• Organ damage
• Psychological harm

Delayed signs of a car accident injury can include pain in the affected area, persistent headaches, fatigue, sleep disturbances, abdominal pain, dizziness, or physical signs of harm (e.g., bruising or swelling).

How Might Delayed Injuries Affect Your Claim?

The possibility of a delayed injury that you cannot yet feel is why you should not answer questions about your physical state immediately after a car crash in Colorado. Wait until you have visited a doctor to discuss your injuries with a car insurance company.

If you state on a police report or while talking to an insurance provider that you are not injured, it can be more difficult to obtain financial compensation for your medical bills once a delayed injury has been diagnosed. The insurance company may try to allege that your injuries were pre-existing or caused by something other than the crash.

Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer in Fort Collins

Get a free consultation Call us (970) 471-7170

How Long Do I Have to File a Car Accident Injury Claim in Colorado?

It is important to take legal action as soon as you notice injuries from a car accident in Colorado. Filing promptly can strengthen your claim by preserving key evidence and information, such as records, photographs and accurate witness statements. It also ensures that you do not miss your statute of limitations.

The statute of limitations, or the deadline for filing a car accident case, in Colorado is two years under Revised Statute §13-80-102. In general, if you wait too long and attempt to file a car accident lawsuit after two years or more have passed from the date of the crash, you will not be allowed to proceed with your case.

While there are some exceptions to this rule, it is always in your best interest to contact Fort Collins Car Accident Attorney as soon as you are diagnosed with an injury. If you experience delayed injuries, contact Cannon Law for assistance proving your case to a car insurance company.