|
|
Last Modified on May 13, 2026
There are good reasons that so many people recommend seeking a medical evaluation following any accident, even if you’re not sure whether you sustained any injuries: the symptoms of some potentially serious injuries can be delayed by as long as several days. Let’s assume you didn’t go to the hospital. The question now is what to do when you experience delayed pain after an accident in Oklahoma.
Symptoms to Look Out For
Even if you didn’t go to the hospital for a medical evaluation, you should keep an eye out for these symptoms following your car accident:
- Abdominal pain: Abdominal pain can indicate internal bleeding or organ damage, particularly if it’s accompanied by feelings of dizziness or the development of large bruises.
- Neck pain: Neck pain is a classic symptom of whiplash. It could also indicate a herniated disc or another type of spinal cord injury.
- Back pain: Back pain can develop hours or days after your car accident and can continue to plague you for years, depending on its underlying cause.
- Tingling or numbness: Tingling or numbness can be symptomatic of spinal cord issues or brain injuries.
- Memory loss and concentration issues: Traumatic brain injuries can lead to memory loss and concentration issues in addition to other cognitive problems that may not appear until hours after your crash.
- Headaches and nausea: If you develop a headache and nausea hours or days after your crash, you could have a concussion or a severe TBI.
- Excessive sleepiness: Persistent exhaustion could indicate either a TBI or psychological damage from the car accident.
Injuries With Delayed Onset or Worsening Symptoms
Some injuries are more likely than others to cause delayed symptoms. They include:
- Whiplash
- Concussions
- Internal bleeding
- Blood clots
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
You should note that psychological injuries are still injuries, and they often take more time to develop than physical ones. Mild or severe PTSD is reported by 40% of accident survivors one month post-crash, according to one recent study.
What to Do About Delayed Pain
In 2021, there were 2,094 serious injuries from traffic accidents in the Sooner State. Of those injured, many experienced delayed symptoms. Whether they were able to seek compensation for their delayed injuries would depend on what steps they took after noticing their symptoms.
The first step you should take is to head to a doctor right away to get your problem diagnosed and added to your medical record. Next, contact an Oklahoma car accident attorney. Car accident laws allow you to file a claim up to two years after the incident. Don’t put off finding a lawyer, though. It makes more sense to get your claim started as soon as you notice the symptoms of your injuries.
How to Tell You Won’t Experience More Symptoms
Visiting a doctor following your car accident is the only way to get a clear idea of what to expect when it comes to symptom resolution. Some conditions resolve relatively quickly with minimal medical intervention, as is typically the case with whiplash. Others, like more severe spinal cord damage, may never get better. Consulting a doctor can give you a clearer idea of what to expect as your body heals and access to medical records that could be helpful in proving damages.
FAQs
Can You Have Delayed Pain From a Car Accident?
You can have delayed pain from a car accident. Many types of injuries, including soft tissue injuries, head injuries, and internal injuries, do not always show immediate symptoms. If you’re experiencing delayed pain from a car accident, you should visit a doctor as soon as you can. Waiting too long to visit the doctor about your symptoms can make it easier for insurance companies to deny that they are linked to the car accident that caused them.
How Much Compensation Can You Get for Chronic Pain?
The amount of compensation you can get for chronic pain varies depending on the nature and severity of the injuries that caused it. If you’re suffering from a permanently disabling condition that impacts your quality of life in many ways, you’ll receive more money for pain and suffering than you would if your chronic pain symptoms were expected to last a limited period and resolve on their own without further medical intervention.
Does Getting an MRI Increase Your Settlement?
Getting an MRI can increase your settlement if the imaging shows proof of one or more internal injuries or the severity of a known injury. MRIs can be very helpful for conditions such as spine and joint issues and internal organ damage. However, they’re less helpful for things like TBIs, which may show up on an MRI but can’t have their severity objectively measured using means other than self-reporting.
What Are the Signs of an Acceptable Settlement Offer?
The signs of an acceptable settlement offer include your lawyer’s approval and their reassurance that the settlement covers 100% of the damages you’ve suffered as a result of your accident. It’s never wise to take the first settlement offer made by an insurance company. Instead, trust your Oklahoma car accident attorney to negotiate a settlement that offers fair compensation for the harm you’ve suffered.
Hire a Car Accident Lawyer Today
If you’re experiencing delayed pain after an accident in Oklahoma, you should hire a car accident lawyer right away. As long as the statute of limitations for filing a claim has not passed, your lawyer can still help you gather evidence to support your claim and negotiate a settlement with the liable party’s insurance company.
The team here at Fulmer Sill is here to help. We encourage clients to seek medical attention and a lawyer as soon as possible after an accident, but if you were unable to do so because the symptoms of your condition only became apparent later, we can still help you with your car accident case. We have a reputation for empowering accident victims and providing hands-on legal services. Contact us to schedule an initial consultation today.
