When you are involved in an accident due to the negligence of another driver, the moments immediately after impact can feel like a blur. However, you may take the initial steps to determine whether or not you’ve sustained any injuries before concluding that you feel okay. As such, you may deny medical treatment at the scene of the accident. However, as the days and weeks progress, you may feel worse and worse, which can happen when accident injuries are delayed. If this represents your circumstances, you’ll want to keep reading to learn how this can impact the outcome of your case and why connecting with a Sacramento personal injury attorney is in your best interest.
Why Might My Accident Injuries Be Delayed?
There are a number of reasons you may find that your accident injury does not immediately appear. In most instances, victims of negligence often experience high levels of adrenaline following accidents. This often occurs as a result of your body protecting you from the pain so you can get to safety. As such, you may experience an adrenaline rush in the hours and days following your collision, resulting in injuries that may not appear immediately.
You should also note that some injuries, specifically traumatic brain injuries like concussions or whiplash, may take time to manifest due to the nature of these injuries. In some cases, these injuries may be incredibly mild to start and worsen over time due to a lack of treatment. In other cases, where your brain was injured can impact how long it takes for symptoms to appear following a blow to the head.
Can Delayed Injuries Impact My Case?
It’s imperative to understand that, unfortunately, delayed medical care can have an impact on the outcome of your case. If you fail to seek medical treatment following an accident, the defense can claim you did not mitigate damages. As such, you may be found partially liable for the damages you’ve endured as a result, which means your compensation can be reduced by your calculated percentage of fault.
As such, if you are involved in an accident, one of the most important things you can do is seek medical attention immediately following the injury, even if you feel okay. This helps establish that you’ve sought medical care, which can impact the negligent party’s defense. As such, it improves your chances of recovering the compensation you are entitled to.
Sustaining an injury due to the negligence of another person can be incredibly frustrating, especially when it impacts you financially and physically. That’s why the team at the Law Offices of Dale R. Gomes is ready to assist you. We understand how frustrating these matters can be, which is why our firm will do everything possible to help guide you through these difficult times. When you need help, don’t hesitate to contact our team today.